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Programs

Scholarships

Students are encouraged to search and apply for graduate or health professions student scholarships to support the cost of their education through institutional and/or outside scholarships. Institutional scholarships are available through ACHE. Outside scholarships are available from resources outside of ACHE. It is important to be aware of deadlines, application requirements, terms/conditions, and renewal criteria. We encourage students to avoid applying for scholarships that are fee-based.

Students who are awarded outside scholarships must report these to the Office of Financial Aid as soon as they become aware of the award. Outside scholarships may impact the amount of other aid a student is eligible to receive as the institution must account for all sources of aid (federal/private student loans/scholarships, stipends, etc.) that a student may receive for educational expenses even if they are not processed directly through ACHE.

To report outside scholarships, students must e-mail their award letter to the Office of Financial Aid via e-mail at financialaid@achehealth.edu. After review, the award will be added to a student’s award letter as a scholarship or estimated resource.  Estimated resources are not considered as secured aid towards any account balance with ACHE.

    Institutional Scholarships

    ACHE provides a list of institutional scholarships students may find helpful to support the cost of their education.  Institutional scholarships are subject to the availability of funds. Each ACHE school / program will announce the open application period for institutional scholarships available to them.
     
    Applications for current ACHE students typically open October 1st and close November 1st. Selections are made by December 1st. Awards are made for the following academic year. Students will be notified of open scholarship application and process and eligibility requirements for each via official email communication, via notice from the Financial Aid Office, and via notice from the programmatic deans’ offices.

     

    OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE SCHOLARSHIPS
    • The First National Bank of Fort Smith Adopt A Scholar ARCOM Recruitment Scholarship
      • Available to students entering ARCOM in the Fall of 2025, this $100,000 scholarship, dispersed at the rate of $25,000 per year for four years, will provide funds for a student enrolled at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM). The scholarship is need-based and may go to an ARCOM medical student from the First National Bank service area in Western Arkansas or Eastern Oklahoma, which encompasses Sebastian, Franklin, Crawford, Washington, and Benton counties in Arkansas and Sequoyah, Le Flore, and Haskell counties in Oklahoma. For the purpose of this scholarship, being from one of the aforementioned counties is defined as having one or more of the following actions take place in said counties: being born, attending any portion of K-12 school, or receiving an undergraduate degree. The scholarship covers four academic years and is retained, as long as the student remains in the state of Good Standing with ARCOM. In the event of the loss of Good Standing, the scholarship is moveable to another eligible student at the beginning of the subsequent academic term. (A recipient has been selected and notified.)
    • The Brenda and Anthony Altman Adopt A Scholar ARCOM Recruitment Scholarship
      • Available to students entering ARCOM in the Fall of 2025, this $100,000 scholarship, dispersed at the rate of $25,000 per year for four years, will provide funds for a student enrolled at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM). The scholarship is need-based and may go to an ARCOM medical student from the ACHE service area (AR, OK, TX, MO, LA, MS, and TN). For the purpose of this scholarship, being from one of the aforementioned states is defined as having one or more of the following actions take place in said state: being born, attending any portion of K-12 school, or receiving an undergraduate degree. The scholarship covers four academic years and is retained, as long as the student remains in the state of Good Standing with ARCOM. In the event of the loss of Good Standing, the scholarship is moveable to another eligible student at the beginning of the subsequent academic term. (A recipient has been selected and notified.)
    • The Drs. James and Sherry Turner Family Endowed Scholarship for Underrepresented Students in Osteopathic Medicine
      • Application open to OMS I, OMS II and OMS III students in good standing enrolled in the Arkansas Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine who are underrepresented in medicine, and demonstrates financial need.
    • Robert G. Bebout, DO, Memorial Scholarship
      • Application open to OMS I, OMS II and OMS III students who are AR or OK residents enrolled in the Arkansas Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine with specific military ties who embody the values and high principles of Dr. Bebout, specifically: humility, and service to country, community, and mankind.
    • The ARCOM Mission Student Scholarship Award
      • Application open to OMS I, OMS II and OMS III students in good standing enrolled in the Arkansas Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine who has lived in Arkansas for at least 10 years and demonstrates financial need.
    • The ARCOM Master of Biomedical Sciences Scholar Award
      • The ARCOM Master of Biomedical Sciences Scholar Award recognizes a single former MSB student who has matriculated into the Osteopathic Medical Student Program. Applicant is actively enrolled in the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine as a first-year osteopathic medical student. This award is open to former MSB students in the OMSI year who are in good standing and embody scholarly excellence and a commitment to ARCOM.
    • The ARCOM Rotation Scholar Award
      • The ARCOM Rotation Scholar Award recognizes a single OMSIII student in their first year of rotations who has successfully completed their preclinical education. This award is open to ARCOM OMSIII students in good standing who embodied scholarly excellence during the preclinical years. Applicant is a current OMSIII student on rotations that has successfully completed their OMSI and OMSII years with a GPA of 3.5 or above.
    Physical Therapy Scholarships

    The School of Physical Therapy will have two $1,250 institutional scholarships for the Class of 2027.

