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10 Things to Know About Your FAFSA Submission Summary

Posted on March 14, 2024March 15, 2024

The time has come for the federal government to start releasing FAFSA Submission Summaries to students who filed! Here is a list of the top 10 things you need to know about your FAFSA Submission Summary.

1. The FAFSA Submission Summary is the new name for your Student Aid Report (SAR). It contains a summary of what information you provided when you filed the FAFSA and will need to be reviewed for accuracy to ensure you get the correct amount of aid.
2. Your FAFSA Submission Summary will be available online. Once you receive the email notifying you that your Summary is ready, you’ll be able to find it at studentaid.gov. For a video tutorial on how to find your Summary, check out this video from uAspire.
3. Your FAFSA Submission Summary is going to include useful information you’ll need to make an informed decision about financial aid, including your estimated eligibility for the Pell Grant and federal student loans, your Student Aid Index (SAI), FAFSA form answers, school information, if you have been selected for verification, and next steps.
4. You may get error notifications in your FAFSA Submission Summary. Some of the most common notifications are:
  - Contributor Consent – You are not eligible for federal student aid because you did not provide consent and approval to retrieve and disclose your federal tax information. You can fix this during the review process.
    - It’s important to note that contributors CAN provide consent after your submission, but they CANNOT revoke it.
  - The Social Security Administration (SSA) didn’t confirm that you are a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen. You can fix this by submitting documentation of U.S. citizenship to the financial aid office.
  - The date of birth (DOB) that you reported on the FAFSA does not match SSA records. You can fix this by contacting the SSA to correct their records and then submit proof of your DOB to the financial aid office.
  - Your FAFSA form has been selected for verification. This is a process where your school can request copies of certain financial documents. You can fix this by following up with your school(s) to verify the information reported in your FAFSA.
5. Your FAFSA is not considered complete until you finish the review of your FAFSA Submission Summary.
6. You can make changes to your FAFSA by editing the information in the FAFSA Form Answers section of the summary.
7. You can add and remove schools from your FAFSA while reviewing your Summary. This is an incredibly important tool for anyone who has changed their mind about a potential school or applied to a few extra institutions since filing.
8. Your FAFSA Submission Summary has a ton of information about your potential schools, including graduation rate, retention rate, and average cost. Be sure to review this information so that you can find the best fit for your situation.
9. Your FAFSA Submission Summary will provide you with Next Steps. So, if you are missing any documentation or need to submit a correction, this section will walk you through what you need to do.
10. After you submit any changes that have been made, and the Department of Education has processed your Summary, you can download a copy for your own reference by revisiting your dashboard on studentaid.gov.

For more information about your FAFSA Submission Summary, check out this article from studentaid.gov.

4 Reasons to File Your FAFSA

Posted on March 6, 2024

Graduation is on the horizon, and opportunities for continued education are only steps away! Now that the 2024-25 FAFSA is available online for students and families to complete, let’s go over the reasons why you should file now.

It’s FREE

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Student Aid. It’s the way that the Department of Education determines your ability to receive federal student aid. To receive this, you MUST file your FAFSA!

It’s Quick

You can file online, and it won’t take long. Go over the 2024-25 FAFSA Checklist to ensure you have all information you need. A small time investment for your future could have a big potential payoff!

It’s Financial Comfort

Tuition and fees can be overwhelming. By filing a FAFSA you will have a better understand of the actual cost. It is also the first step to qualify for many scholarship, grants, work-study, and student loans. The information you provide on your FAFSA helps determine the types and amounts of financial aid you may be eligible for. The FAFSA gives you access to four primary sources of financial aid, including:

1. Federal financial aid
2. State financial aid
3. Aid from colleges, universities, and other postsecondary schools
4. Some private scholarships and grants

If you file by April 1, you will be considered for the Access Missouri Grant program and will be guaranteed an award if you qualify.

It’s Made for YOU!

