Supporting your future
The following is a summary of scholarship programs for entering transfer students who enroll full-time at the Springfield campus.
Scholarships for Transfer Students
Missouri State offers two general types of scholarships
MSU institutionally funded scholarships
These scholarships are funded by MSU. See below for scholarship criteria, application information and deadlines.
MSU donor funded scholarships
These scholarships are gifts to the University made by individuals, groups or organizations and awarded to Missouri State students each year.
Available University funded scholarships for transfer students
Op5.08-11 Scholarships for Entering Transfer Students
This policy describes scholarships available to transfer students who enroll at MSU-Springfield during or following the summer semester of 2017. Students admitted for previous semesters should visit the How Do I Keep My Financial Aid page.
General transfer scholarship policies
The following apply to all transfer scholarships unless otherwise indicated.
- Recipients must be transfer students from community colleges in the United States or MSU-West Plains.*
- Qualifying transfer credits must be completed following high school graduation and prior to enrollment at MSU.
- Students must not have enrolled at another four-year college or university following graduation from high school.*
- Students must apply for admission by the deadline specified for each scholarship and must be admitted.
- Scholarships can only be combined as noted. The combined value cannot exceed a total of $4,500 per year. The value of out-of-state tuition waivers is not counted toward this maximum.
- Transfer scholarships are renewable for one year only (total of four semesters) with the exception of the Out-of-State Tuition Waiver, Midwest Student Exchange Program, and Continue the Tradition Fee Waiver.
- It is our intent to award scholarships that show the number available as “Varies” to all qualified students; however, offers may be limited based on availability of funding. For this reason, students are encouraged to apply early.
- Students must enroll at MSU the semester after leaving the other college and must be full-time at MSU.
- Be lawfully present in the United States.
Scholarship Enrollment and Renewal Standards also apply to recipients of transfer scholarships.
*These requirements do not apply to the Out-of-State Tuition Waiver, Midwest Student Exchange Program, and Continue the Tradition Fee Waiver.
Note for transfer students from MSU-West Plains: Selected MSU-West Plains scholarships (i.e., Board of Governors, Chancellor’s, and Deans’) offered by the West Plains campus are transferable to the Springfield campus by students who meet West Plains renewal criteria. Students will receive the Springfield campus value for the corresponding scholarship (Board of Governors, Provost, and Deans’, respectively). These scholarships can be combined with other MSU-Springfield campus scholarships to a combined maximum value of $4,500 per year, as well as with any of the out of state tuition waivers below.
Missouri Community College Scholarship
Value
$2,000 per year
Number available
Two for each Missouri public community college per year. Additional scholarships may be awarded based on the number of students transferring from the institution.
Application
Community college presidents must submit letters of recommendation to the MSU Office of Student Financial Aid by May 1. Students should contact the community college for information regarding the selection process.
Selection criteria
This scholarship is awarded to students based on letters of recommendation from community college presidents. To qualify for consideration, students must either have completed (or must complete prior to their first semester at MSU) at least 42 transferable credit hours at the community college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or higher. The exclusion of enrollment at other four-year colleges or universities does not apply to this scholarship.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Renewal criteria
Renewable for one year for students who successfully complete 27 hours at MSU with a cumulative MSU grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
Additional information
This scholarship can be combined with the Transfer STEM Scholarship or Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students to a combined maximum value of $4,500, as well as with any of the out-of-state tuition waivers below.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Value
$2,000 per year.
Number available
Varies
Application
Apply for admission and complete the PTK Scholarship Application* by March 1 for students entering in the summer or fall semesters or by October 1 for students entering in the spring semester.
*You need Adobe Reader to view and print this file.
Selection criteria
Students must be active members of Phi Theta Kappa who have completed (or must complete prior to their first semester at MSU) at least 42 transferable credit hours at the community college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher. An active member is defined as one who actively participated in PTK meetings and events prior to the application deadline.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Renewal criteria
Renewable for one year for students who successfully complete 27 hours at MSU with a cumulative MSU grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
Additional information
This scholarship can be combined with the Transfer STEM Scholarship or Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students to a combined maximum value of $4,500. If the combined value exceeds $4,500, then one scholarship will be reduced in value. The value of the out-of-state tuition waiver is not applicable to this maximum.
Transfer Academic Scholarship
Value
$1,500 per year
Number available
Varies
Application
Apply for admission and complete the online Transfer Academic Scholarship Application by March 1 for students entering in the summer or fall semesters or by October 1 for students entering in the spring semester.
