Special financial assistance programs for Arizona residents

For first-year students who begin in fall 2025 or after:

What does it cover? 

• Year 1: 
  • Actual tuition and fees (including Barrett fees)
  • A standard amount to cover a portion of the cost of housing and meals, if living on campus 
•  Years 2-4*:

  • Actual tuition and fees only

      

Your scholarship package is available for up to eight full-time, consecutive fall and spring semesters. ASU recommends you enroll in 15 credit hours each semester to complete your degree in four years.

*Students in Barrett, the Honors College will also receive partial funding for housing and meals in their second year if they live on campus.

How does funding work?

The Obama Scholars Program is a combination of gift aid, Federal Work-Study, and grants and scholarships from ASU or other outside sources. The Student Aid Index, as determined by the FAFSA, is subtracted from the total aid package to calculate the final Obama Scholars award amount: 

Estimated direct costs - Student Aid Index - gift aid (grants and scholarships) - $3,000 Federal Work-Study = Obama Scholars Program funding 

Other important factors to consider: 

• Family assets reported on the FAFSA can also affect a student’s eligibility for the program. • The Obama Scholarship can be reduced or canceled if a student receives outside scholarships or resources that exceed their estimated direct costs. 
• The Obama Scholars Program does not cover all costs and does not cover books and supplies. Students will most likely still have a balance after gift aid and the Obama Scholarship have been applied. Students may need to accept their offered student loans to cover any remaining costs.

Feb 1: Submit your FAFSA and complete your ASU admission application (including application, transcripts and application fee).

May 15: Confirm ASU housing to ensure you receive your housing assignment by Aug. 1. 

Housing assignments not finalized by Aug. 1 will result in your Obama Scholars amount being adjusted to remove any funds for housing and meals. 

July 1: Submit all requested documents for financial aid verification by this date.

• ASU will verify your FAFSA information. Ensure all documents are complete and error-free.

• Submitting early allows time to resolve any issues before the deadline. Failure to meet program criteria after verification 

   

Important:

• There are no exceptions to these deadlines. All applications and documents must be error-free and complete by the specified dates.
• Meeting deadlines and criteria does not guarantee program placement, as funding is limited and the program may close once funds are exhausted. Apply early to maximize the likelihood of receiving an Obama Scholarship.

To remain in the Obama Scholars Program (years 2-4) and receive tuition and fee coverage only, you must:

• Successfully complete a minimum of 24 ASU credit hours during each academic year. 
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50.
• Remain Federal Pell Grant-eligible.
• Meet satisfactory academic progress.
• Abide by the Student Code of Conduct.  

What if I’m not meeting renewal criteria?

The Obama Scholars Program will provide tuition and fee coverage only after the first year. Housing is only covered for on campus students during their first year at ASU. Off campus and with parent housing is not covered under the Obama Scholar

ASU has GPA and credit-hour requirements to renew the Obama Scholarship each year.To renew your Obama Scholarship and receive tuition and fee coverage, students must maintain a 2.50 cumulative ASU GPA and complete 24 ASU credit hours annually.

• If you meet the requirements your Obama Scholars Program will renew with tuition and fee coverage only.
• If you do not meet the requirements your Obama Scholars Program will renew on a probationary basis with tuition and fee coverage for one year only, until you meet renewal requirements. 

Keep in mind:

• Each semester you receive any Obama Scholarship funding counts toward your eight-semester limit. 
• You can take ASU summer courses to meet the renewal requirements, but the scholarship doesn’t cover summer tuition. A final review will occur after summer.

If you face challenges such as class difficulties, time management or personal responsibilities, reach out to your academic advisor and use ASU’s resources to stay on track and maintain eligibility.

Your first year Obama Scholars funding is based on your housing status:

• If you live on campus: Your Obama Scholars funding will cover a portion of your on-campus housing and meal costs.
• If you live with your parents: The Obama Scholar Program does not cover housing costs for students living with their parents.
• If you live off campus: The Obama Scholars Program does not cover housing costs for students living off campus.

All first-year students living  on campus will receive a partial amount for on-campus housing and meals.

If students do not confirm on-campus housing through ASU’s housing portal, the Obama Scholars Program funding for on campus housing and meals will be removed prior to the start of classes. 

You can participate in an ASU-sponsored study abroad experience in fall or spring after completing your first year in your degree program. However:

• This will count as one of your eight eligible semesters.
• Your funding will still be based on tuition and fees only.

Summer study abroad program fees and summer tuition are not covered by the Obama Scholars Program.

for students who started at ASU prior to fall 2025:

What does it cover?

The Obama Scholars program is not designed to cover the full cost of attending ASU. The program will help cover: 

• Actual tuition and fees (including Barrett fees).
• A standard amount to cover a portion of the cost of books and supplies.
• A standard amount to cover a portion of the cost of housing and meals if living on campus. 

Your scholarship package is available for up to eight full-time, consecutive fall and spring semesters. ASU recommends you enroll in 15 credit hours each semester to complete your degree in four years.

How does funding work?