There is no downside to filing and the only way to know if you are eligible is to APPLY! Take control of your future. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Check out our previous blogs about the new FAFSA, preparing for college and important things to know as you prepare for the 2024-25 school year.

2024-25 FAFSA is Now Available: Here’s What You Should Know

Posted on January 3, 2024January 3, 2024

As of Dec. 31, the much-anticipated new 2024-25 FAFSA is now available online for students and families to complete. Although the form has been released, it is important to note that that the U.S. Department of Education shared that the release is a “soft launch” and that the form may be unavailable periodically as they work through any potential issues.

So, what does this mean for students and families? This means that there may be glitches or interruptions during the soft launch period that families should consider. The U.S. Department of Education has indicated that the soft launch will allow the department to monitor site performance, conduct planned pauses for maintenance, and make updates to improve the user experience. In addition, they have advised that Federal Student Aid (FSA) will not transmit results to schools until later in January.

As a reminder, there are things you can do now to prepare for the updated FAFSA if you would prefer to wait to file until after the soft launch. You can review our November blog post for more details. Here are a few other helpful things to keep in mind should you choose to fill out the FAFSA during the soft launch period:

If a student completes their form during the soft launch, information will be stored for processing and they do not need to return to resubmit their application once the soft launch concludes.
FSA will initiate planned pauses for site maintenance. During these pauses, students who are already online will be able to complete their work, but other users may not be able to begin or resume work on their 2024-25 FAFSA form. If you are unable to fill out the form, you should come back later and try again.
Students may experience a waiting room feature to help control website volumes for those trying to fill out the form.
If a contributor is unable to access the site during maintenance, they should try again later and fill out their section as soon as the site becomes available again.
Once your 2024-25 FAFSA form is completed and submitted, students will receive a confirmation email that includes their submission date, their Student Aid Index, and their estimated Federal Pell Grant eligibility. Students will not receive an official FAFSA submission summary until their FAFSA is processed, beginning in late January.

Deadline Reminders

In Missouri, the deadline to file the FAFSA to be eligible for the Missouri Access Grant Program is April 1. Applications received before that date will receive an Access Missouri award, although the final award amount will not be determined until later in the year.

It is also important to note that some colleges and universities may have their own FAFSA deadlines for the financial aid they offer. Please check with each school you are interested in to make sure you are meeting important deadlines.

4 Ways to Prepare for the 2024-25 FAFSA

Posted on November 21, 2023

With the announcement that the 2024-25 FAFSA is delayed until December, many students and families are left wondering if there is anything they can do now to help prepare. The answer to this is yes! In fact, there are many steps you can take to help you prepare to file your FAFSA once it is released. Taking a little time to prepare now will help make sure you are able to file your FAFSA on time and be considered for all of the financial aid opportunities available.

The following information and resources are available to help you prepare in the next few weeks.

1. Determine Your Classification

Depending on your circumstances, you are classified as an independent or dependent student. It is important to know what type of student you are before you file your FAFSA. If you are an independent student, you will only need to provide personal information for yourself and, if married, your spouse. If you are considered a dependent student, you will need to provide information for yourself and your legal parent(s).

If you are not sure which type of student you are, review this helpful checklist.

2. Create an FSA ID

Anyone who needs to fill out the FAFSA (or portions of the FAFSA) will need to create an FSA ID if they do not already have one. If you are a dependent student, at least one of your parents will need to create an FSA ID as well. It will take up to 3 business days for your FSA ID to be processed and approved, so you will want to create your ID before you need to file your FAFSA. To create your FSA ID, please visit studentaid.gov. You will need your:

- Social Security number (or alternative identity verification)
- Full name as it appears on your birth certificate
- Date of Birth
- Contact Information (physical address, phone number, and email address)

More detailed information and helpful tips can be found on our FSA ID infographic. You may also consider attending a FAFSA Frenzy: FSA ID Event for free assistance with setting up your FSA ID.

