Adult and Commuter Student Services

Scholarships, Loans and Grants for the Nontraditional Student

Want to return to Missouri State to finish your degree but need some financial assistance? For the first time this spring, Missouri State is providing a special, one-time financial gift to help you return! To see if you qualify, call (417) 836-6929.

Incentive Grant for Undergraduate Students
The “Complete Your Degree Incentive Grant” is designed to encourage undergraduate students to return to Missouri State University to complete their degrees. This one-time grant, valued at $500, is available to students returning for the fall 2009 semester only.

Incentive Grant for Graduate Students
The “Complete Your Degree Incentive Grant” is designed to encourage graduate students to return to Missouri State University to complete their degrees. This one-time grant, valued at $500, is available to students returning for the fall 2009 semester only

Graduate Incentive First-time Tuition Grant
The “Graduate Incentive First-time Tuition Grant” is offered to encourage individuals with a bachelor’s degree to experience graduate education.  This one-time grant, valued at $250, is available to those who have no previous experience with graduate work and have not applied to or been admitted to a graduate degree program.  This incentive grant offer is for fall 2009 enrollment of new post-baccalaureate students.

City of Springfield Tuition Reimbursement Program
As a pilot program, Missouri State will provide a discount of $250 to City of Springfield employees who qualify for and take a course at Missouri State under the City’s tuition reimbursement program. The $250 discount will apply to each Missouri State course in which the employee enrolls. This grant is available for fall 2009.

Renewed Employability Now Education Waiver
(RENEW)

Missouri State University offers this unique fee waiver to individuals who have lost their full-time jobs since October 2008 and who are eligible to be admitted to a graduate or undergraduate degree program, or who are pursuing teacher certification at Missouri State. RENEW is intended to help these Missouri residents prepare for their future through completion of a Missouri State degree.

Renewed Employability Now Education Waiver

Non-Resident Fee Waiver for New Part-time Students

Criteria:   This waiver is available beginning with the fall 2009 semester to entering students (including degree and non-degree seeking undergraduate and graduate students) who have not previously attended Missouri State University and will be enrolled in six or fewer credit hours.

Amount:  This waiver will cover the non-resident portion of fees for students taking six or fewer credit hours.  (For example, undergraduate students taking six hours of credit at the standard tuition rate will receive a waiver with a value of $1,056.)  The waiver will be applied following the end of the change of schedule period (the end of the first week of classes for the fall and spring semesters and the third day of classes for the summer session).

Renewability:  This is a one-time (non-renewable) waiver.

Application process:   No application is required.  Credit will be automatic and will be applied to the students account at the close of the first week of the semester.
This waiver is not available to students who are recipients of other out-of-state fee waivers (e.g., students receiving graduate assistantships).

Return to Learn Scholarships

Each fall and spring semester, the Office of Adult Student Services awards a limited number of the "Return to Learn Scholarships" for undergraduate students 25 years of age or older. This scholarship will be awarded to adult undergraduate students (degree or non-degree seeking) entering college for the first time or returning after an absence of three years or longer. The scholarship is intended for adult/non-traditional students who exhibit outstanding potential for academic success at Missouri State University. The $1000 scholarship is applied to the recipient's account over two semesters if all criteria have been met.

The “Continuation Scholarship” is available for students who have successfully satisfied the requirements for the “Return to Learn Scholarship" as a way to reward them for their successes in their first two semesters of college work and as an incentive to continue to meet their educational needs. This $2000 scholarship is applied to the recipient's account over two semesters if all criteria have been met.

These scholarships may not be used for non-credit courses or in conjunction with Senior Citizen fee waivers.

Return to Learn Scholarship Eligibility:

To qualify for the first part of the two-semester scholarship, applicants must:
a)  Be 25 years of age or older
b)  Be enrolled in the first or second semester of his/her first college experience (excluding summer session) or be returning after an absence of three years or more
c)  Maintain enrollment in a minimum of 6 credit hours

Download scholarship application
(Download Adobe Acrobat Reader)

To qualify for the second semester of the scholarship, applicants must:
a)  Have a 2.5 or better GPA after the first semester of his/her return to college study
b)  Maintain enrollment in a minimum of 6 credit hours
c)  Be enrolled in his/her second consecutive semester at Missouri State University

Continuation Scholarship Eligibility:

First Semester:
a)  Must have completed and fulfilled the requirement of the “Return to Learn” scholarship
b)  Must be enrolled in his/her third consecutive semester at Missouri State University (excluding summer session)
c)  Must be in the top 5 GPA ranking among eligible applicants and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
d)  Must maintain enrollment in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester

Second Semester:
a)  Must have a 3.0 or higher GPA to qualify for the second part of the two-semester scholarship
b) Must maintain enrollment in a minimum of 6 credit hours
c) Must be enrolled in his/her fourth consecutive semester at Missouri State University

For further information, contact Adult Student Services at 417-836-6929 or toll free at 877-678-2005 outside the Springfield area.

Please take a moment to investigate other financial aid opportunities by visiting the Financial Aid office web site.

The following links will also provide sources for scholarships, grants, and loans:

www.fastWeb.com
www.scholarships.com
www.dhe.mo.gov
www.mohela.com
www.nslc.org
www.nslp.org
www.salliemae.com
www.ed.gov
www.finaid.org/otheraid/older.phtml
www.back2college.com
www.collegeboard.com/scholarships
www.wiredscholar.com
www.fastaid.com

For nondegree-seeking and/or part-time students:

www.teri.org