FAQ

The El Dorado Promise provides up to five years of tuition and mandatory fees for post-secondary undergraduate education for eligible El Dorado High School graduates entering an accredited college or university immediately following graduation from high school (unless deferred by military service).

No.

Tuition and mandatory fees will be paid based on the cost of the educational institution the student is attending.  The maximum payable is set by the highest annual resident tuition at an Arkansas public university.

Scholarship amounts will be paid based on the length of attendance in the El Dorado Public School District. For example, graduates who attend all 13 years at EPS will receive 100 percent of the scholarship. See the chart below.

*Entered the district as of October 1st of each school year.

To participate in the program:

1. Must be admitted to and enrolled at a two- or four-year college or university accredited by one of the U.S.’s six regional accrediting bodies.
2. Must be making progress toward a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
3. Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average at a post-secondary institution.
4. Enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, and complete at least 24 credit hours each academic year.

Yes. Beginning with the EHS graduating class of 2024, the El Dorado Promise will pay for tuition and mandatory fees for part-time students who work in South Arkansas while enrolled in SouthArk’s Career Education Program or Teacher Preparation Program. 

Here are the six regional accrediting organizations listed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation:

1. Middle States Commission on Higher Education
2. New England Commission on Higher Education
3. Higher Learning Commission
4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
5. Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges
6. WASC Senior College and University Commission & Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Applications should be completed during the student’s senior year.

No.  The scholarship will cover the fall and spring semesters each year.  Students attending summer school will be responsible for paying tuition during summer sessions.

If you are awarded a tuition scholarship in addition to the Promise, you may opt to use your Promise funds (based on tuition and mandatory fees) for other expenses on your college invoice.  For example, the Promise funds may be used for room, board, additional fees, and books.  These expenses must be on the invoice sent from the educational institution.  The excess will not be refunded or paid in cash to students.

Funds will be paid directly to the educational institution upon receipt of an invoice each semester.

Murphy Oil Corporation created the Promise to give El Dorado students an additional opportunity to pursue higher education. Murphy Oil Corporation provides 100 percent of the Promise scholarship funds.