3. Collect Important Information

The FAFSA will ask many questions that will require you to provide information about your taxes, wages, and certain assets. If you are a dependent students, you will also need this information for your parent(s). This FAFSA Checklist may be helpful to you as you consider what information you should have available when it is time to fill out the FAFSA.

4. Identify your Parent/Contributor

If you are a dependent student, you must include information about your parent(s) when you fill out your FAFSA application. We understand all families are unique – some parents may be divorced, remarried, or you may live with someone other than your parent. So, how do you know whose information you should report? The information offered in this flowchart may help you determine whose information you need. You may also consider reviewing this flowchart developed by Federal Student Aid.

For more general information and helpful resources, please visit the 2024-2025 FAFSA Information webpage. You may also review our FAFSA Frequently Asked Questions for detailed information about common questions related to the FAFSA and FSA ID. Finally if you are not already we encourage you to follow Journey to College on social media for helpful tips, reminders, and the latest updates.

FAFSA Delayed in 2023: What to Do Now?

Posted on October 30, 2023

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will not be available until sometime in December this year instead of the typical October 1 release. This delay is due to the form undergoing many revisions aimed at making the FAFSA easier to complete and to provide more students with money to attend college.

There are steps you can take now to help you prepare to file your 2024-25 FAFSA this winter. We strongly encourage students and families to use this extra time to learn about the changes and make sure you are ready to fill out the new form when it opens.

The easiest way to learn about the 2024-25 FAFSA is to take advantage of the resources on our 2024-25 FAFSA information page. There you’ll find easy-to-follow steps and important FAFSA information.

Before the FAFSA opens you first have to create an FSA ID on studentaid.gov if you don’t already have one. Anyone who needs to fill out the FAFSA or portions of the FAFSA will need to create an account. This account will allow you to fill out a FAFSA, sign it, and have it processed in the quickest way possible. It will also allow you to correct any information or prefill your FAFSA form with information from a previous year.

Help with creating an account and preparing for the FAFSA is available during free FAFSA Frenzy: FSA ID events in November and December. Check out the FAFSA Frenzy calendar to find an event near you.

Look ahead to the FAFSA Frenzy events in January, February, and March, when you can get assistance filing the FAFSA and enter to win a $500 Journey to College Scholarship. FAFSA Frenzy events are hosted at high schools, colleges, Missouri Job Centers, and libraries across the state.

When the 2024-25 FAFSA opens, it is important to fill it out the FAFSA as soon as possible because it could earn you more money. In Missouri, there are some deadlines to remember. To be eligible for the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program, you must file your 2024-25 FAFSA by April 1, 2024. Students who qualify for Access Missouri and file before February 1, 2024, are guaranteed to receive an Access Missouri Award.

Other deadlines to remember are June 30, 2024, the final day to file a FAFSA, and September 14, 2024, the last day to file corrections or updates to your FAFSA. Some colleges and universities have their own deadlines, so make sure you are meeting those as well.

We will continue to post updates and announce the official date the FAFSA will open once it is available. Follow MDHEWD’s social media pages for the latest helpful information and updates.

2024-25 FAFSA Updates

Posted on October 4, 2023January 10, 2024

The 2024-25 FAFSA is now available. Learn more about the steps you can take to complete it and important deadlines.

12 Ways to Make College More Affordable

Posted on August 31, 2023November 22, 2023

Numerous financial barriers can stand in the way of a college education. That is why the State of Missouri offers many options to help knock down those barriers.

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD), other state departments, and organizations help make college more affordable for students pursuing higher education in Missouri with various scholarships, grants, and programs.

There is free money out there to be had for Missourians. Whether you are in high school, college or even if you have already joined the workforce. This blog post is a quick and easy guide to financial aid options in Missouri.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applications for most of the listed grants and scholarships can be found at dhewd.mo.gov or on the State Financial Aid Portal. For additional information on financial aid in Missouri, you can also call 800-473-6757 and select option 4.

