Known as the MSU, Missouri State University is composed of students from all over the world. The MSU has four physical campuses, and three of them is located in Missouri and one in China.
Offering over 100 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate programs, the Missouri State University Foundation is currently funding approximately 1,500 scholarships that amount to $325 million.
1. Scholarships for Freshmen
As its name states, this type of scholarship is for incoming freshmen only, and if this section does not fit you, scroll down for additional types of scholarships.
A. MSU Institutionally Funded Scholarship
Funded by MSU, this type of scholarship is just another name for MSU merit-based scholarships. Before any specific merit-based scholarship is mentioned, there is a general eligibility requirement to MSU merit-based scholarships.
NOTE: The following requirements below are either copied or shortly summarized from the MSU homepage.
- Be a high school graduate from a school that is accredited by a state education agency or a regional accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.
- On the same year as your high school graduation, be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at MSU Springfield Campus.
- Meet the Admissions Requirements and Deadlines.
- Be lawfully present in the United States.
After looking at the general eligibility requirements, let’s look at specific scholarships with their additional criteria.
1. Automatic Scholarships
The automatic scholarship does not require a separate application except the application for admissions. Awarding from $2,000 to $5,000 per year, the automatic scholarship is based on cumulative high school GPA and SAT scores OR ACT scores.
2. Competitive Scholarships
Unlike automatic scholarship which does not require a separate application, competitive scholarships require an additional application in addition to the application for admissions.
- Presidential Scholarship
Being the MSU top’s academic scholarship, the Presidential Scholarship awards $12,500 for four years (Total Potential Value: $50,000). To be eligible, the applicant must have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.9 and minimum standardized test scores of 31 in composite ACT or 1390 SAT.
Since it is a renewable scholarship, the scholarship recipient must meet the renewal eligibility requirements in order to continue receiving the scholarship benefits.
- Inclusive Excellence Scholarship
The Inclusive Excellence Scholarship awards $4,000 per year (Total Potential Value: $16,000), and the applicant must meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Be from a historically underrepresented groups (including, but not limited to Black/African American, Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander/Desi American, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenious (Native American, Alaskan, Hawaiian), Multiethnic, LGBTQ +
- Be from a low socio-economic background
- Be a first-generation student (Both parents do not have an undergraduate degree)
- Have a documented disability
The Inclusive Excellence Scholarship is a renewable scholarship, so you need to maintain a 2.75 GPA in order to renew this scholarship year by year.
- Hutchens / SGA Centennial Leaders Scholarships
Awarding $2,500 per year (Total Potential Value: $10,000), the Hutchens / SGA Centennial Leaders Scholarship have several requirements:
- Show evidence that you have excelled in three of the four areas: leadership, performing arts, volunteerism, and athletics.
- Be in the upper half of your class OR have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Have scored at least 20 on the ACT or 1030 on the SAT.
In addition to all these competitive scholarships, Missouri State University offers Other Scholarships, Out-of-State Waivers, and Combining Scholarships to their incoming students. In order to see the additional information, just scroll down after clicking Scholarships for Freshmen.
B. MSU Donor-Funded Scholarships
This is a short section compared to MSU Merit-Based Scholarships, but the MSU Donor-Funded Scholarship is also called the MSU Annual Scholarships.
In order to apply for these scholarships, you just have to look at the application deadlines and application instructions at the link down below.
For further information, view the MSU Annual Scholarship.
2. Scholarships for Transfers
Just like scholarships or freshmen, the scholarships for transfer students also have general eligibility requirements.
- Be a transfer students from a US community college or from MSU West Plains
- Only applied for admission at Missouri State University
- Must be admitted to MSU and be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student
- Be lawfully present in the United States.
After fulfilling the general requirements, the students can apply for scholarships for transfer students.
A. Missouri Community College Scholarship
Offering $2,000 per year, the MCC Scholarship is offered to two students per year, and, to be considered, the applicant must have finished 42 transferable credits from a community college AND maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher.
B. Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
This scholarship ranges up to $2,000 per year, and it is awarded to active members of Phi Theta Kappa who have completed at least 42 transferable credits at the community college AND maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50.
C. Transfer Academic Scholarship
Awarding $1,500 per year, the Transfer Academic Scholarship awards students who have completed at least 42 transferable credits at the community college AND maintained a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50.
D. Diversity in Education Scholarship for Transfer Students
Giving out $3,000 per year, this scholarship has many eligibility requirements that an applicant must meet. For the additional information, click on the link below Out-of-State Tuition Waiver.
E. Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
For a non-Missouri resident, the full waiver amounts to $7,000 per year, and the student must have completed at least 24 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
For further information, view the Scholarships for Transfer Students.
Conclusion: More!
In addition to scholarships, the Missouri State University offers more options for financial aids. Grants, Loans, and Work Study can be an additional option if the scholarship money is not enough to cover the college expenses.
For grants, the applicants need to fill out the FAFSA to be eligible, and to apply for loans, they also need to fill out the FAFSA. To view information concerning grants, click on MSU Grants, and for information about loans, view the MSU Loans.
Last but not least, you can also view the Work Study Opportunities.
If you have found the MSU scholarships guide helpful, please visit the Authority Scholarships for great scholarships.
