Entering Transfer Student Scholarships

Academic Year

The information provided here refers to scholarships funded by the University. A number of privately-funded scholarships are also available through the Missouri State University Foundation.

The following is a summary of scholarship programs for entering transfer students who enroll full-time at the Springfield campus. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships cannot be combined. Additionally, transfer scholarships are renewable for one year only (total of four semesters). With the exception of the Out-of-State Fee Waiver/Midwest Student Exchange Program and Continue the Tradition, the scholarships listed below are for students transferring from community colleges. 

To qualify for scholarships, you must first apply and be accepted for admission. Application forms are available online and from the Missouri State Office of Admissions Your application must be received by the deadline specified for each scholarship description for consideration

Qualifying transfer credits must be completed subsequent to high school graduation and prior to enrollment at the University.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is our intent to award scholarships that show the number available as “Varies” to all qualified students who apply by the deadline; however, the University reserves the right to limit the number of scholarships based on availability of funding. For this reason, students are encouraged to apply for admission early. The University also reserves the right to reduce the number of other scholarships awarded based on availability of funding.  

A special note for transfer students from the West Plains Campus: If you are receiving the Freshman Board of Governors, Multicultural Leadership, Freshman Academic, or Leadership Scholarship from the West Plains Campus and transfer to the Springfield Campus, your scholarship will be continued if you meet the renewal criteria for the scholarship with the same name on the Springfield Campus. For renewal criteria, please see the freshman scholarship page.

Community College Scholarship

Value: $2,000 per year
Number available: Two for each Missouri public community college
Selection criteria: Missouri public community college presidents may each nominate two students to receive this scholarship. Students must have completed at least 30 hours at the community college with a minimum 3.25 GPA.
Renewal criteria: Successfully complete 30 hours at Missouri State with a 3.40 cumulative grade point average; renewable for one year.
Application: Colleges must submit letters of recommendation to the Office of Student Financial Aid by May 1.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship

Value: $5,000 per year.
Number available: 4
Selection criteria: Entering students must be current members of Phi Theta Kappa
Renewal criteria: Successfully complete 30 hours at Missouri State with a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. Participate in at least two public affairs activities; renewable for one year.
Application: Apply for admission and complete the PTK Scholarship Application. (You will need an Adobe Acrobat reader to view this file.) Summer/fall applicants must apply by March 1; spring applicants by October 1.

Transfer Academic Scholarship

Value: $1,500 per year
Number available: Varies (see above)
Selection criteria: Entering students must be community college transfers who have completed (or will have completed prior to their first semester at MSU) at least 45 transferable credit hours at the community college with a 3.60 cumulative grade point average.
Renewal criteria: Successfully complete 30 hours at Missouri State with a 3.40 cumulative grade point average; renewable for one year.
Application: Apply for admission and complete the online Transfer Academic Scholarship Application by the deadline. Summer/fall applicants must apply by March 1; spring applicants by October 1.
Note: This award is not available to recipients of the Phi Theta Kappa, Community College or Multicultural Leadership Scholarships.

Missouri State Promise Scholarship

Value: Equal to the cost of full-time tuition and fees and a standard book allowance of $900 per year ($450 per semester) minus any gift aid received by the student.
Number available: Varies (see above)
Selection criteria:  Awarded to Missouri resident transfer students who have completed an associate degree from a regionally accredited Missouri community college or associate degree-granting college (including MSU-West Plains) and who have a total household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Students must enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours per semester in the fall and spring semesters).
Renewal criteria: Complete 24 or more credit hours in the academic year with a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher and continue to meet the need requirement.
Application: Students entering in the summer or fall semesters who submit a FAFSA by June 30 will automatically be considered. For students entering in the spring, the FAFSA must be filed by October 31. No special application is required. We encourage students to submit the FAFSA online.
See more details.

Multicultural Leadership Scholarship

Value: $6,250 per year
Number available: 50
Criteria: Transfer students must have completed at least 24 transferable hours at a community college with a 3.00 grade point average. Applicants must have demonstrated leadership and have demonstrated leadership in multicultural school or community activities or organizations. An interview may be required as part of the selection process.
Renewal criteria: Successfully complete 24 hours with a 2.75 grade point average. Additionally, you will be required to complete 40 hours of community or campus service during your first year. MLS transfer recipients who graduate in two years or less, meet renewal criteria their second year, and begin an MSU graduate program the semester following their graduation may receive this scholarship for their first year of graduate study (unless they receive a graduate assistantship).
Application: Apply for admission to the University and complete the Missouri State Multicultural Leadership Scholarship Application and return to the Office of Financial Aid by December 1.

Out-of-State Fee Waiver/Midwest Student Exchange Program

Value: A full waiver of non-resident fees (current value is approximately $5,820 annually).
Number Available: Varies (see above)
Selection criteria: Non-resident entering transfer students who have completed at least 24 hours* with a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.
Renewal criteria: Successfully complete 30 hours each year with a 3.25 cumulative grade point average
Application: No special application required. Eligible students will be identified based on their application credentials. While there is no application deadline, students are encouraged to apply early to be considered for scholarships which do have deadlines. Qualified residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota or Wisconsin will receive the Midwest Student Exchange Award; other qualified non-residents will receive the Out-of-State Fee Waiver.
Note: This waiver can be combined with any of the scholarships shown above. 

Continue the Tradition Fee Waiver Program

Value: A full waiver of non-resident fees (current value is approximately $5,820 annually).
Number Available: Varies (see above)
Selection criteria: Student must be the child or grandchild of a Missouri State graduate and a non-resident entering transfer student.
Renewal criteria: Successfully complete 24 hours at Missouri State each year and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Application: Apply for admission and submit the Continue the Tradition online application . While there is no application deadline, students are encouraged to apply early to be considered for scholarships which do have deadlines.
Note: This waiver can be combined with any of the scholarships shown here that do not already provide a waiver of out-of-state fees.