UAFS announces tuition waiver program for transfer students

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) will start a new tuition waiver program aimed at supporting transfer students in Fall 2025 to make it easier for such students to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The “Smart Choice Tuition Waiver” will provide eligible transfer students with up to $9,000 in tuition discounts starting in fall 2025 in a move to make UAFS an accessible option for students completing their bachelor’s degrees.

UAFS Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley introduced the program at the December Board of Visitors meeting, emphasizing its goal of increasing transfer enrollment while reducing financial barriers. The waiver, valued at $100 per credit hour, will apply to up to 90 institutional credit hours or until degree completion, whichever occurs first.

Riley emphasized that the 90 hours are not on a set attainment schedule, meaning students who choose to enroll part-time will still receive the waiver for the duration of their degree pathway.

“Our community college students have already made a smart choice in choosing to attend college, to begin with, and now they’re making another smart choice by continuing to invest in themselves and get their bachelor’s degree at UAFS,” Riley said. “We need to show these students that we’re willing to invest in them too – and that’s what we’re doing with the SmartChoice initiative.”

The UAFS launched a series of “Transfer with Pride” road shows at which academic leaders, admissions advisors and financial aid representatives visited area community colleges to provide resources directly to transfer students.

“These visits have given us the chance to sit across the table from the leaders at these community colleges and ask, ‘Where are the barriers? What can we do better or differently?’” said Riley, who explained that the initiative was built through these conversations and is directly aligned with the needs of our regional community college students.

Despite UAFS being the most affordable public university in the state, students were still struggling to pay to complete a bachelor’s degree after transferring, said Brooke Magallanes, UAFS associate vice chancellor for enrollment and director of admissions.

“The Smart Choice waiver gives students the opportunity to complete their education without worrying about a significant increase in tuition and fees when they transfer. By offering this waiver, UAFS is acting on its mission to provide accessibility to a quality education to students who may not otherwise be able to earn a bachelor’s degree,” Magallanes said.

Because most students who earn their degree will stay in the region, the waiver could help meet the employment needs of the community, Magallanes said.

To qualify, a transfer student must have a minimum of 30 earned credit hours and have at least a 2.0 GPA. They must also maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to remain eligible. While the waiver cannot be combined with other institutionally-funded scholarships, it can be paired with other types of aid, including grants, private scholarships and third-party aid.

The initiative is part of the university’s broader effort to establish itself as a premier transfer destination, the news release said. In addition to the waiver, UAFS plans to expand resources tailored to transfer students, including hiring Ryan Watson as the dedicated transfer recruiter, and implementing dedicated transfer advising.