Office of University Communications 

New scholarship to cover all tuition for neediest students

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – “A student from a family with a high income is seven times more likely to complete a baccalaureate degree or higher than a student from a low-income family,” says Missouri State University President Michael T. Nietzel. “If we are going to improve access and increase affordability – if we are going to democratize society and make higher education the opportunity equalizer it should be – then we must take steps to change this statistic.”

And that's exactly what Missouri State did today (Jan. 19) when it announced a new need-based scholarship program, the Missouri State Promise, to benefit the neediest students attending the university. Nietzel announced the program in an afternoon news conference with area legislators and other officials in attendance. Details about the program (detailed policy statement, frequently asked questions, etc.) will be on the university's web site by Feb. 1. Nietzel will recommend the program to the Board of Governors for final approval in March.

Beginning in the fall of 2007, first time freshmen and associate-degreed transfer students who are at or below the poverty level will receive a Missouri State Promise Scholarship. This award will pay the difference between the cost of tuition and required fees and any grant or gift aid the student might have received, such as a Pell Grant and scholarships. In addition, the university will provide recipients up to $800 annually for books. In short, students who are at or below the poverty level will not pay a cent nor take out any loans for tuition, fees and books for their education at Missouri State – four years for incoming freshmen and two years for transfer students. 

First-time freshmen who are Missouri residents are eligible for the scholarship, as are transfer students from Missouri community colleges who are Missouri residents and have an earned associate degree.

To qualify, students must be from families that are at or below the poverty level as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Students must meet the selective admissions requirements on the Springfield Campus and meet the financial aid priority application deadline of March 31.

Incoming freshmen will be eligible to receive the scholarship for four years, provided they continue to meet academic and financial aid requirements. Transfer students will be eligible to receive the scholarship for two years, provided they meet the academic and financial aid requirements.

The scholarship covers tuition and required fees for 15 credit hours for both fall and spring semesters, and up to $800 per year for books. 

For example, if the cost of tuition and fees is $5,738, and a student has $4,550 in grant and scholarship aid, Missouri State would pay the difference between the two: $1,188. In addition, the university would provide up to $800 annually to cover the cost of books. Here are the details of this example:

Tuition and Fees (30 Credit Hours)	$5,738
Financial Aid
Pell Grant	$4,050
Institutional, Foundation or Other Scholarship	$500
Missouri State Promise Scholarship
Difference between cost of $5,738 and aid of $4,550	$1,188
Books (Maximum per year)	$800
Total Scholarship	$1,988

When fully implemented, the program is estimated to cost $1 million annually. To pay for the scholarships, the university will reallocate some existing financial aid funds, increase its financial aid budget and also seek private support for the program, according to Nietzel.

“I plan to ask private individuals, businesses and corporations to ‘buy stock' in Missouri's future by contributing to this program,” said Nietzel. “The investment will yield a return for those investors that is more valuable than any dividend: the opportunity for all talented students to become better educated citizens for the 21st century.”

The university hopes to identify a lead donor, as well as others who invest in the program, within a month.

Last year, Missouri State introduced its Choice And Predictability In Tuition (CAP-IT) plan to give students and their families options in financing education. Also last year, Nietzel made a commitment to increase the university's need-based financial aid by $1 million over the next three years. With this new program, it will exceed that pledge. In addition, Missouri State University announced a partnership with MOST, the Missouri College Savings Plan, to provide scholarships to those who save through the program. 

And Nietzel promises more initiatives in the coming months to increase access and affordability for Missouri students to attend Missouri State University. Those initiatives will concentrate on increasing the availability of courses and academic programs so that students have more options for pursuing and completing their education at Missouri State.

The university is finalizing the details of the Missouri State Promise scholarship program. For more information, contact the office of admissions at (417) 836-5517 or (800) 492-7900.