Tuition & Aid

Funding your education can be achieved through a combination of resources. By leveraging these options, students can effectively manage the costs of their education at the University of Arkansas.

Undergraduate Cost of Attendance

Undergraduate Funding Resources

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    Federal Student Aid

    Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The University of Arkansas code: 001108.

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    Scholarships

    Scholarships are monetary awards made to students to help fund the student’s higher education studies.

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    Federal Grants

    Grants are often called “gift aid.” They do not have to be repaid. Federal grants provide funds based on the student’s total need. 

  • Loan Icon

    Federal Loans

    Federal student loans are funds which a student or parent may borrow for educational purposes. It is borrowed money and must be paid back with interest.

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    State Programs

    The Arkansas Department of Education (ADHE) provides scholarship and grant funds to Arkansas residents pursuing a higher education.

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    Work Study & Jobs

    Part-time employment for students through federal work-study, on-campus employment, and off-campus employment and internship connections.

Connect with Undergraduate Financial Support Offices

OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID

114 Silas Hunt Hall
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701

479-575-3806
finaid@uark.edu 
finaid.uark.edu

TREASURER’S OFFICE

640 N. Garland Ave
Suite 108
Fayetteville, AR 72701

479-575-5651
treainfo@uark.edu 
treasurer.uark.edu

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP OFFICE

114 Silas H. Hunt Hall
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701

479-575-4464
scholars@uark.edu 
scholarships.uark.edu

Graduate Cost of Attendance

Graduate Fellowships

The Graduate School offers competitive fellowships to provide financial support to outstanding graduate students.

 

U of A Doctoral Fellowships

There are two levels of competitive merit-based fellowships for outstanding incoming doctoral students available, the Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship (DDF) and the Doctoral Academy Fellowship (DAF). Students must be nominated by their academic unit or department, which also sponsors the accompanying graduate assistantship. For more information, contact your future advising Faculty and/or Graduate Coordinator for your department or the Office of Graduate Fellowships at 479-575-4327 or gradfunding@uark.edu.

Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships

Each year, approximately 25 Distinguished Doctoral Fellowships are awarded:
  • Fellows receive $22,000 annually, paid in two installments of $11,000 each in August and January, for up to 4 years.
  • Fellows receive a 50% graduate assistantship from the department for 4 years.
  • Fellows receive a monthly stipend, a tuition waiver, and a discount on student health insurance.
  • Fellows must apply for an NSF grant in their first year, with their research advisor’s assistance, if applicable.

Doctoral Academy Fellowships

Each year, approximately 40-45 Doctoral Academy Fellowships are awarded:

  • Fellow receives $12,000 per year in two $6,000 installments in August and January, for up to 4 years.
  • Fellows also receives a 50% graduate assistantship provided concurrently by the department for 4 years.
  • Fellows receive a monthly stipend, a tuition waiver, and a discount on student health insurance.

 

 

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships (GAs) are awarded by various departments or units on campus. On 50% assistantships, students work 20 hours per week (in teaching, research, or other areas) or teach up to two 3 credit hour courses. Students on 25% assistantships will work 10 hours per week.

 

Base Pay Rates and Benefits

Graduate assistantships (GAs) are awarded by various departments or units on campus. On 50% assistantships, students work 20 hours per week (in teaching, research, or other areas) or teach up to two 3 credit hour courses. Students on 25% assistantships will work 10 hours per week.

Current minimum graduate assistantship base pay rates will be set by the Graduate School and International Education at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Graduate Assistantships Monthly Pay Rates By Department

Biological Engineering
MS: $1,605
PhD: $1,925
Biomedical Engineering
MS: $1,500
PhD: $2,000
Chemical Engineering
MS: $1,545
PhD: $2,283
Computer Science
MS: $1,510
PhD: $1,915
Computer Engineering
MS: $1,510
PhD: $1,915
Civil Engineering
MS: $1,700
PhD: $2,000
Electrical Engingeering
MS: $1,510
PhD: $1,915
Industrial Engineering
MS: $1,500
PhD: $2,000
Mechanical Engineering
MS: $1,539
PhD: $1,768

Qualifications

To qualify for an assistantship, graduate students must be regularly admitted into the graduate school and accepted into a graduate degree or certificate program.