The Obama Scholars Program is a combination of gift aid, Federal Work-Study, and grants and scholarships from ASU or other outside sources. The Student Aid Index, as determined by the FAFSA, is subtracted from the total aid package to calculate the final Obama Scholars award amount: 

Estimated direct costs - Student Aid Index - gift aid (grants and scholarships) - $3,000 Federal Work-Study = Obama Scholars Program funding

Sample Obama Scholars financial aid package for students

* Direct costs include tuition, undergraduate college fee (including Barrett Honors fee), and student initiated fees, as well as standardized allowances for books/supplies, housing and meals (housing plans vary in cost).

** Example amount only. Individual amounts vary based on the FAFSA

Other important factors to consider:

• Family assets reported on the FAFSA can also affect a student’s eligibility for the program.
• The Obama Scholarship can be reduced or canceled if a student receives outside scholarships or resources that exceed their estimated direct costs.
• The Obama Scholars Program does not cover all costs. Students will most likely still have a balance after gift aid and the Obama Scholarship have been applied. Students may need to accept their offered student loans to cover any remaining costs or use their Federal Work-Study.

Feb 1: Submit your FAFSA and complete your ASU admission application (including application, transcripts and application fee).

May 15: Confirm ASU housing to ensure you receive your housing assignment by Aug. 1.

Housing assignments not finalized by Aug. 1 will result in your budget being adjusted to "with parent" housing and meal allowance, which may reduce your scholarship.

July 1: Submit all requested documents for financial aid verification by this date.

• ASU will verify your FAFSA information. Ensure all documents are complete and error-free.
• Submitting early allows time to resolve any issues before the deadline. Failure to meet program criteria after verification will result in ineligibility for program participation for the current and future semesters.

Important:

• There are no exceptions to these deadlines. All applications and documents must be error-free and complete by the specified dates.
• Meeting deadlines and criteria does not guarantee program placement, as funding is limited and the program may close once funds are exhausted. Apply early to maximize the likelihood of receiving an Obama Scholarship.

To remain in the Obama Scholars Program, you must:

• Successfully complete a minimum of 24 ASU credit hours during each academic year. 
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50.
• Remain Federal Pell Grant-eligible.
• Meet satisfactory academic progress.
• Abide by the Student Code of Conduct.  

What if I’m not meeting renewal criteria?

ASU has GPA and credit-hour requirements to renew the Obama Scholarship each year. To remain fully renewed, students must maintain a 2.50 cumulative ASU GPA and complete 24 ASU credit hours annually.

• If you meet these requirements: Your Obama Scholars Program amount is fully renewed.
• If you don’t meet these requirements: You will get one year of probation while still receiving the full Obama Scholars Program amount.
• If you don’t meet the requirements after probation: Your Obama Scholars Program amount will be reduced to cover only tuition, fees and books.

You can regain your full Obama Scholars Program funding for the next academic year by meeting the 2.50 GPA and 24 credit-hour requirements by the end of any academic year.

Keep in mind:

• Each semester you receive any Obama Scholarship funding counts toward your eight-semester limit, even if it’s partial funding.
• You can take ASU summer courses to meet the renewal requirements, but the scholarship doesn’t cover summer tuition. A final review will occur after summer.

• If you face challenges such as class difficulties, time management or personal responsibilities, reach out to your academic advisor and use ASU’s resources to stay on track and maintain eligibility.

Your Obama Scholars funding is based on your housing status:

• If you live on campus: Your Obama Scholars funding will cover a portion of your on-campus housing and meal costs.
• If you live with your parents: The Obama Scholar Program provides a standard amount based on the cost of attendance. 
• If you live off campus: The Obama Scholars Program provides a standard amount based on the cost of attendance for a student living with a parent.

If students do not confirm on-campus housing through ASU’s housing portal, they will be considered as living with a parent. The Obama Scholars Program funding will be adjusted prior to the start of classes. 

Study abroad program fees and summer tuition are not covered by the Obama Scholars Program.

You can participate in an ASU-sponsored study abroad experience after completing your first year in your degree program. However:

• This will count as one of your eight eligible semesters.
• Your funding will still be based on ASU’s cost of attendance and will not cover any additional study abroad program fees.

To be eligible for the ASU College Attainment Grant, you must: 

• Be an Arizona resident admitted to ASU in the fall as a first-year, degree-seeking, full-time student pursuing your first undergraduate degree, or be a Native American high school senior outside Arizona who meets ASU’s Arizona residency criteria for tuition purposes.
• Enroll at ASU in the fall semester immediately after graduating from an Arizona high school. Delayed enrollment forfeits eligibility.
• Be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
• Be a full-time, on-campus student (this can include taking iCourses or ASU Sync classes).

Note that ASU Online degree programs are not eligible. Switching to an ASU Online major will remove you from the program, and your grant will be adjusted.

What does it cover?

The program covers resident tuition and fees (including the Barrett, The Honors College fee) for up to eight full-time, consecutive fall and spring semesters.

