These scholarships are funded by MSU. See below for scholarship criteria, application
information and deadlines.
Op5.08-10 Scholarships for Entering Freshmen
This policy applies to students admitted beginning summer 2023 through spring 2024. Students admitted for previous semesters should visit the How Do I Keep My Financial Aid page.
To qualify for these scholarships, students must meet the specific criteria and also
meet General Scholarship Policies.
Unless otherwise noted, the scholarships below cannot be combined. All university
scholarships can be combined with externally-funded scholarships (e.g., Bright Flight,
MSU donor-funded scholarships, and outside scholarships).
Automatic scholarships
Scholarships shown below are automatically awarded to qualified students who apply
for admission by February 1 of their senior year. Students who apply after February
1 may be considered on an individual basis if funding is available.
Combined GPA and standardized test score scholarships
Eligibility for the Board of Governors, Provost and Deans scholarships is based on
and admitted students' high school GPA and ACT or SAT scores upon admission. Missouri
State will use the higher of a student's composite or superscore ACT or SAT to determine
their eligibility. If a student's GPA (after the sixth, seventh or eighth semester)
or test score (earned through April* test date) improves, their scholarship will be
upgraded. See chart below for criteria and values for automatic GPA and standard test
score scholarships.
GPA-only scholarships
Eligibility for the Academic Excellence, Distinction and Achievement scholarships
is based on admitted students' high school GPA upon admission. If a student's GPA
improves (based on the sixth, seventh or eighth semester), or they earn an ACT or
SAT score that qualifies them for a Combined GPA and Standardized Test Score Scholarship
(through the April test date), their scholarship will be upgraded. See list below
for criteria and values for automatic GPA-only scholarships.
Criteria and values
[1] Board of Governors Scholarship recipients qualify for admission to the Honors
College and have access to a $1,000 education-abroad voucher. Non-Missouri residents
will also receive a full waiver of non-resident fees. International Baccalaureate Diploma and Career-related Program completers will be awarded the Board of Governors Scholarship regardless of test scores.
This scholarship is renewable for three additional years.
[2] Provost Scholarship recipients have access to a $1,000 education-abroad voucher.
Non-Missouri residents will also receive a full waiver of non-resident fees. Students
who are (a) ranked first or second in their class or (b) in the top 10 percent of their class and have an ACT of 26
or higher (SAT 1230) by April* will receive the Provost Scholarship. This scholarship
is renewable for three additional years.
[3] Deans Scholarship recipients have access to a $1,000 education-abroad voucher.
Non-Missouri residents will also receive a full waiver of non-resident fees. This
scholarship is renewable for three additional years.
Criteria and values for automatic GPA-only scholarships
Name
Value Per Year
Selection Criteria
Deadline and Application
Can be combined with
Academic Excellence
$2,000 per year. Renewable for total of four years.
High School GPA of 3.9 or higher
Apply for admission by February 1
Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders, A+ Recognition and Missouri State Advantage scholarships.
Academic Distinction
$1,500 per year. Renewable for total of four years.
High School GPA of 3.8 to 3.89
Apply for admission by February 1
Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders, A+ Recognition and Missouri State Advantage scholarships.
Academic Achievement
$1,000 per year. Renewable for total of four years.
High School GPA of 3.7 to 3.79
Apply for admission by February 1
Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders, A+ Recognition and Missouri State Advantage scholarships.
Criteria and values for competitive scholarships
Name
Value per year
Selection criteria
Deadline and application
Can be combined with
Presidential Scholarship
$15,000 per year ($7,000 for tuition and $8,000 for on-campus housing). Total potential
value over four years is $60,000. Non-Missouri residents will also receive a full
waiver of nonresident fees for fall and spring semesters.
31 ACT or 1390 SAT and 3.90 cumulative GPA at 6th semester. Qualifying test scores must be earned on tests taken during or before October of the
student's senior year, and we will use the higher of their composite score or superscore.
$4,000 per year, plus $1,000 per year for on-campus housing. Recipients will also
have access to a $1,000 education-abroad voucher. Total potential value over four
years is $21,000. Non-Missouri residents will also receive a full waiver of nonresident
fees for fall and spring semesters.
To be considered for this scholarship, the student must be committed to fostering
an ethical, connected, and collaborative community, as embodied in Missouri State
University’s Public Affairs Mission. Additionally, students must meet one or more
of the following criteria:
Have a demonstrated interest in and/or commitment to recognizing needs in one’s community;
AND
Be from a low-income household; OR
Be a first-generation college student (i.e., neither of your parent(s)/guardian(s)
has a bachelor's degree).