Successful applicants must have good academic records, adequate preparation for graduate study in their major field, and must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.85 on all work taken for graduate credit, although some departments may require their graduate assistants to maintain a higher grade point average.

Students on a 50% graduate assistantship must enroll in a minimum of 6 graduate hours each Fall/Spring. Students on a 25% graduate assistantships must enroll in a minimum of 9 graduate hours each Fall/Spring.

Graduate School approval is required for the tuition waiver to pay undergraduate hours, audited hours, hours outside of the program, and hours above the maximum. Departments have the discretion to limit a waiver to the minimum number of hours required by the assistantship.

Graduate Assistantships whose native language is not English and will be interacting with students in a teaching or tutorial role are required to pass English language requirements for both speaking and writing. Current requirements can be found on the Admissions recruiting site.

GA Start and End Dates

In order to comply with federal tax law and immigration regulations, the Graduate School will be monitoring the start and termination dates for Graduate Assistants.

Please see the below times when you should start and end the employment of a Graduate Assistant. Allow enough processing time in Workday to allow your Graduate Assistants to begin work by these benchmarks.

Start Date

Spring

A brand new graduate student (never enrolled before) who will hold a GA for the Spring semester should start their appointment the Monday (or the Tuesday if the Monday is a University holiday) before the regular spring session begins.

  • If a student is expected to work during the January intersession, they may begin their GA position as early as the first day of the January intersession.
  • A returning student (someone who has been a student in the previous semester, even if not on a GA or on a GA in another unit) may start their GA on the first day campus opens in January.

Summer

A brand new graduate student (never enrolled before) who will hold a GA for the Summer semester OR a returning student (someone who has been a student in the previous semester, even if not on a GA or on a GA in another unit) may start their GA as early as the first day of May intersession and must work for a minimum of 30 calendar days.

Fall

A brand new graduate student (never enrolled before) who will hold a GA for the Fall semester may start their appointment on the Monday before the regular fall session begins.

  • If a student is expected to work during the August intersession, they may begin their GA position as early as the first day of the August intersession.
    A returning student (someone who has been a student in the previous semester, even if not on a GA or on a GA in another unit) may start their GA as early as the first day of August intersession.
  • Late Arriving/Late Starting Graduate Assistants
    A department may be appointed to begin a Graduate Assistantship in the Fall or Spring semester as late as the first day of the second 8-week session. If a student starts by this date, they will be eligible for a full tuition waiver for the semester.

End Date

In general, the “rule of thumb” is that GA=student. When a student graduates, they are no longer a student, therefore they cannot be a GA. If employment of the now alumni continues past the degree conferral date (listed below), they need to be moved to another paid position.

For a Graduating Graduate Assistant

  • If a GA is graduating in Fall, their employment must end on the last day worked but no later than before the University closes for Winter Break.
  • If a GA is graduating in Spring, their employment must end on the last day worked but no later than before the start of May Intersession.
    If a GA who graduated in Spring 2022 will be teaching in Summer 2022, they cannot be paid as a GA for the summer course. They must be moved to an appointed lecturer position or be paid through unit pay as appropriate in your college.
  • If a GA is graduating in Summer, their employment must end on the last day worked but no later than before the start of August Intersession. This date is for 12-month appointed GAs and 9-month GAs receiving period activity pay for Summer II. If you have a graduating 9-month GA who received period activity pay in Summer I and is not working past Summer I, their employment may be ended earlier.
    As a reminder, in order to qualify for a summer tuition waiver, a GA must work for at least 30 calendar days in the summer.

If a Graduate Assistant is not graduating and is continuing as a student between semesters, no action needs to be taken. Students who are not graduating can continue to work as a GA, following the normal requirements of enrollment (minimum of 3 hours in summer/6 hours in Fall and Spring).

If the GA is an international student, please encourage them to check with ISS to ensure visa compliance.

Connect with Graduate Student Support Offices

Graduate Admissions and Recruitment

340 N. Campus Drive
Gearhart Hall 213

1-866-234-3957
gradinfo@uark.edu 

Graduate Fellowships and Program Support

340 N. Campus Drive
Gearhart Hall 273

479-575-5869
gradfunding@uark.edu 

Graduate Student Support

340 N. Campus Drive
Gearhart Hall 272

479-387-3841
gradsupport@uark.edu