Funding your education at BHCLR is available through federal, state, institutional and private resources. To receive federal funding students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Other types of state, private, and institutional aid may also require you to complete the FAFSA in addition to being awarded on the basis of other criteria, such as academic achievement and/or financial need.
Please click on the links below to learn more about each type of aid.
Federal Aid Programs
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
FSEOG grants are intended to supplement other aid. These grants are federally funded with each school receiving a fixed amount each year. Funds are awarded to a limited number of undergraduate students with preference being given to Pell Grant recipients demonstrating exceptional financial need.
Federal Direct Loans
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Available to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need as determined by federal guidelines. The U.S. Department of Education pays interest on Direct Subsidized Loans:
- While the student is enrolled in school at least half time (6 or more hours)
- For the first six months after the student is no longer enrolled (referred to as a grace period)
- During a period of deferment (a postponement of loan payments)
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students. There is no requirement to demonstrate financial need. With an unsubsidized loan, the student is responsible for paying all interest that accrues during all periods (in school, grace and deferment periods). You may choose to pay only the interest portion when not required to make payments, which would keep your loan balance at the principal amount. If you choose to not to do so, the interest will be capitalized (added to the principal amount of your loan), resulting in an increase in both total debt and the amount of monthly payments once you are required to start making payments on your loan.
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students
A PLUS is a loan that a parent of a full or part time undergraduate student takes out to assist the student in paying for college. The applicant is subject to a credit check. The borrowing limit for PLUS loans is the cost of attendance minus any aid the student will receive. Interest rates are adjusted every year on July 1st with a cap of 9%.
Private Student Loans
Private/Alternative student loans are an additional source of funding for educational expenses. They are nonfederal loans, made by private organizations such as banks, credit unions, or state-affiliated organizations. Private loan lenders may require that payments be made while students are still in school, they can have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loans, and they may require an established credit record or cosigner.
Private loans may be best utilized after you have exhausted all other sources of financial aid (scholarships, grants, federal loans, etc.) The Baptist Health College Little Rock (BHCLR) financial aid staff encourages you to apply for scholarships through BHCLR and Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE), and complete your FAFSA prior to applying for private loans.
Below is a list of private lenders BHCLR students have used within the last three years. This is not a preferred lender list. Please do your own research of these and any other lenders of your choosing to compare the terms and conditions of interest rates, payment terms, etc. prior to committing to any loans.
| Lender | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Student Loan Authority | 800-833-4876 | asla.info/student-loan |
| College Avenue | 844-422-7501 | https://www.collegeave.com/ |
| Sallie Mae | 844-827-7478 | https://www.salliemae.com/student-loans/ |
State Aid Programs
Applying for financial aid through the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) has never been easier. Applicants can now use SAMS to search and apply for more than 20 scholarships, grants, and loan reimbursement programs without having to submit multiple applications. Click the link to get started. The state of Arkansas offers many different aid programs for undergraduate students. For the most-up-to-date information regarding these aid programs, please visit the ADHE Financial Aid page. If you have specific questions regarding eligibility, application status, or other issues, please contact ADHE at 501-371-2000 or finaid@adhe.edu.
Arkansas Future Grant
The Arkansas Future Grant covers tuition and fees for qualifying certificate and Associate degree programs. Students are awarded an amount equal to tuition and fees (not including books) less the amount received from all other state, federal, and private grants/scholarships.
For more information or to apply, visit sams.adhe.edu. The deadline to apply for the Fall semester is July 1, and the deadline to apply for Spring is January 10. BHCLR qualifying programs include the following:
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Nursing
- Practical Nursing
- Radiography
- Surgical Technology
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
The eligibility requirements and award amounts vary depending on college level of individual. For more information or to apply, visit sams.adhe.edu.
The application opens each year on October 1st and the annual deadline is July 1st.
NOTE: The Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE) requires pre-approved exam scores to be reported for students who are receiving this scholarship. If you are eligible according to ADHE, you must have ACT or SAT test scores on file with the BHCLR Registrar’s Office in order to be awarded the scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact the BHCLR Registrar’s Office at 501-202-7933 or registrar@bhclr.edu.
Baptist Health Scholarships & Programs
BHCLR Academic Scholarship
- No application – Students meeting the following criteria are awarded a $500 academic scholarship during their first semester
- Minimum ACT composite score of 24
- Minimum TEAS composite score of 74*
*Nursing Traditional Track plus Gen Ed Prep students will be awarded their Freshman (second) semester.
Baptist Health Foundation Scholarships
BHCLR is grateful to the donors who so generously contribute to the endowed and non-endowed scholarships through the Baptist Health Foundation. Students submitting an application are required to complete the FAFSA and submit a thank you card to the donor from whom they receive their scholarship.
Foundation scholarships are competitive and are awarded based on availability of funds. Award amounts vary and are based on factors including, but not limited to financial need, program of enrollment, GPA, ACT/TEAS score. Applicants must be in good standing with BHCLR to be considered, and must submit all information requested.
The Spring 2026 application is now open. Click here to complete the application. The deadline to apply is December 29, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
BH Work Loan Program
The BH Work Loan provides financial assistance to eligible students enrolled at BHCLR, and makes available a dependable supply of qualified health professionals for staffing Baptist Health facilities. Baptist Health will provide the student the funds at 0% interest, and will forgive the principal of the loan over the period of the work-loan committment.*
Students enrolled in the following programs may be eligible for the BH Work Loan (depending on demand in the field):
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Nursing Accelerated
- Nursing Traditional
- Patient Care Technician
- Radiography
- Surgical Technology
*All programs, with the exception of Patient Care Technician, require a three (3) year commitment unless otherwise determined by hospital need at the time of graduation. Patient Care Technician’s commitment is one (1) year. The amount for each semester as well as participation eligibility varies by program.
Student who receive the work loan are required to find a job with one of the following Baptist Health facilities prior to graduation:
- Baptist Health Medical Center – Conway
- Baptist Health Medical Center – Fort Smith
- Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock
- Baptist Health Medical Center – North Little Rock
- Baptist Health Extended Care Hospital
- Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute
If the student/borrower accepts the BH Work Loan, but does not secure full-time employment at one of the facilities listed above, the student/borrower must repay the entire principal amount and accured interest of the work loan.
If you are interested in the Baptist Health Work Loan program, or for additional information, please contact the Business Office at 501-202-6055 or businessoffice@bhclr.edu.