Did you know that students who graduate from the Arkansas High and Hope Collegiate Academies at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana do more than earn a high school diploma? They also graduate with an Associate of Arts degree and automatically receive the Arkansas Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship.

According to Rosa Paredes, a senior at the Hope Collegiate Academy, attending the collegiate academy gave her a competitive edge, enabling her to receive several scholarships to attend Arkansas State University, where she plans to major in pre-med after she graduates. “In addition to those scholarships, I will be receiving the Arkansas Governor’s (non-distinguished) Scholarship because I am graduating from high school with an Associate of Arts degree,” she said. “This is just one more advantage of attending the collegiate academy.”

The Governor’s Scholars (Non-Distinguished) Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who complete an associate degree while in high school. The scholarship covers tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board up to $5,000 per year. For students and families planning the next step after high school, that is real financial support already in place. To learn more about the scholarship, visit https://sams.adhe.edu/scholarship/details/GS.

Applications are now open for both the Arkansas High Collegiate Academy and the Hope Collegiate Academy. The application deadline is Monday, June 1, 2026.

Rosa said the collegiate academy has helped her and her family save thousands of dollars. “If a person is serious about going to college and wants to get a head start on their career goals, I can’t imagine why anyone would not attend the collegiate academy,” she said.

Students entering 10th grade are eligible to apply. To attend, students must be enrolled or eligible to enroll in the Texarkana Arkansas School District or the Hope Public School District and meet all collegiate academy entrance requirements.

Both academies are public schools offered at no cost to students. The academies are partnerships between UAHT and the Texarkana Arkansas School District and Hope Public School District. Each academy offers a three-year program that allows students to earn both a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts degree simultaneously. Classes are held on the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana campuses in Texarkana and Hope.

In addition to qualifying for the Governor’s Scholars Scholarship, students save an average of $20,394 compared to the cost of attending the first two years at an Arkansas public four-year university. By the time their classmates are starting college, collegiate academy graduates have already completed the first two years.

 

Arkansas High Collegiate Academy:

Located on the UAHT Texarkana campus.

To apply, visit https://www.uaht.edu/academics/arkansas-high-collegiate-academy.php.

To schedule an ACCUPLACER test, visit https://www.uaht.edu/admissions/testing.php, call 870-216-2906, or contact Melissa Colorigh, Career Coach on the Arkansas High campus, at melissa.colorigh@uaht.edu. Acceptable test scores must be submitted by Monday, June 1, 2026.

For questions about eligibility or to request a paper application, contact Karnesia George, Arkansas High Collegiate Academy Director, at karnesia.george@uaht.edu or 870-330-4691, or Mikki Curtis, Dean of Secondary Programs, at mikki.curtis@uaht.edu  or 870-722-8133.

 

Hope Collegiate Academy:

Located on the UAHT Hope campus.

To apply, visit https://www.uaht.edu/academics/hope-collegiate-academy.php.

To schedule an ACCUPLACER test, visit https://www.uaht.edu/admissions/testing.php, call 870-722-8247, or contact Rachel Holt, Career Coach on the Hope High School campus, at rachel.holt@uaht.edu. Acceptable test scores must be submitted by Monday, June 1, 2026.

For questions about eligibility or to request a paper application, contact Heather Flowers, Hope Collegiate Academy Director, at heather.flowers@uaht.edu or 870-722-8129, or Mikki Curtis, Dean of Secondary Programs, at mikki.curtis@uaht.edu or 870-722-8133.