Ozarka Opportunity

Ozarka Opportunity is for eligible students in our Associates of Arts in General Education program and covers any remaining tuition and fee balance after any Pell Grant, Arkansas Challenge/Lottery scholarship, and other financial aid is applied towards the cost of tuition and fees. Ozarka Opportunity will then be applied to cover the remainder for up to 30 hours per academic year.

Award Amounts

The Ozarka Opportunity award shall be in an amount equal to the tuition, fees, and other charges incurred by an eligible student less the amount received from state-supported scholarships, federal student financial assistance, and private scholarships.

Requirements

An Applicant must meet each of the following:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Meet Federal Title IV eligibility criteria
• Complete the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship application
• Be enrolled part-time or full-time at Ozarka College in the AA General Education program
• Have either graduated from an Arkansas public school, private school, home school in our four county service area (Fulton, Izard, Sharp, Stone Counties) or received high school equivalency diploma through the Ozarka College Adult Education program;
• Must be new to Ozarka College or was enrolled in the AA General Education program in 2023-24 fall/spring terms. Students who have been previously been enrolled at Ozarka College are not eligible for the Ozarka College Opportunity award with the exception of students whose only previous enrollment was concurrent credit in high school.

ADHE Challenge Scholarship Deadlines to Apply

July 1

Continuing Eligibility Criteria

A student must:

• Annually complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 1 each year
• Be enrolled in the Associates of Arts General Studies

A student may continue to be eligible until the student has:

• Received an associate degree
• Received funding from the Ozarka Opportunity award for 5 total semesters from Ozarka College
• Failed to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Questions

How do I apply?
No separate Ozarka scholarship application is required to apply for this program. Your application for admission, FAFSA, and completed Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship application must be on file for eligibility consideration.

Why do we have to complete the FAFSA?
The FAFSA is required to determine eligibility through family income and to ensure eligible students are maximizing available aid opportunities.

Is housing covered?
Ozarka Opportunity award does not directly cover housing however pell/AR challenge/other aid may cover housing charges listed on the student account.

When will the Ozarka Opportunity award appear on eligible student accounts?
The Ozarka Opportunity award will be applied to eligible student accounts toward the end of the term after all federal, state, private, and other instutional forms of aid have been applied to ensure it is the last dollar in.