1. File a FAFSA

An easy way to see what financial aid you qualify for is by filing a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, each year you plan to attend college.

You don’t even need to have a school picked before filing a FAFSA. Just file it between Oct.1-April 1, and you will receive information about what federal and state financial aid you qualify for and what aid is available through certain schools.

To be guaranteed an award through the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program, file a FAFSA by the Feb. 1 priority deadline.

Hundreds and even thousands of dollars in financial aid are available for students who qualify for Access Missouri. There is no paperwork to fill out in addition to the FAFSA to apply. This is a need-based program designed to help students afford the Missouri school they want to attend. Financial eligibility is determined by your Student Aid Index (SAI), as calculated through the FAFSA.

Award amounts vary based on the school, your SAI, and the amount of money available for the program:

$300 – $1,300 if attending a participating public two-year school
$1,500 – $2,850 if attending a participating public four-year, independent, or virtual institution, or State Technical College of Missouri

More information about filing a FAFSA is available on journeytocollege.mo.gov and studentaid.gov.

Note: Filing for the 2024-25 FAFSA will begin in December 2023 instead of October.

2. A+ Scholarship

If you attend an A+ high school, keep your GPA and attendance up, tutor or mentor classmates, score high on a math exam, and keep a clean criminal record, you can qualify for an A+ Scholarship.

However, this scholarship is limited to those planning to attend certain two-year schools. A list of A+ Scholarship-eligible schools and other requirements for qualifying for the A+ Scholarship are available on MDHEWD’s website.

3. Bright Flight Scholarship

In a nutshell, the Bright Flight Scholarship awards thousands of dollars to students who score high on the ACT or SAT.

There is no need to fill out an application for Bright Flight. All students need to do is enter the following code when registering for the ACT: 2379. Don’t worry if you didn’t enter that code. It can be added later for a fee.

Students will qualify for up to $3,000 if they score at least a 32 on the ACT or achieve an SAT math score of 800 and an SAT critical reading score of 800. Up to $1,000 will be awarded to students who score 31 on the ACT or achieve an SAT match score of 770-700 and an SAT critical reading score of 760-700.

Bright Flight Scholarship recipients can also renew annually until they earn a bachelor’s degree (up to 10 semesters).

For detailed information about Bright Flight visit MDHEWD’s website. You can also read our ACT Series for tips on how to prepare for each section of the ACT.

4. Dual Credit / Dual Enrollment Scholarship

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment courses are a great opportunity to earn college credit before even stepping foot on campus. The credits count toward your high school and college coursework, so it’s a win-win.

Better yet, it is a way to earn college credit without having to pay the regular tuition cost. On top of that, there is scholarship money available to eliminate all costs for these courses.

If you meet certain financial need requirements, such as receiving free or reduced lunches or living in a foster home, and you have at least a 2.5 GPA, the Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment Scholarship could be an option.

To learn more about eligibility and applying for the Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment Scholarship, visit MDHEWD’s website.

5. Apprenticeships: Earn While You Learn

Working part-time while in high school or college is a traditional way of saving money to pay for tuition, housing, books, and other related expenses. But what if that job also provided college credit, training for a career, and an opportunity for full-time employment? Apprenticeships can help you add money to your college fund and set you up for a lifetime of career success. There are apprenticeships available in various industries across Missouri, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, child development, health care, human resources, IT, transportation, and more.

There are several online resources to learn more about apprenticeships, including MDHEWD’s website, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website, and moapprenticeconnect.com. You can also ask your high school counselor, college academic advisor, or search a university’s or college’s website for information about apprenticeships.

6. Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant

This one is specifically for adults seeking financial aid. The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant is for those 25 years old or older seeking a career that is considered to be in high demand.

An easy way to see if a program you are interested in is eligible for Fast Track is to search on MDHEWD’s website. You can search by school and by program. Fast Track has also expanded to include more training providers and apprenticeships. Plus, it won’t ever be converted into a loan like it was previously.

