The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) is expanding eligibility for its new Iron Horse Advantage scholarship program, increasing the household adjusted gross income (AGI) limit from $70,000 to $80,000. The change will allow even more students and families in UAHT’s service area to qualify for assistance with the cost of attending college.

The Iron Horse Advantage is a last-dollar scholarship program that covers tuition, mandatory academic fees, and textbook rental costs for eligible students after qualifying state, federal, and institutional financial aid has been applied.

By raising the income threshold to $80,000, UAHT is extending the program to more working families who may not qualify for significant need-based financial aid but still face financial challenges when paying for college.

“Expanding the Iron Horse Advantage is another way UAHT is working to make a college education attainable for the people we serve,” said Dr. Ricky Tompkins, Chancellor of the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana. “We know the cost of college can be a concern for families at many income levels. By increasing the eligibility threshold to $80,000, we can open this opportunity to even more students and help them take the next step toward a degree, a credential, and a successful career.”

To qualify for the Iron Horse Advantage, students must graduate from high school or earn a GED and apply to UAHT as a first-time entering undergraduate. Students must be Arkansas residents and U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester.

Students must also be Pell eligible or have an annual household adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less.

All eligibility requirements must be completed by May 1. Students should:

• Apply to UAHT as a first-time freshman and submit all required admission documents and test scores.
• Be an Arkansas resident and U.S. citizen or permanent resident and graduate from an Arkansas public school, private school, homeschool, or earn a GED.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and list UAHT using school code 005732.
• Be Pell eligible or have an annual household adjusted gross income (AGI) of $80,000 or less.
• Apply for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship by May 1 and provide UAHT with proof of the completed application.
• Complete the UAHT Iron Horse Advantage application.

Students do not have to receive funding from FAFSA or the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship to participate in the Iron Horse Advantage. Completing those applications is simply part of the program’s eligibility process.

How the Iron Horse Advantage Works

The Iron Horse Advantage is designed to close the gap between eligible financial aid and the cost of attending UAHT. Pell Grants, Arkansas Academic Challenge, Arkansas Challenge Plus, other eligible state aid, and institutional academic scholarships are applied first.

UAHT then covers the remaining balance for up to 15 credit hours of tuition and mandatory academic fees, as well as textbook rental costs, for eligible students.

Private scholarships, including awards from the UAHT Foundation, hometown organizations, civic groups, and other private sources, are not included in the last dollar calculation.

Students enrolled in more than 15 credit hours or courses requiring additional fees will be responsible for those additional charges.

The Iron Horse Advantage is part of UAHT’s ongoing effort to remove financial barriers and make higher education accessible to more residents throughout the region. Increasing the income eligibility limit to $80,000 further expands that commitment by giving more Arkansas families an affordable path to college.

For more information about the Iron Horse Advantage, eligibility requirements, or applying, visit https://www.uaht.edu/iron-horse-advantage.php or call 870-722-8524.