Missouri State University is located in Springfield, in southwest Missouri.

Flights into Illinois are available through the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

Springfield is Missouri's third-largest city, with about 350,000 people living in the metropolitan area. It's large enough to let you feel the electric vibe of a city, but small enough so you won't feel lost. Springfield is within a 500-mile radius of nearly 50 percent of the U.S. population.

Entertainment

Among the entertainment perks, Springfield supports 500 restaurants, four large movie-theater complexes, a symphony, ballet, art museum, theater and even an opera. The Juanita K. Hammons Hall for Performing Arts brings Broadway plays and internationally known entertainers to campus. Less than a mile from campus, downtown is the scene for live music. On any given weekend, there may be 30 or more bands playing around town. Discover more things to do in Springfield.

Shopping

If you are a shopping enthusiast, Battlefield Mall is the place for you. It’s one of the largest indoor shopping centers in the state, with more than 190 stores. Around town, there are nearly 1,500 retail outlets to match your shopping interests, including trendy boutiques and art galleries downtown and the environmentally friendly Green Circle Shopping Center. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, one of Missouri’s largest tourist attractions, is the place to get your gear for outdoor fun. You can trek next door to the new American National Fish and Wildlife Museum to explore some of the native species, as well as a few thousand others. Find out more about shopping in Springfield.

Sports

Mediacom Ice Park Springfield’s indoor ice-skating rink, has brought a new dimension of indoor entertainment to the area. You can enjoy recreational skating or cheer on the Missouri State Ice Bears, a club team within the American Collegiate Hockey Association. Hammons Field is home to Springfield’s professional baseball team, the Springfield Cardinals, as well as the Missouri State Baseball Bears. The Cardinals team is the St. Louis Cardinals AA affiliate and a member of the Texas League of professional baseball clubs. Learn more about sporting events in Springfield.

Outdoors

Springfield has a ton of parks, each with a different personality. There's a Japanese stroll garden, bike paths, a dog park and more. If you want to hike a trail, try the Springfield Conservation Nature Center or Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. Serious outdoor types can find campgrounds, state parks and a national forest within easy driving distances. 

For more information about Springfield, visit springfieldmo.org and our Visitor's Guide.

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

Value

A full waiver of non-resident fees (current value is approximately $6,360 annually for students taking 30 credit hours per year).

Number available

Varies

Application

No application is required. Eligible students will be identified based on their admission 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.

Renewal criteria

Successfully complete 30 Missouri State credit hours each academic year with a 3.25 cumulative Missouri State grade point average.

Selection criteria

Non-resident entering freshmen must have either an ACT composite of 24 or higher (or SAT of 1090*) or a 3.50 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale or a class rank in the top 25 percent.

*SAT score reflects the sum of the Critical Reading and Math portions of the SAT only.

Additional information

This waiver can be combined with any of the other freshman scholarships that do not already provide a waiver of out-of-state fees.