Missouri Student Grants for College
Fund Your Education with Free Grant Money
Paying for college can be a heavy burden, but the state of Missouri has provided several options for those who are looking to further their education.
The opportunities listed below are grants offered by the state. Understanding the difference between grants, scholarships and loans can be helpful when investigating the various avenues for financial aid.
Unlike a loan, a grant is a monetary gift that does not have to be repaid. Grants can either be awarded as one time contributions or come as renewable gifts.
A grant differs from a scholarship in that it is need-based, whereas scholarships are usually awarded based on merit (academic, athletic, etc.).
Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
The Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program is the largest need-based grant program in the state of Missouri. It is important to note that this program takes the place of both the former Charles Gallagher Student Financial Assistance and the Missouri College Guarantee programs.
Eligibility for First Time Applicants
- File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 1
- Make the needed corrections to the FAFSA by July 31 (Note: Depending on the various schools you would like to list and your eligibility, the deadline for adding any school choices may be extended until September 30. Contact the Missouri Department of Higher Education to determine if this is an option.)
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
- Must be a resident of the state of Missouri
- Must be a full time undergraduate student enrolled at one of Missouri’s participating schools
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC) must be $12,000 or less
- Exclusions:
- If the applicant has earned his or her first bachelor’s degree, finished all hours necessary for a bachelor’s degree, or earned 150 semester credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree, he or she will not be eligible for the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program.
- The Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program is not available to a student in the fields of theology or divinity.
- Maintain all of the conditions of eligibility listed above for first time students
- Keep a 2.5 minimum overall GPA
- Continue to satisfy your school’s academic requirements
- Exclusions:
- A student is not eligible for renewal if he or she has been a recipient of this grant for either of the following:
- 5 semesters at a 2 year school
- 10 semesters at any combination of a 2 or 4 year school, whichever takes place first.
- A student is not eligible for renewal if he or she has been a recipient of this grant for either of the following:
- Public 2 Year School: Minimum amount is $300; Maximum amount is $1,000
- Public 4 Year School and Linn State Technical College: Minimum amount is $1,000; Maximum amount is $2,150
- Private School: Minimum amount is $2,000; Maximum amount is $4,600
Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Program
The Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Program was created for public employees and families of public employees who have either lost their lives or have been rendered permanently and completely disabled in the course of their work. The program offers financial aid towards tuition and is a renewable grant.
Eligibility for First Time and Renewing Applicants
- Must be one of the following:
- Public service officer who has been permanently and completely disabled as a result of injury in the field
- Spouse of public service officer who has lost his or her life or been permanently and completely disabled as a result of injury in the field
- Child (either biological, adopted or stepchild) of public service officer or MODOT (Missouri Department of Transportation) employee who has lost his or her life or been permanently and completely disabled as a result of injury in the field
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident
- Must be a resident of the state of Missouri
- Must be under the age of 24 if you are a dependent child
- Must be accepted or enrolled as an undergraduate and full time student at one of Missouri’s participating schools.
- Satisfy all of your school’s academic requirements
- Exclusions:
- If you have already earned a bachelor’s degree, you are not eligible for the Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant.
- The Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant is not available to a student in the fields of theology or divinity.
The amount of grant money that a student may receive is based on either the actual cost of full time tuition for your school of choice or the cost of full time tuition for a comparable major at the University of Missouri-Columbia, whichever is less.
There is no deadline for submission. However, the grants are awarded on a first come first serve basis. First time applicants are required to supply certified proof of death or disability from the employer of the public service officer who has been killed or disabled in the course of their work.
If you are renewing your grant it is only necessary to resubmit an application. Proof of death or disability is not required. Additionally, your school of choice must fill out the application’s Section III for both first time and renewing students.
Vietnam Veteran Survivor Grant Program
The Vietnam Veteran Survivor Grant Program offers up to 12 grants each year to a surviving child and/or spouse of a veteran who served in Vietnam during the years of 1961 to 1972. The veteran’s death must have been a result of being exposed to toxic chemicals while they were serving in the Vietnam War. It is also required that the veteran have been a resident of the state of Missouri at the time of enlistment into the military and at the time of death.
Eligibility for First Time and Renewing Applicants
- Must be accepted or enrolled as an undergraduate and full time student at one of Missouri’s participating schools.
- Full time enrollment is qualified as 12 credit hours. Full time enrollment for a student with disabilities may be qualified as 6 credit hours.
- Must be a citizen or permanent U.S. resident
- Satisfy all of your school’s academic requirements
- Exclusions:
- The Vietnam Veteran Survivor Grant is not available to a student in the fields of theology or divinity.
- If you have already earned a bachelor’s degree, earned 150 credit hours, or been a recipient of the Vietnam Veteran Survivor Grant for 10 semesters you are not eligible for this award.
- A dependant child who has not met criteria for the previous bullet point will continue to be eligible up to and through the semester you turn 25. A spouse who has not met criteria for the previous bullet point will continue to be eligible up to and through the semester of the fifth anniversary of the veteran’s death.
The amount of grant money that a student may receive is based on either the actual cost of full time tuition for your school of choice or the cost of full time tuition for a comparable major at the University of Missouri Columbia, whichever is less.
To apply for the Vietnam Veteran Survivor Grant fill out the application located on the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s website.ÊThere is no deadline for submission. However, the grants are awarded on a first come first serve basis.
First time applicants are required to supply certified proof from a Missouri state veterans service officer that the veteran’s death was caused by or a result of being exposed to toxic chemicals.
If you are renewing your grant it is only necessary to resubmit an application. Proof of cause of death is not required. Additionally, your school of choice must fill out the application’s Section III for both first time and renewing students.
Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant Program
The Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant Program provides up to 25 grants each year to a child and/or spouse of a veteran who has been killed or wounded in combat, or who has been 80% disabled due to wounds from combat since 9/11/2001. The Missouri Veteran’s Commission must be contacted to verify if the veteran qualifies for this program.
It is also required that the veteran have been a resident of the state of Missouri at the time of enlistment into the military and at the time of death or wounding.
Eligibility for First Time Applicants
- Must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent U.S. resident, or living legally in the U.S.
- Must be accepted or enrolled at minimum as a half-time student in one of Missouri’s participating public schools
- For a child of the veteran:
- Must be under the age of 25
- Must have been a dependant when the veteran was killed or wounded
- Maintain all of the conditions of eligibility listed above for first time students
- Keep a 2.5 minimum overall GPA
- Continue to satisfy your school’s academic requirements
- The cost of tuition for the amount of credit hours at your school of choice or the cost of tuition for the same amount of credit hours at University of Missouri Columbia, whichever is less.
- $2,000 for room and board
- Cost of books or $500, whichever is less.