    • Leading Through Service Award
      • The Leading Through Service Award recognizes students who go above and beyond to demonstrate leadership through service to their community, profession, and/or institution. This award highlights those who embody servant-leadership, making a positive impact by dedicating time, skills, and compassion in service of others. Nominations will be reviewed based on contributions and experiences occurring in the last 5 years.
    • Leading Change Award
      • The Leading Change Award recognizes students who go above and beyond to demonstrate leadership while fostering diversity and belonging at the community, professional, and/or institutional level. Nominations will be reviewed based on contributions and experiences occurring in the last 5 years.
    • The Walter O. Caldwell Foundation Adopt-a-Scholar 2026 School of Physical Therapy Recruitment Scholarship
      • This $15,000 scholarship is available to an enrolled student entering the ACHE School of Physical Therapy in 2026. The scholarship is need-based and may go to a student from the ACHE service area (AR, OK, TX, MO, LA, MS, KS, KY, and TN). For the purpose of this scholarship, being from one of the aforementioned states is defined as having one or more of the following actions take place in said state: being born, attending any portion of K-12 school, or receiving an undergraduate degree. The scholarship will be applied to tuition for one academic year, as long as the student remains in the state of Good Standing with the ACHE School of PT. It is anticipated that the student who earns this scholarship will have the opportunity to renew the scholarship annually at $15,000 per year for their second and third years, if the donor renews their gift. In the event of the loss of Good Standing, the scholarship is moveable to another eligible student at the beginning of the subsequent academic term.
    • ACHE PT Recruitment Scholarship
      • These scholarship awards support newly enrolled students entering the ACHE Physical Therapy program in May 2026 who exemplify ACHE’s mission to improve the health and well-being of Arkansas communities and beyond. The scholarship totals $7,500, applied toward tuition over three academic years at a rate of $2,500 per year, provided the student remains in Good Standing with the ACHE School of Physical Therapy.
      • If a recipient loses Good Standing, the scholarship may be reassigned to another eligible student at the beginning of the next academic term.
    Occupational Therapy Scholarships
    • School of Occupational Therapy Leadership Award
      • Application open to occupational therapy students enrolled at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education who demonstrate effective leadership within the school, community, and/or profession.
    • The ACHE OT Empowerment Scholarship 
      • The Empowerment Scholarship is granted to an ACHE OT student who has provided (or shows significant promise in) equitable opportunities for underrepresented populations as a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within all aspects of occupational therapy including education, research, practice, and advocacy.
    • School of Occupational Therapy Innovation Award
      • Application open to occupational therapy students enrolled at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education who use their creativity to improve the health and well-being of others.
    • The John Taylor Endowed Scholarship
      • Application open to occupational therapy students enrolled at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education who demonstrate financial need, and are local to Fort Smith or the state of Arkansas. School of Occupational Therapy students in good standing are eligible to apply. 
    • The Walter O. Caldwell Foundation Adopt-a-Scholar 2026 School of Occupational Therapy Recruitment Scholarship
      • This $10,000 scholarship is available to an enrolled student entering the ACHE School of Occupational Therapy in 2026. The scholarship is need-based and may go to a student from the ACHE service area (AR, OK, TX, MO, LA, MS, KS, KY, and TN). For the purpose of this scholarship, being from one of the aforementioned states is defined as having one or more of the following actions take place in said state: being born, attending any portion of K-12 school, or receiving an undergraduate degree. The scholarship will be applied to tuition for one academic year, as long as the student remains in the state of Good Standing with the ACHE School of OT. It is anticipated that the student who earns this scholarship will have the opportunity to renew the scholarship annually at $10,000 per year for their second and third years, if the donor renews their gift. In the event of the loss of Good Standing, the scholarship is moveable to another eligible student at the beginning of the subsequent academic term.
    • ACHE OT Recruitment Scholarship
      • These scholarship awards support newly enrolled students entering the ACHE Occupational Therapy program in May 2026 who exemplify ACHE’s mission to improve the health and well-being of Arkansas communities and beyond. The scholarship totals $7,500, applied toward tuition over three academic years at a rate of $2,500 per year, provided the student remains in Good Standing with the ACHE School of Occupational Therapy.
      • If a recipient loses Good Standing, the scholarship may be reassigned to another eligible student at the beginning of the next academic term.