Selection criteria
Students must either have completed (or must complete prior to their first semester at MSU) at least 42 transferable credit hours at the community college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Renewal criteria
Renewable for one year for students who successfully complete 27 hours at MSU with a cumulative MSU grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
Additional information
This scholarship can be combined with the Transfer STEM Scholarship or Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students to a combined maximum value of $4,500, as well as with any of the out-of-state tuition waivers below.
Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students
Value
$3,000 per year. Non-Missouri residents will also receive a full waiver of out-of-state tuition for fall and spring semesters (current annual value is approximately $7,050 annually for a student taking 30 credit hours).
Number available
Varies
Application
Apply for admission and complete the Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students Application by March 1 for students entering in the summer or fall semesters or by October 1 for students entering in the spring semester.
Selection criteria
Student must transfer from a community college having completed either an Associate of Arts in Teaching degree or all requirements for admission to the Teacher Education Program at MSU.
Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.00 or higher, have demonstrated leadership in multicultural activities through their schools and/or community, and have declared a major that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Education or Bachelor of Music Education degree.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Renewal criteria
Renewable for one year for students who successfully complete 27 MSU credit hours with a cumulative MSU grade point average of 2.75 or higher. Students must remain enrolled in programs that lead to education degrees.
Additional information
This scholarship can be combined with the Transfer Academic Scholarship or Missouri Community College Scholarship or Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship to a combined maximum value of $4,500. If the combined value exceeds $4,500, then one scholarship will be reduced in value. The value of the out-of-state tuition waiver portion is not applicable to this maximum.
Transfer STEM* Scholarship
Value
$1,000 per year.
Number available
Varies.
Application
Apply for admission, submit the Transfer STEM Scholarship Application* and provide letter of recommendation by a STEM faculty member at the community college by May 1 for students entering in the summer or fall semesters or November 1 for students entering in the spring semester.
*You need Adobe Reader to view and print this file.
Selection criteria
Students must be community college transfers who have completed (or must complete prior to their first semester at MSU) at least 42 transferable credit hours at the community college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher, have completed college algebra or a higher level math with a B or higher, and are majoring in one of the STEM majors listed below.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Qualifying STEM Majors
- Agriculture Business
- Agriculture Education
- Agronomy
- Animal Science
- Biology
- Biology Education
- Cell and Molecular Biology
- Chemistry
- Chemistry Education
- Computer Science
- Earth Science Education
- Environmental Plant Science
- General Agriculture
- Geology
- Horticulture
- Information Technology Service Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Natural Resources
- Physics
- Physics Education
- Technology Management
- Wildlife Conservation and Management
Renewal criteria
Renewable for one year beyond the first year for students who successfully complete 27 MSU credit hours with a cumulative MSU grade point average of 3.00 or higher and who remain enrolled in one of the qualifying majors.
Additional information
This scholarship can be combined with the Transfer Academic Scholarship or Missouri Community College Scholarship or Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship or Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students, as well as with any of the out-of-state tuition waivers.
*STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Out-of-State Tuition Waiver/Midwest Student Exchange Program
Value
A full waiver of non-resident tuition for fall and spring semesters (current annual value is approximately $7,050 annually for a student taking 30 credit hours).
Number available
Varies
Application
Eligible students will be identified based on application for admission and college transcripts. No additional application is required. 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 Tuition Waiver.
Selection criteria
Students must be classified as non-residents of Missouri for fee purposes and must have completed at least 24 hours with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Renewal criteria
Successfully complete 27 MSU credit hours each academic year with a cumulative MSU grade point average of 3.00 or higher. These waivers can be renewed for more than two years for students who remain continuously enrolled.
Additional information
This waiver can be combined with any of the other transfer scholarships that do not already provide a waiver of out-of-state tuition.
Continue the Tradition Fee Waiver Program
Value
A full waiver of non-resident tuition for fall and spring semesters (current annual value is approximately $7,050 annually for a student taking 30 credit hours).
Number available
Varies
Application
Apply for admission and submit the Continue the Tradition Application.
Selection criteria
Recipients must be the child or grandchild of an MSU graduate (bachelor’s degree or higher) and classified as non-residents for fee purposes.
General transfer scholarship policies (above) also apply.
Renewal criteria
Successfully complete 27 hours at MSU each year and maintain satisfactory academic progress. This waiver can be renewed beyond two years for students who remain continuously enrolled.
Additional information
This waiver can be combined with any of the transfer scholarships that do not already provide a waiver of out-of-state tuition.