Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Arkansas's official program pages.
The short answer: With a 3.00 high school GPA, your teen needs a test score on record but no minimum score for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship. Below a 3.00 GPA, the bar is a 19 ACT or a 990 SAT. At a four-year college it pays $2,000 the first year, $4,000 a year in years two and three, and $5,000 in year four, with extra money for families with financial need.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPA 3.00 or higher | No minimum, a score on record is enough | No minimum, a score on record is enough | 3.00 | $2,000 in year 1, $4,000 a year in years 2 and 3, $5,000 in year 4 at a four-year college |
| GPA below 3.00 | 990 | 19 | Below 3.00 | Same schedule: $2,000 in year 1 up to $5,000 in year 4 at a four-year college |
Beyond the score:
- GPA 3.00 or higher: Start college the fall right after graduation, take at least 12 hours the first fall and at least 15 hours each semester after.
- GPA below 3.00: Other accepted scores include Accuplacer Next-Gen 246, CLT 58, ASSET 40 and COMPASS 64. Same enrollment rules.
How the test score counts
ADHE accepts the ACT composite or the ACT superscore. ADHE will not add or remove the Science section from any ACT after the fact, in either the legacy or enhanced format, so decide with your counselor which version to take before testing. An SAT of 990 or higher from March 2016 or later also counts.
How the GPA is calculated
The 3.00 line is what decides whether your teen needs a 19 ACT at all. Students already in college can qualify as non-traditional students with a 2.5 cumulative college GPA in place of the high school GPA and score.
Which class year these rules cover
The current award schedule took effect with the 2025 to 2026 school year, and the Challenge PLUS need-based add-on started in 2024 to 2025. Check ADHE's program page each year your teen applies.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| Academic Challenge application | July 1 each year |
| First college enrollment | The fall right after high school graduation |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Arkansas SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
Your teen needs a 2.5 cumulative college GPA by the end of each spring, 27 credit hours in the first year and 30 each year after. Any remedial classes must be finished within the first 30 hours. The award renews on its own without a new application, until a bachelor's degree, the last scheduled payment, or 120 credit hours.
Where it pays
Approved Arkansas public and private colleges offering bachelor's, associate, qualified certificate or nursing diploma programs. Funds cannot be split between two schools in one semester unless the schools have a consortium agreement.
The misconception: a higher score means a bigger Academic Challenge award
In Arkansas the test score only opens the door. Once your teen clears the 3.00 GPA or the 19 ACT, the dollar amount depends on the year in college and the family's FAFSA Student Aid Index. A 32 pays the same as a 19, so clearing the line and filing the FAFSA on time matters more than chasing extra points.
Free tool
Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Arkansas colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does my teen need a certain SAT or ACT score for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship?
Only if the high school GPA is below 3.00. Then the bar is a 19 ACT or a 990 SAT. With a 3.00 or higher, any test score on record qualifies.
Does Arkansas accept the ACT superscore?
Yes. ADHE accepts ACT's official superscore. It will not add or remove the Science section after the fact, so choose the ACT format with your counselor before testing.
Is there extra money for families with financial need?
Yes, through Challenge PLUS. At a four-year college, a FAFSA Student Aid Index from -1,500 to 3,199 adds $1,500 a semester in year one, and smaller amounts apply up to an index of 7,999. An index of 8,000 or higher gets no PLUS funds.
Does the award pay the same every year?
No, it grows. At a four-year college it is $2,000 in year one, $4,000 a year in years two and three, and $5,000 in year four.
What if my teen does not start college right after high school?
They may still qualify as a non-traditional student. With some college credit, a 2.5 college GPA qualifies. With no college credit yet, a 19 ACT or a 3.00 high school GPA qualifies.
Sources
- Arkansas Division of Higher Education: Academic Challenge Scholarship
- ADHE: Academic Challenge Rules and Regulations (PDF)
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the Academic Challenge line and the ranges at their Arkansas colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Arkansas families: Arkansas SAT prep and SAT Scores for Arkansas Colleges.