Honors College Launches Natural State Fellowship for Arkansas Students

Starting in fall 2025, the University of Arkansas Honors College will offer up to 10 additional fellowships for Arkansas students, including the Natural State Fellowship. 

The Natural State Fellowship enhances an already robust fellowship program that includes 380 Bodenhamer, Boyer, Honors College and Sturgis fellows on campus.  

By prioritizing local talent, this initiative underscores the Honors College’s dedication to retaining Arkansas’s brightest students and enhancing its impressive recruitment efforts. Last year, more than 88% of the incoming fellowship class came from within the state.  

“The Honors College is fully committed to keeping the best and brightest Arkansans in state for college,” said Noah Pittman, associate dean of enrollment for the Honors College. “We are very proud of the fact that year in and year out, the vast majority of our fellows come from Arkansas. With the addition of the Natural State Fellowship, we will be able to further grow our cohort of fellows who come to Fayetteville from all parts of the state.”  

These prestigious fellowships, which provide up to $80,000, can cover tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other academic expenses over four years. This financial support allows recipients to focus on original research, study abroad, service learning and other academic pursuits. 

Recipients can also combine fellowship funds with other scholarships and grants, including the more than $1 million in study abroad and research grants awarded annually by the Honors College.  

To qualify, incoming students must first meet the ACT/SAT and GPA requirements for fellowship consideration. In order to receive the fellowship, students must be Arkansas residents who meet at least one of the following criteria: have significant financial need, will enroll as a first-generation college student, or come from a geographic area of the state that is less well-represented at the university. 

In addition to a student’s high school academic record, the U of A fellowship application includes an academic resume, essays and letters of recommendation that must be submitted on a student’s behalf. Any fellowship applicant to the university who meets the Natural State Fellowship selection criteria will be considered for the award during the application review process. As is the case with all fellowships, finalists will interview in March of their senior year before final offers are made.  

This fellowship further strengthens support for students from all regions of the state and socioeconomic backgrounds, reinforcing the U of A’s land-grant mission and advancing Chancellor Charles F. Robinson’s strategic commitment to broadening educational opportunities for Arkansans.  

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.  

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.