An application must be filled out for Fast Track on the State Financial Aid Portal.

Details about Fast Track are available on MDHEWD’s website, but we encourage you to contact our financial aid specialists by calling 800-473-6757 and selecting option 4 for the most up-to-date information.

7. Advanced Placement Incentive Grant

Who doesn’t want a free $500? High school students in AP classes who have two grades of three or higher on AP exams in math or science could receive a $500 Advanced Placement Incentive Grant.

Take a look at the eligibility requirements and the application on MDHEWD’s website.

8. Kids' Chance Scholarship Program

The Kids’ Chance Scholarship Program is a partnership between MDHEWD and Kids’ Chance, Inc. of Missouri to help children with a parent who was killed or seriously injured in a work-related accident that is covered by workers’ compensation.

This scholarship can provide thousands of dollars toward a college education each school year. Details about eligibility and how to apply are available on MDHEWD’s website.

9. Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program

This scholarship is awarded to students from minority and underrepresented groups who plan to study in the field of environmental sciences, such as agricultural engineering or wildlife management. Some requirements include being enrolled full-time and having a 3.0 high school GPA or 2.5 college GPA.

Eligibility requirements and an application can be viewed on MDHEWD’s website.

10. Public Service Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program

This grant program provides money for tuition to certain public employees and their family members if the employee was killed or disabled while working in the line of duty. This grant program is for full-time students (students with disabilities may be considered full-time when enrolled in six hours), and award amounts can be for up to the cost of 12 credit hours.

Visit DHEWD’s website for details and to access an application.

11. Wartime Veteran's Survivor Grant Program

The Wartime Veteran’s Survivor Grant Program assists spouses and children of veterans who were injured or died in combat since Sept. 11, 2001. Students can be eligible as half-time or full-time and receive money for tuition, room and board, and books.

A list of full requirements and more information on the Wartime Veteran’s Survivor Grant Program is available on MDHEWD’s website, and an application can be filled out on the State Financial Air Portal.

12. Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

Visit DHEWD’s website for details and to access an application.

7 Reasons to Learn Outside of the Classroom

Posted on July 26, 2023November 22, 2023

Between the spring and fall semesters, there are 12 weeks of summer. Before you bother with the math, that is not the 104 days that the “Phineas and Ferb” theme song included. Whether you are taking advantage of the short semester to accelerate your academic course or taking time away from the books, there is always learning to be done.

Explore new Hobbies

According to a 2017 American Psychological Association Survey, “74% of U.S. adults have done at least one activity in the past year to learn about a personal hobby or interest. This includes 35% who have attended a club or meeting and 25% who took an in-person course.” You can use your summer hours to search for a new hobby or dabble in a few while enjoying your break.

There are endless hobbies out there. Start small and see where they go!

Challenge Yourself

With more time to rest during the summer, it may be a great time to try something that challenges your skills a bit. Maybe you want to do something physically demanding to make up for the hours spent in a classroom during the semester. Missouri State Parks offers classes for rock climbing, kayaking, and archery through its Learn2 program. It’s a chance to challenge yourself by learning something outside the classroom setting. Plus, spending time in a green space is great for your mental health!

No Pressure to Succeed

The best thing about classes outside of a classroom during the summer is that most of the time the goal is gaining knowledge, so no tests or letter grades are required! Even classes that have tests may not be as challenging as finals during a college semester. You could always find a CPR / First Aid class or even learn about spotting storms for the National Weather Service.

Branch Out in Your Community

It can be relatively easy to find groups in your community that are passionate about what they do and want to share it with others. Whether it’s a local book club, a knitting/quilting group, or even a cave conservation group, there is a community out there ready to let you into their ranks.

Learn New Skills

If you haven’t learned a new skill in a while, there is definitely time during the summer to get a leg up and learn something new that will last a lifetime. As the old saying goes, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat forever”. Life skills are a great way to acquire useful abilities and maybe even elevate your current skill levels. Whether it’s cooking, household maintenance, gardening, art, or anything else, it can feel good to learn a new skill.

