Senior Citizen Graduate Students

Senior citizens are welcome to pursue graduate studies.  Arkansas residents who are 60 years of age or older are encouraged to enroll tuition-free in for-credit courses based on the availability of space.  Students participating in this program register for class/classes during the senior citizen registration period.

Graduate degree seeking students: Some academic departments have their own application deadline and may have additional application requirements. For graduate students seeking funding, departmental deadlines may vary. To find the deadline for your department, locate your department on our Programs of Study webpage.

We recommend submitting all materials to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions at least one month before the departmental deadline.

For departments with no deadlines, and for non-degree, returning, visiting and senior citizens, all application materials, including all transcripts and any required test scores, should reach the Graduate School by the deadlines listed below.

Application deadlines for the Graduate School are:

  • Fall semester: August 1
  • Spring semester: December 1
  • Summer sessions: April 15

Applications received after the deadline will be automatically deferred to the next available Spring or Fall semester.

Note: More detailed information can be found in Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 515.0.

  • An Arkansas resident;
  • At least 60 years of age at the time of application
  • A graduate of a regionally accredited college or university
  • Be admitted to the University of Arkansas
  1. Submit an online application for Graduate Admission 
  2. Complete the Senior Citizen Tuition & Fee Waiver Form*. Applicants to graduate level programs should submit this form to the Graduate School Admissions Office: 213 Gearhart Hall, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
  3. If seeking a degree, check your programs website for additional requirements. The Graduate School requires:
    1. Transcripts from your baccalaureate institution
    2. Official GRE or MAT or GMAT test score (if required by program)

*In order to ensure that registration occurs on a space-available basis, students that wish to use the waiver must wait to register for classes until the last business day before classes begin for a given term. Further, if all waiver requirements have not been met prior to the last day of regular registration, the waiver will not apply and the student will be financially responsible for the balance owed. Senior Citizens who sign up to use the fee waiver, but later wish to pay regular fees so they can register during assigned priority registration, should contact the Registrar’s Office for instructions.

There is no “space available” in classes that do not meet enrollment minimums and are cancelled, or in self-supporting classes until paid enrollment is sufficient to cover costs associated with offering the class. Enrollment minimums are established by Academic Policy 1640.10. This is applicable to campus, online and off-campus classes including study abroad.

When we've received your application and supporting documents (if degree seeking) we'll review your file and contact you if additional information is needed. Once all materials have been received, allow 3 to 5 business days for this step. If you are admitted we'll notify you by email and mail your Notice of Admission along with other important information for incoming students.

Arkansas residents 60 years of age or older may apply either as an undergraduate or graduate student for on-campus and online credit courses by paying all non-tuition applicable fees. Tuition waiver does not apply to non-credit Continuing Education programs or independent study courses. Senior students that meet admission requirements may be admitted as degree or non-degree seeking . The College of Arts and Sciences allows senior citizens to audit classes. All other colleges require instructor’s permission for audit prior to taking a class. Senior citizens who do not wish to register on a space available basis during the senior citizen registration period may pay tuition and register during priority registration. The tuition waiver does not cover text books, class supplies, or non-tuition applicable fees.