Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program, 6 CAR pt. 530

The Department of the Military, Arkansas National Guard proposes amendments to its Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program, 6 CAR pt. 530. The Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program (NGTW) provides financial support for eligible Arkansas Army and Air National Guard members to attend state-supported or certain private institutions of higher education in Arkansas tuition-free. The program now includes postsecondary credential or certificate programs, in addition to traditional undergraduate degrees. Key Changes Made to the Rule: 1. Expanded Eligibility and Coverage 11 Current Rule: Focused primarily on traditional two and four-year degree programs. Proposed Rule: Now includes postsecondary credential and certificate programs, expanding access to high-skill, high-wage employment training aligned with workforce needs. It also allows access to certain private schools for traditional two and four-year degree programs. 2. Institutional Scope Expansion Current Rule: Covered only state-supported colleges/universities. Proposed Rule: Now includes private institutions and trade schools offering postsecondary credentials or certificates that are eligible to receive Title IV federal aid and located in Arkansas. Reasons for Change: Primarily to comply with Act 2025, Nos. 14 and 826. Further, to expand availability of the benefit to private institutions and trade schools offering postsecondary credentials or certificates that are eligible to receive Title IV federal aid and located in Arkansas.

A public hearing was held on June 17, 2025. The period closed on July 8, 2025. The agency indicated that it received no public comments during the public comment period. The agency further stated that it received the following comment after the expiration of the comment period: Commentor Name: Andy Goodman COMMENTS: Thank you for your efforts to update the Military Department’s rules for the National Guard Tuition Waiver program. If I may, I would like to point out that Act 826 did not dictate that private four-year institutions would waive all tuition for guardsmen in the program. Rather, it states that the beneficiary may receive a tuition benefit under this section up to an amount equal to the amount that the soldier or airman would have received if he or she were attending a state supported institution. In some cases, with this grant, guardsmen/women will be able to attend private institutions tuition free. In some cases, they may not. They will have a guarantee that their tuition benefit will be at least the greatest amount offered at a state college. Item (a) under the ‘Entitlements’ section will need to be changed, so that it does not guarantee a full tuition waiver at priva

• Rule packet: E.4.a DOM ANG Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver Program and Acts 14 and 826
• ALC summary agenda Aug 14, 2025
• ALC agenda Aug 14, 2025
• ALC meeting video Aug 14, 2025
• Arkansas Register, September 2025