Work Out Your Brain in a Different Way

Much like muscles, your brain needs to be worked in different ways to improve its overall health and malleability. According to the University Of Utah Health, “the more the brain is exercised, the stronger and more connected it becomes.” If the semester left you feeling exhausted, burnt out, or like your brain is melting, learning something new may be a great way to help your mind rest. Additionally, learning something new provides your brain with a sweet dose of dopamine, something you may need after a long semester of school.

There is so much to Learn!

There are so many things you can learn. That is part of why it can feel so daunting for some to choose a college major, or even choose a focus within their major. With so much to learn, it can feel tough to tie yourself down to one specific subject. Thankfully, with summer, you get the opportunity to explore and learn new things until your heart’s content. You never know when a small class at your local community center could turn into a new passion or even lead to a clearer path forward on your academic journey.

So as summer comes around, put your books on the shelf, grab your backpack, and go out into the community to learn! You never know what you’re going to find.

If you’re taking the time this summer to learn outside, share your experience with us by tagging @Journey2College on Twitter or Facebook!

The Next Level: Esports Scholarships on the Rise in Missouri

Posted on July 20, 2023July 21, 2023

Esports has been viewed by many as the awkward younger sibling to the sports that we know and love like football and baseball. However, the esports army is arriving, and they are only getting stronger. The first official video game competition took place in 1972 on the Stanford University campus with a game called Spacewar. The grand prize of that competition was a year-long subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

In 1990, Nintendo began the Nintendo World Championships in which players competed in games like Super Mario Bros and Tetris. Fast forward to 2021, when a game called DOTA 2 hosted its championship with a prize pool of $40.1 Million, nearly triple the prize pool for the Masters Golf Tournament.

All of this shows how far this movement has come. From a subscription to a magazine to $40 million, and it continues to grow. Competitive gaming has grown so much that people like Robert Kraft, Shaquille O’Neal, Drake, Mike Tyson, and P Diddy, just to name a few, are investing. Along with these well-known figures, colleges have begun to take an interest in the subject, and many have made large investments in their esports programs. Robert Morris University in Chicago was the first to offer esports scholarships back in 2014. With the global esports market valued at $1.2 Billion in 2019, several other colleges have followed in its footsteps. As of May 2021, 175 colleges around the country offer esports scholarships. Missouri has over 15 schools that offer scholarship opportunities in this field.

How Can I Get an Esports Scholarship?

Getting an esports scholarship for college is slightly different than getting a scholarship for other sports. Esports programs don’t typically have scouts attend events and watch you play or even reach out to you. Most colleges host annual tryouts and give out scholarships based on those. Esports competitions are almost always livestreamed somewhere online, so a good idea would be to watch one of those and see how you may stack up to the competition. These scholarships don’t come without stipulations, though. There is almost always a GPA requirement to even get on the team, much less receive and maintain a scholarship. However, the perks are well worth the hard work in the classroom. Players can receive jerseys, travel opportunities, gear, and media attention, and gain a large social media following. Schools with esports scholarships tend to make it well-known that this opportunity is there for students, especially if the school has made a large investment in the program. So, if you have a school in mind, check to see if they offer esports scholarships and what that college’s specific requirements are!

Are These Scholarships the Same as Other Athletic Scholarships?

The short answer is it depends. It depends on the school and how much money that school has put toward its esports program. Typically, your scholarship will work more like an academic scholarship since there aren’t many full-ride esports scholarship opportunities out there…yet. That means you will receive money from the college that you can use any way you see fit as long as it is used for college. So, funds could be used for on-campus food, tuition, books, and more.

What is the Outlook for Esports in College?

