UAMS Expands Scholarship Opportunities for Arkansas Students
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is significantly expanding access to healthcare education for Arkansas residents through recent and enhanced scholarship programs. These initiatives aim to address the state’s healthcare workforce needs by attracting and retaining talented students committed to practicing in Arkansas.
UAMS Chancellor’s Scholars Program
In December 2025, UAMS announced the Chancellor’s Scholars Program, a new initiative providing full tuition and fees for 40 exceptional students beginning in the fall 2026 semester. This program reflects UAMS’s commitment to academic excellence and service to the state.
The scholarships are distributed across various UAMS colleges:
- College of Medicine: 15 scholarships (Doctor of Medicine, four years)
- College of Health Professions: 5 scholarships (Audiology, Speech-Language Pathology, and Dietetics)
- College of Nursing: 10 scholarships (Traditional BSN and Accelerated BSN)
- College of Pharmacy: 5 scholarships (Doctor of Pharmacy, four years)
- College of Public Health: 5 scholarships (Master of Public Health, two years)
Recipients of the Chancellor’s Scholars Program commit to living and working in Arkansas for a period equal to the length of their scholarship award following completion of their education and any required residency or fellowship. The total value of these awards is $3,287,690.
Additional Scholarship Support
In addition to the Chancellor’s Scholars Program, UAMS continues to bolster scholarship opportunities through private donations. Gary Clark, P.D., recently provided a $140,000 gift to increase the endowment of his family scholarship for UAMS.
Commitment to Arkansas’s Healthcare Future
Interim UAMS Chancellor Dr. C. Lowry Barnes emphasized the importance of investing in talent to strengthen the institution and the state. The university aims to build a local healthcare workforce by supporting Arkansas students who will practice in the state after graduation.
These scholarship programs are designed to be merit-based, providing funding for the most talented students pursuing healthcare careers.
UAMS’s initiatives represent a significant investment in the future of healthcare in Arkansas, ensuring that the state has a skilled and dedicated workforce to meet the needs of its communities.