Arkansas Heroes Scholarship

About this scholarship

The Arkansas Heroes Scholarship is the state's current program for eligible spouses and dependent children of Arkansans who died, disappeared, were captured, received specified military honors, or became permanently and totally disabled through qualifying military service or public-service duty. Beginning with the 2025 application cycle, it replaced both the Law Enforcement Officers' Dependents Scholarship and the Military Dependents Scholarship. Covered public-service categories include law enforcement officers, firefighters, certain transportation and forestry employees, correctional and community-punishment employees, commissioned state-park personnel, emergency medical technicians, and teachers. The benefit assists with in-state tuition, eligible housing, and mandatory fees at an approved Arkansas public or private institution. For military families, federal Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits are deducted before state payment. Books, parking permits, dormitory damages, and utility bills are not covered. Applicants generally must have been Arkansas residents for at least one year, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and be accepted at an eligible Arkansas institution. Dependent children must be under 26. The annual state deadline is July 1, while military-family applicants must apply for VA Chapter 35 benefits by June 15. Continued funding requires at least a 2.0 GPA and 24 semester hours per academic year.

Eligibility

• Be the spouse or qualifying dependent child of an eligible Arkansas military member or public-service hero
• Have been a legal Arkansas resident for at least one year before applying
• Be a United States citizen or permanent resident
• Be enrolled or accepted at an approved Arkansas public or private institution
• Be under age 26 if applying as a dependent child
• Provide the death, disability, relationship, and service documentation required for the applicable hero category
• Apply for VA Chapter 35 benefits by June 15 when required for military-family eligibility
• Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA and complete at least 24 semester hours per academic year for renewal