7-Campus Feature

Southern Arkansas University has just announced their new scholarship, The SAU Difference scholarship program. This is scholarship is a new initiative designed to provide financial support for eligible incoming freshmen from Arkansas. The SAU Difference scholarship program is a game-changer for Arkansas students, designed to make higher education more accessible than ever before. As a last-dollar initiative, it bridges the gap between the cost of tuition, fees, and existing financial aid, ensuring that students who are Pell-eligible and recipients of the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship can attend SAU without the weight of unmet financial needs. By covering essential costs like tuition and mandatory fees, this scholarship empowers students to focus on their studies, unlock their potential, and chart a path toward a brighter future—all without the stress of financial uncertainty.

News | Southern Arkansas University 

“Higher education is a powerful engine of social mobility and economic opportunity, but costs can often be a barrier for students. We need to eliminate as many obstacles as possible to provide our brightest Arkansas students with access to higher education,” said Dr. Bruno Hicks, SAU president. “We are excited to make this significant investment in our students and their families, ensuring that affordability remains a priority in their college experience.”

Home is where the Muleriders are | Southern Arkansas University

To qualify for The SAU Difference scholarship, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen and a resident of Arkansas
• Be a first-time college student entering SAU in the fall of 2025
• Be Pell Grant eligible
• Be a recipient of the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship

The SAU Difference scholarship will cover the financial gap between the total cost of tuition, all fees*, and the sum of the Pell Grant and Arkansas Challenge Scholarship.