Missouri scholarships and grants
Every program the state of Missouri runs for students, checked against its official page. For a list matched to you, answer a few questions.
Open to most students
Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
$1,700 max per year at public 2-year schools; $3,500 max per year at public 4-year, State Technical College, private and approved virtual schools (minimums $500 / $1,750; may be less depending on funding)Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Open now · due February 1, 2027Need-based grant of $500-$1,700/yr at public 2-year colleges or $1,750-$3,500/yr at 4-year, private, State Tech and approved virtual schools in Missouri.
- What it takes: FAFSA only
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Advanced Placement Incentive Grant
$500 one-timeMissouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Open now · due June 1, 2027One-time $500 grant for Access Missouri or A+ recipients who scored 3+ on two AP math/science exams at a Missouri public high school.
- What it takes: state application + test scores
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Bright Flight Scholarship (Higher Education Academic Scholarship Program)
Up to $3,000 per year (top 3% of ACT/SAT scores); up to $1,000 per year (top 4th-5th percentile)Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Apply any timeMerit scholarship of up to $3,000/yr for Missouri students scoring in the top 3% on the ACT/SAT ($1,000/yr for the top 4-5%).
- What it takes: test scores
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant
Remaining tuition and fees after other non-loan aid (public schools fully covered; private capped at the comparable public rate), or up to $500 for other costs if tuition is already coveredMissouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Check datesCovers remaining tuition and fees (or apprenticeship costs) for Missouri adults 25+ training for high-demand jobs; up to $500 for other costs if tuition is already covered.
- What it takes: state application + FAFSA
- For adults going back to school, undergrads, trade school students
- For state-designated high-demand programs and apprenticeships students
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
For specific students
Military families, foster youth, certain careers and more. Each card says who qualifies.
A+ Scholarship Program
Remaining tuition and general fees after federal non-loan aid, up to $240.00 per credit hour ($8.00 per clock hour) for 2026-27Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Apply any timePays remaining tuition and general fees at Missouri community colleges and technical schools for graduates of A+ designated high schools (capped at $240 per credit hour in 2026-27).
- Who it's for: Graduate of an A+ designated Missouri high school
- What it takes: FAFSA + transcript
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, trade school students
- Needs a 2.5+ GPA
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Missouri National Guard State Tuition Assistance (Missouri Educational Assistance Grant)
50-100% of University of Missouri resident tuition, up to 15 credit hours per fall/spring term and 9 in summer (150-hour lifetime limit)Missouri National Guard
Apply any timePays 50-100% of University of Missouri resident tuition for Missouri National Guard members working on a first degree, up to 15 hours per fall/spring term.
- Who it's for: Member of the Missouri National Guard
- What it takes: state application + membership
- For undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Missouri Returning Heroes Education Act
$50 per credit hour tuition for undergraduate programs; graduate tuition capped at 30% of tuition and feesMissouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Apply any timeCaps undergraduate tuition at $50 per credit hour (graduate: 30% of tuition and fees) for honorably discharged combat veterans at Missouri public colleges.
- Who it's for: Honorably discharged combat veteran (including Guard/Reserve with 30+ days of federal combat activation)
- What it takes: membership
- For undergrads, grad students, trade school students, adults going back to school
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Public Service Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant
Up to the lesser of your school's tuition for 12 credit hours or University of Missouri-Columbia resident tuition for 12 hours, per semesterMissouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Apply any timeTuition grant for Missouri public safety officers permanently disabled on duty, and for spouses and children of officers or MoDOT workers killed or disabled on duty.
- Who it's for: Public safety officer permanently disabled in the line of duty, or the spouse or child of a public safety officer or MoDOT highway employee killed or permanently disabled on duty
- What it takes: state application
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant
Per semester: tuition up to University of Missouri-Columbia resident rate + up to $2,000 room and board + up to $500 booksMissouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Apply any timeTuition, up to $2,000/semester for housing and up to $500 for books for spouses and children of Missouri post-9/11 combat veterans killed or 80% disabled in combat (25 awards/yr).
- Who it's for: Spouse or child of a qualifying post-9/11 Missouri combat veteran killed, injured, or 80% disabled in combat
- What it takes: state application
- For students starting college, undergrads
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully present
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Kids' Chance Scholarship Program (state)
Lesser of your tuition and fees, University of Missouri resident tuition, or the maximum private Kids' Chance award ($6,500 in 2023-24)Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Check datesTuition scholarship for Missouri students aged 17-22 whose parent was seriously injured or killed in a workers' comp-covered work accident.
- Who it's for: Child of a worker seriously injured or killed in a work accident covered by Missouri workers' compensation
- What it takes: FAFSA + state application
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads
- Need-based: the FAFSA decides how much you get.
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully present
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program
Award amounts determined annually (not stated on the official page)Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Opens laterCompetitive scholarship for minority and underrepresented Missouri students in environmental, engineering and natural-resource majors (bachelor's or master's).
- Who it's for: Only some students qualify. The official page explains who.
- What it takes: state application + essay + recommendation + transcript + test scores
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students
- Needs a 2.5+ GPA
- For environmental engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering students
- Who can get it: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully present
- Usual timing: Annual; application due June 1 (2026-27 deadline was June 1, 2026).
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act Scholarship
100% of remaining tuition and mandatory fees after federal and state grants (subject to appropriation)Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Opens laterCovers remaining tuition and fees for Missouri police, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and 911 dispatchers (6+ years' service) and their children (parent 10+ years).
- Who it's for: Missouri police officer, firefighter, paramedic, EMT/AEMT or telecommunicator first responder with 6+ years' service, or the child of one with 10+ years' service (or who died in the line of duty)
- What it takes: state application + FAFSA
- For students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, adults going back to school
- For criminal justice, fire science, paramedicine students
- Usual timing: Annual; statutory application deadline Dec. 15 for the following academic year (application opens about late October); decisions by March 1.
Checked against the official page October 5, 2026
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.