Arkansas Transfer Achievement SCHOLARSHIP Surpasses $3 Million in Student FINANCIAL Relief

The Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship has exceeded $3 million in sponsorship, a significant milestone in the University of Arkansas’ efforts to improve student achievement and extend educational access throughout Arkansas. Since its inception in 2019, the scholarship has made higher education more accessible for hundreds of transfer students from all throughout the state.

The ATA Scholarship permits students who graduate from U of A System community colleges to transfer to the U of A while paying the same tuition rate as their two-year institutions. As news spread and the U of A reinforced its connections with each of the seven two-year colleges in the U of A System, transfer enrollment from those schools increased by 253% since 2019, with more than $3 million in total support offered to 406 students.

“The Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship embodies our commitment to breaking down financial barriers and providing life-changing educational opportunities for Arkansans,” stated Chancellor Charles Robinson. “By maintaining affordability and accessibility through initiatives like ATAS, we’re not only investing in individual students but also in the future prosperity of our state.”

SCHOLARSHIP’S IMPACT

Danterrion Swanigan, a junior studying communications, concurs with Robinson’s evaluation of the scholarship’s influence on students. Swanigan learned about the transfer scholarship from a billboard while attending Phillips Community College.

“I’d say the scholarship made my attendance possible,” Swanigan remarked. “I hadn’t really considered the University of Arkansas before that, but when I looked into the scholarship, it seemed as if there was no other option. “This is where I wanted to be.”

While he was concerned about being lost in the shuffle at a larger school, Swanigan is confident that he made the correct decision. “There is so much more I can accomplish here, including scholarship chances, RSOs, and classes. I feel like I have a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had somewhere else.”

REDUCING TUITION

The Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship, by reducing or eliminating the gap between financial aid and tuition costs, can benefit students long beyond graduation.

Junior Shelby Pederson, a third-generation Razorback, says graduating debt-free was a key component in her decision to transfer to the University of Arkansas after getting an associate’s degree from Pulaski Technical College. “I had no intention of attending the University of Arkansas, but I was determined to complete a four-year college degree. When we found out I was going to receive the scholarship, it very much sealed my decision because it would allow me to graduate debt-free from a wonderful university.”

Pederson, a psychology major with a focus on childhood development, believes that graduating debt-free is important to her and her family because it allows her to make career decisions based on factors such as how many people she can help, rather than accepting jobs solely on financial considerations.

Increasing Expectations

While the ATA Scholarship took three years to reach $1 million in student savings in 2022, it hit the $3 million barrier less than a year and a half later. Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions, predicts that the increase will continue.

“As transfer applications continue to rise this spring, we’re thrilled to see the ongoing impact of the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship in expanding opportunities for students across the state,” McCray stated. “As more students learn about this scholarship, we anticipate seeing even greater numbers benefit from affordable, transformative educational opportunities at the University of Arkansas.”

Visit the Academic Scholarship Office’s website to learn more about the prerequisites for getting the ATAS. Learn more about transferring your community college curriculum to the University of Arizona via Transfer Central, which offers a simple step-by-step transfer process.