The GO! Opportunities Grant is the first state-funded college grant program in Arkansas based solely on financial need, Beebe said.

“This is for youngsters of very limited income families, and they don’t perform outstanding in the classroom,” the governor said during a news conference at Pulaski Technical College.

The Legislature this year approved $18.4 million for the scholarship grants over the next two years.

The state already has several other scholarships available for high-achieving students, Beebe said Tuesday.

“For some kids, their light bulbs don’t come on until they are seniors or juniors,” Beebe said. “Some kids don’t get serious until their last year. Some kids don’t test well … and yet they can do the college work, they can get into colleges and they would be productive citizens and our country would benefit from them if they were able to access higher education.”

Obtaining a college degree significantly raises a person’s economic potential, he said, noting that just 19 percent of Arkansans over 25 have a bachelor’s degree.

The grant program offers $1,000 a year to qualified freshmen who are full-time students, and $500 to part-time students.

To qualify, a student must have lived in Arkansas for at least 12 months prior to application, and have graduated from an Arkansas high school or obtained a General Education Development degree.

Applicants with GED degrees must be between 16 and 18 years old.

The student also must meet all college entrance requirements and maintain a 2.0 grade-point average once in college.

The student’s family must make $25,000 a year or less. The income limit is raised by $5,000 annually for each additional dependent child.

Beebe said virtually every student eligible for the GO! Opportunities Grant also would probably qualify for other financial aid programs, including the federal Pell Grant program.

“The other forms of aid taken with this program will provide the opportunity” to go to college, Beebe said.