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Missouri State scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$23,306per year · 2025-2026 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

Missouri State is worth checking if your student has strong grades or scores. We found 3 published awards, and one is based on those numbers.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
8 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Go Mo State Scholarship$50,000 value (covers out-of-state tuition)AutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Go Mo State Scholarship

    $50,000 value (covers out-of-state tuition)

    Published coverage or packageAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Go Mo State Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Out-of-state (non-Missouri-resident) entering students; awarded based on high school GPA. No separate application named on the page.

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to five years to cover the cost of out-of-state tuition. Institutional renewal standard is a 2.75 cumulative GPA and 30 credit hours per year (per the Scholarship Renewal Information page), for the lesser of 5 academic years or completion of a first baccalaureate degree.

    Worth knowing

    This is the single automatic freshman award for which Missouri State publishes a dollar value. It is for OUT-OF-STATE students and is designed to cover the out-of-state tuition differential. The page states the GPA threshold and the $50,000 value but does not state a per-year amount; $50,000 is the stated total value, not an annual figure.

  2. Academic Merit Awards (1905 Award, Maroon & White, Bear Excellence, Mo State Scholars, Bear Merit, Mo State Achievement, Show Me Mo State)Amounts not published onlineNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Academic Merit Awards (1905 Award, Maroon & White, Bear Excellence, Mo State Scholars, Bear Merit, Mo State Achievement, Show Me Mo State)

    Amounts not published online

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Not published
    SAT
    Not published
    ACT
    Not published
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Academic Merit Awards (1905 Award, Maroon & White, Bear Excellence, Mo State Scholars, Bear Merit, Mo State Achievement, Show Me Mo State)

    Who qualifies

    Admitted entering freshmen are automatically considered for a merit award when they apply ('some scholarships you'll automatically qualify for when you apply and are admitted to MSU'). The specific GPA/test grid and dollar amounts are NOT published on missouristate.edu.

    How to keep it

    All institutional scholarships can be renewed for the lesser of 5 academic years or the completion of a first baccalaureate degree, with a 2.75 cumulative GPA and 30 credit hours per year (for awards first enrolled Summer 2026 and beyond).

    Worth knowing

    These named awards are confirmed by Missouri State's official Scholarship Renewal Information page, which lists them under 'Scholarships Awarded Summer 2026 and Beyond' with a 2.75 GPA / 30-credit-hour renewal rule. The award AMOUNTS and entry GPA/ACT/SAT cutoffs are not stated on any official missouristate.edu page found — the Freshman Scholarships page says only 'Merit Awards: Apply now to find out what funding you may be eligible for.' Do NOT assume a dollar figure. The 1905 Award is described elsewhere as the university's highest merit distinction; this could not be confirmed verbatim on a clean .edu scholarship page and is left unstated. See Section C for the exact aid-office question.

  3. Presidential ScholarshipNot published online (competitive top award)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Presidential Scholarship

    Not published online (competitive top award)

    Published award termsNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    at least a 3.90 cumulative GPA (through the 6th semester / end of junior year)
    SAT
    1390 SAT
    ACT
    31 ACT
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Presidential Scholarship

    Who qualifies

    Competitive; requires a separate Presidential Scholarship application and submission of the sixth-semester transcript by the December 1 deadline.

    How to keep it

    Listed on the Scholarship Renewal Information page with a 2.75 cumulative GPA requirement (and 30 credit hours per year for Summer 2026 and beyond).

    Worth knowing

    Competitive (separate application), not automatic on stats. The page states the GPA/test cutoffs and the December 1 deadline but does NOT state the dollar value or what it covers. Do not assume full tuition.

Lights up against Missouri State's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office.

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The fine print

Aid capHard $23,306 cost-of-attendance ceiling

Institutional aid at Missouri State cannot push the package past $23,306. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

What makes Missouri State different

Missouri State automatically considers admitted freshmen for a named academic merit award (1905 Award, Maroon & White, Bear Excellence, Mo State Scholars, Bear Merit, Mo State Achievement) when they apply, but the dollar amounts and GPA/test cutoffs are not published online; the one clearly-published number is the out-of-state Go Mo State Scholarship, a $50,000 value that covers non-resident tuition for students with a 3.25+ GPA.

Merit tiers31 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take Missouri State's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

Straight from the aid office

What Missouri State's aid office says

Per the Student Financial Aid Office, Missouri State University, August 2026. How we verify

Deadline and superscoring for test scores

If the student's fall test score comes in higher, will it be used, and do they superscore across test dates?

The office accepts test scores taken during or before October of the student's senior year, and uses the higher of the composite or superscore.

“We are able to take test scores for tests taken during or before October of the student's senior year. We will use the higher of their composite or superscore.”
Impact of outside scholarships on aid

If the student wins a local scholarship after enrolling, will it reduce his loans or the school's award first?

An outside scholarship would only reduce loan eligibility if total aid (outside scholarships, federal grants, private loans, etc.) exceeds the Cost of Attendance.

“Getting an outside scholarship would only reduce his loan eligibility if his aid (outside scholarships, federal grants, private loans, etc.) exceeded her Cost of Attendance.”
Scholarship renewal requirements

What GPA or requirements does the student need to meet to keep his scholarship?

Renewal information is detailed on the university's scholarship renewal information webpage.

“Scholarship renewal information can be viewed here<https://www.missouristate.edu/FinancialAid/Scholarships/scholarship-renewal-information.htm>.”
Appeal process after a rough semester

What happens if the student doesn't meet renewal requirements after one rough semester?

If a student does not meet the renewal requirements, there is an appeal process to possibly reinstate the scholarship.

“If he does have trouble and doesn't meet the requirements, we do have an appeal process to possibly get that scholarship back.”