• Tuition and fees are covered using gift aid (scholarships and grants) from federal, state, private and institutional sources.

What is not covered?

Summer sessions, special class fees and study abroad program fees are not included.

How to apply

No separate application is needed. Submit your FAFSA and complete your ASU admission application (including transcripts and fees) by the required deadlines to be automatically considered.

How does funding work?

The grant uses a combination of gift aid that doesn’t need to be repaid. This ensures tuition and fees are fully covered for eligible students.

To participate in this program, it is highly recommended that you meet these deadlines:

March 1: Submit your FAFSA and resolve any errors by March 1 to ensure continuation in the program. The FAFSA must be error-free, so submit early.

July 1: Submit all documents required for FAFSA verification. 

• ASU will verify your FAFSA information. Ensure all documents are complete and error-free.
• Submitting early allows time to resolve any issues before the deadline.
• Failure to meet program criteria after verification will result in ineligibility for program participation for the current and future semesters.

Important: 

• There are no exceptions to these deadlines. All applications and documents must be error-free and complete by the specified dates.
• Meeting deadlines and criteria does not guarantee program placement, as funding is limited and the program may close once funds are exhausted. Apply early to maximize the likelihood of receiving the College Attainment Grant.

To remain in the program, you must:

1. Successfully complete a minimum of 24 ASU credit hours during each academic year.
2. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50.
3. Enroll full time at ASU’s Tempe, West Valley, Polytechnic or Downtown Phoenix campus.
4. Remain eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
5. Meet satisfactory academic progress. 
6.  Abide by the Student Code of Conduct. 

What if I’m not meeting renewal criteria?

File an appeal:

• You can appeal for reinstatement if significant, extenuating circumstances beyond your control (e.g., a serious medical emergency) prevented you from meeting the criteria.
• Appeals must be submitted by June 1.

Challenges not considered extenuating:

• Difficulties such as managing classes, work or family responsibilities are not grounds for an appeal.
• In these cases, work with your academic advisor and use ASU resources to stay on track for renewal and graduation.

To be eligible for the Arizona Promise Program, you must: 

• Be an Arizona resident. 
• Graduate from an Arizona high school with a 2.50 GPA or higher. 
• Be admitted to ASU by April 1 as a degree-seeking first-year student for the upcoming fall term. 
• File a FAFSA and submit verification documents by April 1. 
• Be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant. 
• Enroll full time (12 or more credits) in one of ASU’s in-person campus degree programs at the Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe or West Valley campus. ASU Online students are not eligible for this funding.

Your tuition and fees will first be covered by other gift aid sources such as scholarships and grants. Any remaining tuition and fees not covered by gift aid will then be paid by the Arizona Promise Program.

What does it cover? 

The Arizona Promise Program covers tuition and fees (including college fees, mandatory student fees and the Barrett, The Honors College fee) for eligible students. This support is available for up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters, as long as you enroll full time and meet the renewal requirements each year.

What is not covered? 

Summer sessions are not covered. Special class fees, study abroad program fees and the enrollment deposit are not covered as part of the program fees.

How does funding work?

The Arizona Promise Program provides funding for up to four academic years (or eight consecutive fall and spring semesters), as long as you meet the renewal requirements each year.

If you miss the FAFSA deadline, lose Federal Pell Grant eligibility, or don’t meet other program requirements during a semester, that semester will still count toward your eight semesters of eligibility.

Meet with your academic advisor to ensure you stay on track to graduate within the four years of program eligibility.

April 1: Be admitted to ASU and submit your FAFSA and all requested documents for financial aid verification by this date.

To remain in the program, you must:

• Submit the FAFSA: Complete and submit your FAFSA each year by April 1.
• Maintain Arizona residency: Remain an Arizona resident for tuition purposes.
• Stay enrolled full time: Enroll in at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe or West Valley campus.
• Meet satisfactory academic progress.

If you take a break from the university, you do not need to submit a deferment request for the Arizona Promise Program. When you return to the university, you will automatically be reviewed for continued Arizona Promise Program funding. However, please note that any terms you are away from the university will count toward the total semesters of eligibility.

How much funding does the Arizona Promise Program provide?

Funding amounts vary depending on how much gift aid you already have to cover tuition and fees.

Can I combine the Arizona Promise Program, College Attainment Grant Program and Obama Scholars Program if I am eligible for all three?

Students who are eligible for the Arizona Promise Program and the College Attainment Grant Program will receive only one of these awards.

Students who are eligible for the Arizona Promise Program and the Obama Scholars Program may see the Arizona Promise Program funding as part of their Obama Scholars financial commitment.

If I am verified as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes after the April 1 FAFSA deadline for Arizona Promise Program consideration, will I be eligible to receive this grant?

Yes, a student who is classified as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes any time during their first year at ASU (and meets all other eligibility criteria for the Arizona Promise Program) will be automatically reviewed for Arizona Promise Program funding.

If I am not enrolled full time until later in the semester, can I receive the Arizona Promise grant at that time?

No, you will need to be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours) by the first day of the semester.