The student's academic performance and their record of school and community service
will also be considered.
Complete the Engaged Citizen Award and apply for admission by February 1. The student must have submitted required transcripts
and test scores and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by that date.
A+ Recognition Scholarship.
Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders Scholarship
$2,500 per year ($1,000 for students who are also receiving either the Provost, Deans,
Academic Excellence, Academic Distinction, or Academic Achievement Scholarship). Total
potential value over four years is $10,000 ($4,000 for recipients of the above listed
scholarships).
To be considered, the student must demonstrate that they have excelled in three of
the following four areas: leadership, performing arts, volunteerism and athletics.
They must also have a class rank in the top 50% (or have a 3.00 cumulative GPA at
6th semester) and have a 20 ACT or 1030 SAT. Qualifying scores must be earned on tests
taken during or before December of their senior year, and we will use the higher of
their composite score or superscore.
This scholarship can be combined with the Provost, Deans, A+ Recognition, Academic
Excellence, Academic Distinction, Academic Achievement, Missouri State Advantage and
Boys/Girls State scholarships.
Criteria and values for other scholarships
Name
Value per year
Selection criteria
Deadline and application
Can be combined with
Missouri State Advantage Scholarship
$1,000 Renewable for 3 additional years.
Complete 9 or more hours through the Missouri State dual credit program with a 3.25
or higher GPA.
Apply for admission by June 1. No scholarship application required.
Provost, Deans, Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders, Academic Excellence, Academic Distinction,
Academic Achievement, A+ Recognition Scholarship and Missouri Boys/Girls State scholarships.
A+ Recognition Scholarship
$500 Renewable for 3 additional years.
To be considered for this scholarship, the student must be a Missouri resident with
A+ certification.
Board of Governors, Provost, Deans, Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders, Missouri State
Advantage, Missouri State Promise, Academic Excellence, Academic Distinction, Academic
Achievement, and Missouri Boys/Girls State scholarships.
Missouri State Promise Scholarship
$2,000 Renewable for 3 additional years.
Missouri residents with $12,000 or less EFC and a qualifying academic record who are
not receiving another MSU scholarship.
Apply for admission and submit FAFSA by February 1.
A+ Recognition Scholarship.
Missouri Boys State and Girls State Leadership Award
$1,000 Not renewable.
Leadership experience and academic record. 5 Boys State and 5 Girls State will be
awarded annually.
Through private gifts to the Missouri State University Foundation by individuals,
groups, or companies, scholarships are awarded annually to students who demonstrate
outstanding academic achievement, leadership and/or financial need. Most donor-funded
scholarships are awarded to students who have completed one or more years at Missouri
State. A limited number are available to entering students. Most have specific criteria
(e.g., specific majors or graduation from a specific high school), and their average
value is approximately $1,000. To be considered for these scholarships, students must
be admitted to the University and complete the online MSU Annual Scholarship Application by March 1.
General scholarship policies
The university offers a range of institutionally-funded scholarships to entering first-time
students. To qualify for these scholarships, students must meet the specific criteria
and also:
Graduate from a high school accredited by a state education agency or a regional accrediting
association recognized by the United States Department of Education. Homeschooled
students should refer to Information for Homeschooled Students.
To be considered for automatic scholarships, applicants must be admitted and enroll
full-time at the Springfield campus within 2 years of graduation from high school
(refer to Admissions Requirements and Deadlines for admissions eligibility criteria).
To qualify for competitive scholarships, applicants must be admitted and enroll full-time
at the Springfield campus the year they graduate from high school.
Students who transfer to Missouri State University Springfield campus from another
college or university in the United States with fewer than 24 transferable credit
hours may be considered for institutionally funded automatic freshmen scholarships
on an individual basis if funding is available. Students will be evaluated based on
their high school eligibility criteria outlined previously in this policy for Combined
GPA and standardized test score scholarships and GPA-only scholarships.
Grade point average (GPA) requirements are based on a 4.00 scale rounded to the nearest
0.01. If the student's school does not use a 4.00 scale, their GPA will be converted
(see details). If the student's school provides a weighted GPA, it will be used to
determine scholarship eligibility.
ACT or SAT scores must be taken by the test dates indicated. The student's highest
composite or superscore will be used. SAT scores are based on the sum of the Evidence-Based
Reading/Writing and Math portions.