Financial Aid Rules and Procedures

Lyon Scholarships for 2024-25

Lyon offers the following merit-based and need-based scholarship programs for the 2024-25 academic year. Lyon reviews its scholarship programs annually and makes modifications as appropriate. Consequently, the number and size of awards may vary from year to year. Institutional scholarship maintenance requirements are outlined in the section on “Financial Aid Eligibility” (see above). Scholarship maintenance requirements that are specific to particular scholarships are outlined in the scholarship descriptions that follow below. 

Lyon Honors Fellowships

A select number of entering freshman students will be invited to apply and interview for limited spots in the prestigious Lyon Honors Program - a rigorous course of study designed to provide highly skilled, motivated students the opportunity to study, travel, hone their research skills, and exchange ideas in a challenging and supportive academic environment. With an offer of a Lyon Honors Fellowship comes an additional, generous annual stipend. Lyon Honors Fellowships are valid for up to eight semesters of full-time study as long as the student maintains a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 by the end of the first year and each year thereafter and meets all other institutional scholarship maintenance scholarship requirements. Freshman Lyon Honors Fellows are required to reside on campus.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Lyon College awards academic merit-based aid according to a review of a student’s application and academic performance. These amounts are annual and renewable for up to eight semesters of undergraduate study provided that the student maintains requirements. Students will be notified of their award by the Admissions Office staff after being accepted.

International & Transfer Scholarships

Lyon welcomes qualified transfer students who have demonstrated their academic ability and commitment to the pursuit of higher education at other institutions. Lyon College offers academic scholarships to accepted students transferring to Lyon from two-year and four-year institutions.

International Baccalaureate Scholarships

Accepted applicants who are International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates receive a $1,000 award in addition to their main Institutional (Lyon-funded) scholarship. IB Diploma candidacy must be confirmed by the student’s high school if not listed on the transcript. However, total institutional aid may not exceed the amount of tuition.

Performance Affinity Awards

Lyon offers a limited amount of performance awards annually to members of the entering students who demonstrate outstanding ability in music, theatre, or visual art. These performance awards may be stacked with all other Lyon institutional scholarships and grants, except Lyon Fellowships. (Only one performance award per student)

Candidates must schedule a campus audition or portfolio review through the Admissions Office.

Audition expectations:

  • Vocal Music: Two contrasting pieces with sheet music for piano accompaniment; an accompanist is provided. 

  • Theatre: Two contrasting 1-minute monologues (reflecting your age and gender).

  • Visual Art: Portfolios should consist of no more than 15 works of art, reflecting the student's ability to use a variety of mediums. We prefer actual works over digital files, though exceptions can sometimes be made.

  • Instrumental Music (Marching, Concert, or Jazz Band): Two contrasting pieces, with scales up to three sharps and three flats, two octaves.

  • Scottish Heritage: demonstrate outstanding ability in piping, drumming, or Highland dance. Scottish fiddle, accordion, or other instruments may also be considered. 

Competitive Club Scholarships

Lyon has many clubs, or 'affinity groups', that students can participate in. These groups capture a wide range of interests, talents, and abilities of the students who are attracted to a great school like Lyon College. Lyon's affinity groups/club sports are: 

  • Archery

  • Band

  • Cheer and Dance

  • Choir

  • Esports

  • LEAP (Lyon Education Activities Program): Disc Golf, Cycling, Rock Climbing

    Students who participate in these sports/activities are recruited specifically for these programs and can receive scholarship offers to participate in the activity at Lyon College. The scholarships may be combined with academic scholarships, and have the same basic maintenance requirement as most other institutional scholarships (full-time enrollment, minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, Good Academic Standing). As with other participation scholarships, these can be combined with other Lyon scholarships, excluding Lyon Fellowships, but not beyond the total cost of tuition.

Military Friendly Scholarships

Lyon College welcomes veterans and their dependents with VA benefits to Lyon College. We are proud to partner with the VA in funding a superior education for our brave veterans and their dependents. We welcome VA beneficiaries with Chapters 31, 33, and 35 benefits. Obtain your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA and bring it to us - we'll take it from there!

Also, Lyon's new Military Science concentration is perfect for so many students, not only those who commit to serving in the National Guard or Armed Services. Lyon's ROTC Program has fantastic benefits for those commits...either full tuition and fees or room and board.

Lyon's military-related scholarships will supplement both Chapter 33 VA benefits recipients, as well as those committed to the ROTC program.


Lyon College Legacy Award (Additional Materials Required)

  • Lyon College is proud to offer incoming freshmen the Legacy Award—a $500 per year grant, renewable up to 4 years. The Legacy Award will be available for any incoming student who is the sibling, child, or grandchild of a Lyon College/Arkansas College graduate or current full-time Lyon student. That's $2,000 off your tuition, over 4 years, just for picking the same college as your sibling, parent, or grandparent! This $500 per year Legacy Award will be awarded in addition to any and all other Lyon institutional scholarships and grants, though total institutional aid shall not exceed the full cost of tuition.

  • To request a legacy award application, ask your Admissions Counselor, or call 870.307.7250, or email financialaid@lyon.edu.