Financial Aid – Journey To College – Realize your potential.

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.

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