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Arkansas Workforce Challenge

(Effective for programs beginning on or after 8.1.26)

The Workforce Challenge Scholarship was created by Act 613 of the 2017 legislative session and amended by Act 341 of the 2025 legislative session (ACCESS). Funded by lottery revenue, the purpose of the scholarship is for workforce training (credit-bearing or professional skills training) in the designated high-demand areas:

  • Advanced manufacturing
  • Health care
  • Information technology
  • Construction trades
  • Logistics and distribution

Program Minimum Requirements:

  • Credit: Certificate of Proficiency (6 credit hours)
  • Professional Skills Training: 80 clock hours

Tiered Funding Award Amounts:

  • Up to $1500 for professional skills training programs 80-179 clock hours
  • Up to $3000 for professional skills training programs 180+ clock hours or credit programs CP (6 credit hours) and above (not to exceed the standard tuition rate and fee structure of the IHE providing the instruction)

Institution of Higher Education Types:

(A) State-supported two-year or four-year institution of higher education

(B) Private, nonprofit two-year or four-year institution of higher education with its primary headquarters located in Arkansas that is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid funds

(C) A public or private vocational-technical school with its primary headquarters located in Arkansas that is one or more of the following:

  • Included on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act eligible training provider list
  • Qualified to receive approval for veterans’ education benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Included on ADHE’s Private Career Education list

Workforce Challenge Program List (Updated 2.2.26; Effective Through 7/31/26)

NEW Workforce Challenge Program List (Updated 6.3.26; Effective Beginning 8.1.26)

Changes to the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship Program outlined in ACCESS will NOT take effect prior to the 2026-2027 academic year.

Students, please refer to the SAMS website for scholarship application information: https://sams.adhe.edu/Scholarship/Details/AWC. 

Contact workforce.grants@adhe.edu for additional information.