The outlook is only positive! The global esports market is projected to rise from $1.1 billion in 2020 to $3.6 billion in 2027. How does this translate to college scholarship opportunities, though? With many major universities and smaller colleges investing already, it’s safe to say that if esports continues to see the growth that it has in the past, more colleges will take notice. If the market value of esports does hit the $3.6 billion projection, it would be nearly nine times more valuable than the men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments combined. And if esports were a sports franchise, it would make it the 15^th most valuable franchise in the world. Statistics like this will certainly attract more attention to the scene and likely bigger financial contributions from universities around the country. With bigger financial input from schools, students will be able to receive more from their scholarships, along with schools being able to expand their programs and offer more spots for students on these teams leading to more scholarships. After all of this, you may still wonder, what are students gaining out of this past college? Well, just like other professional sports, there is a professional esports scene where gamers around the world are making millions in this industry. Students can gain scholarship money through their schools and take that talent to the next level.

Collegiate Esports Opportunities in Missouri

With over 20 college and university esports programs in Missouri, there are plenty of options. Each program offers a unique array of titles that they compete in, so it’s important to do your research beforehand. This article has discussed how to go about receiving a scholarship, if your chosen school offers it, how these scholarships work, and the outlook of esports in college. However, as mentioned, each institution is different. It’s important to note that esports opportunities aren’t limited to playing on a team. There are several classes you could take to gear you up for a career in esports once you graduate. Some colleges offer esport-specific classes. For others, you need to get a bit more creative. Classes on information technology, live event entertainment, team management, and sports marketing are all great ways to get a step ahead of your competition. The best method, however, is to talk to your counselor. They are a fantastic help and will be able to guide you down the best path toward your goals!

Some schools that have esports programs are the University of Missouri, the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), Columbia College, Missouri S&T, Missouri Western, Northwest Missouri State, Maryville University, University of Central Missouri, Southeast Missouri State, Missouri Baptist University, and Mineral Area Community College. (Note: There are more options out there in Missouri, these are just a few!)

Overall, esports is on the rise, and collegiate esports is important to growing the industry. Kids can take something they truly enjoy and make a career out of it that has endless possibilities. There are many more professional gaming opportunities than there are in other professional sports, but the road to get there is just as challenging. Competing in these games at the highest level takes years of practice and hard work, and finally, all that hard work and all the late nights playing video games is paying off. Literally.

Cost Comparisons 2023: See How Missouri Stacks Up!

Posted on July 13, 2023July 14, 2023

With inflation and fluctuating markets, it’s hard to keep tabs on the going rates for some of our everyday essentials. We broke down the numbers to show you how you can save in the state of Missouri.

Did you know that Missouri is the fourth most affordable state to live in? Based on a 100-point scale index (with 100 being the national average), California falls at 134.5, whereas Missouri sits at 88.4. That difference says it all!
Eggs have been a hot topic recently. According to USDA, the average 14-16 oz. carton of eggs in the Northeast region of the U.S. sits at a staggering $3.99. Meanwhile, you can find those same eggs for $3.50 in the Midwest. It might be time to double down and have breakfast for dinner!
We all dread the start of the month when we have to pay rent. But in Missouri, you may be saving more than you think. For a two-bedroom apartment in the U.S., you will allot an average of $1,081 per month. In California, they take it up a level — asking renters to shell out an average of $1,668 per month. Meanwhile, in Missouri, average rent is below average at $818.
Let’s take a pit stop and fuel up. The national average gas price (as of June 16, 2023) is $3.58 per gallon. If you’re headed west, expect a bump in prices. A gallon of gas in California is going for $4.88. Perhaps you’re en route to the Midwest? You can expect a gallon of fuel in Missouri to be about $3.20.
Before we cross the finish line, let’s talk car prices. Including insurance, registration, repairs, etc., the average price for owning a car in the U.S. is $26,297. California is a bit of a climb at $30,987, but Missouri sits below the national average at $25,407. It might be time for a road trip!

Whether you’re moving to Missouri, in the market for a new car, or needing to save money on essentials, this provides some insight into the cost of living, learning, and working in Missouri.

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