For families considering a move to Arkansas—or recent transplants looking to put down roots—Arkansas State University’s “A-State Promise Plus” scholarship is designed to eliminate tuition and required fees for eligible in-state students from households earning $70,000 or less.
University leaders introduced the program as a way to reduce the cost barrier that keeps many Arkansas students from pursuing a four-year degree. In the original campus announcement, Arkansas State Chancellor Todd Shields said the scholarship would “bridge the tuition gap” for families under the $70,000 income mark and help ensure “cost… [does not] limit the dreams of their children.”
What Promise Plus covers—and how “last-dollar” aid works
Promise Plus is structured as a “last-dollar” scholarship. That means it’s designed to cover remaining eligible costs afterother aid sources are applied.
According to A-State’s program guidelines for the 2025–26 academic year, the scholarship will cover:
- Remaining tuition and mandatory fees (up to 15 credit hours) after applicable aid is applied
- For on-campus students, it also covers housing after applicable aid is applied
For students living off campus, the 2025–26 guidelines specify that Promise Plus covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees (up to 15 hours) and provides $1,000 per semester toward a volunteer meal plan plus $500 in express dollars per semester.
This “last-dollar” structure is also outlined in the university’s initial public rollout, which noted that the program covers remaining tuition costs after federal grants and Arkansas’s Academic Challenge/Lottery Scholarship are applied.
Eligibility: Arkansas residency, FAFSA, and academic requirements
While the headline number is the income threshold, families should pay close attention to the ongoing requirements—because the award isn’t automatic each year.
On Arkansas State’s Promise Plus information page, the university states that students must submit the FAFSA annuallyand continue to meet the income requirement—if the student’s income exceeds $70,000, they are no longer eligible.
The 2025–26 on-campus guidelines also spell out performance and enrollment expectations, including:
- Enroll in 15 credit hours each fall and spring semester (with limited exceptions in certain cases)
- Maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and complete 30 A-State credit hours per academic year
A-State’s program page further emphasizes that the scholarship amount varies by student because it depends on how much a student receives through federal grants and state scholarships first.
Why this matters for newcomers and relocating families
Arkansas continues to pitch affordability as a statewide advantage, but families moving from higher-cost regions often discover that college planning is where budgets can tighten fast—especially with multiple children or a student who wants the “full” on-campus experience.
Promise Plus is notable because it doesn’t only target the lowest-income families; instead, it stretches into what many would consider middle-income territory. Arkansas State framed the $70,000 threshold as a practical response to how many families struggle to pay for college even when they “make too much” to qualify for maximum need-based aid.
For relocating households, that can be a meaningful checkbox when comparing Arkansas to other states: a move that improves housing affordability and commute times may also come with a clearer pathway to a four-year degree—especially if the student plans to attend A-State’s Jonesboro campus.
What families should do next
If you’re evaluating Arkansas as a place to settle—and you have a high school student in the pipeline—here are the practical steps implied by A-State’s requirements:
- File the FAFSA every year (this is non-negotiable for Promise Plus eligibility).
- Plan schedules around 15 credit hours per term, because Promise Plus is built on full-time momentum and timely completion.
- Track GPA and completed credits early, not just at the end of freshman year, since renewal rules are explicit.
- Decide on on-campus vs. off-campus living—because the benefits differ materially by housing choice.
Arkansas State’s Financial Aid & Scholarships Office administers the program and publishes annual guidelines, which is where families should confirm the newest terms before making enrollment decisions.
For Arkansas newcomers—particularly families relocating for work, lower housing costs, or a fresh start—A-State Promise Plus is positioned as a major affordability lever, potentially reducing a four-year degree to a manageable set of non-tuition expenses (like books, transportation, and personal costs), provided students stay on track academically and meet the income and FAFSA requirements.