What families often miss

  1. Missouri State does not publish the award amounts or the GPA/test grid for its automatic academic merit awards. The Freshman Scholarships page only says 'Apply now to find out what funding you may be eligible for' — your actual offer comes after you apply and are admitted. Budget conservatively and confirm the figure in your admission/award letter.

  2. Mizzou publishes a Chancellor's/Curators/Excellence/Provost automatic grid with specific dollar amounts; those numbers are NOT Missouri State's. Missouri State uses entirely different award names (1905 Award, Maroon & White, Bear Excellence, etc.). Do not apply Mizzou's grid to Missouri State.

  3. The Go Mo State Scholarship is for out-of-state students with a high school GPA of 3.25 or higher and is the award that wipes out the non-resident tuition surcharge (a $50,000 value over up to five years). Just below a 3.25 and you may fall back to the lower-value Midwest Student Exchange waiver instead.

  4. The Presidential Scholarship requires a 3.90 cumulative GPA, a 31 ACT/1390 SAT, AND a separate application with your sixth-semester transcript submitted by the December 1 deadline. Miss that deadline and you cannot be considered for it.

  5. The $23,306 (resident) / $32,938 (non-resident) 'Total' for 2025-26 is the full estimated cost of attendance — tuition and fees PLUS average food and housing PLUS books and supplies — not tuition alone. A scholarship that 'covers tuition' still leaves living costs.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Solid-to-strong students who want an automatic, application-only merit award at an affordable Missouri public university — and especially out-of-state students (3.25+ GPA) who want the Go Mo State Scholarship to wipe out the non-resident tuition surcharge.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $23,306 for 2025-2026. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at Missouri State, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at Missouri State, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$13,718
$30,001–$48,000$13,529
$48,001–$75,000$14,905
$75,001–$110,000$18,770
$110,001+$20,576
All income levels (average)$17,613

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$9,502
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$18,770
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$17,613

That works out to roughly a 30% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $25,048 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

Missouri State is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
58%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
77%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$21,992 (~$233/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$49,827
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
36%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
47%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Outside scholarships only trigger an aid adjustment if total aid would exceed the cost of attendance (or the student's aid eligibility cap); below that ceiling, awards are not displaced.

Verified policy language (2026-07-02): "Additional resources may require adjustments to previously awarded financial aid to prevent overawards in accordance with federal regulations." (same document, "Outside Scholarships and Other Assistance" section: "Students must report all external scholarships, tuition assistance, vocational rehabilitation benefits, employer assistance, veterans' educational benefits, and other educational resources to the Office of Student Financial Aid. Failure to report additional assistance may result in overawards and repayment obligations.")

Source

Other Missouri State scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

Amount$2,000 renewableEligibilityIncoming freshmen (current high school seniors) at a Missouri high school with a GPA of 3.50 or higher and a Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less; must demonstrate community service, extracurricular participation, and/or work experience.

Need-aware (requires SAI of 12,000 or less), not pure merit. Application window: open February 1 – April 1, 2026. Source is the official Missouri State Financial Aid blog (blogs.missouristate.edu), not a static .edu scholarships page.

Source

AmountUp to $5,000, renewableEligibilityMissouri undergraduates who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors in 2026–2027 (incoming freshmen NOT eligible); 2.5+ GPA, demonstrated leadership, character, and academic performance; SAI and unmet need considered.

Not a freshman award — listed for completeness. Application open now through April 1, 2026. Source is the official Financial Aid blog.

Source

AmountNot published onlineEligibilityExcellence in three of four areas (leadership, performing arts, volunteerism, athletics) plus class rank in the top 50% (or a 3.00 cumulative GPA at 6th semester) and a 20 ACT or 1030 SAT.

Competitive leadership scholarship requiring a separate application; dollar amount not stated on the Freshman Scholarships page.

Source

AmountNot published onlineEligibilityQualified out-of-state students from participating MSEP states receive the Out-of-State Tuition Waiver.

The MSEP page confirms participation but does not list the qualifying states, the reduced tuition rate, or GPA/test thresholds. Likely an alternative to the Go Mo State Scholarship for some non-residents. Ask the aid office which applies.

Source

AmountCovers tuition and fees not covered by other aidEligibilityNeed-based; covers 'tuition and fees that aren't already covered by federal, state and institutional scholarships and grants.'

NEED-BASED, not merit. Listed for completeness because it interacts with merit stacking. Renewal requires meeting SAP, maintaining Pell eligibility, and completing 24 MSU hours every year.

Source

Missouri State merit aid FAQ

  • Are Missouri State's freshman merit scholarships automatic?

    Yes — Missouri State says 'some scholarships you'll automatically qualify for when you apply and are admitted to MSU.' You are considered for an academic merit award just by applying for admission; no separate scholarship application is required for the automatic awards. The top Presidential Scholarship and the Hutchens/SGA Centennial Leaders Scholarship are exceptions that require separate applications.

  • How much is each Missouri State merit award worth?

    Missouri State does not publish the dollar amounts (or the exact GPA/test cutoffs) for its automatic academic merit awards online. The one published figure is the out-of-state Go Mo State Scholarship, a $50,000 value that covers non-resident tuition for students with a 3.25+ GPA, renewable up to five years. Your specific in-state award amount appears in your admission/award offer.

  • What GPA do I need to keep my scholarship?

    For institutional scholarships awarded Summer 2026 and beyond, you must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and complete 30 credit hours per year. Scholarships renew for the lesser of five academic years or the completion of a first baccalaureate degree.

  • Do Missouri State scholarships stack with outside scholarships?

    Missouri State's policy says scholarships 'may be combined, capped, or restricted in line with institutional guidelines and available funding,' but no page states exactly how an outside scholarship affects your institutional aid. Ask the aid office whether an outside award reduces your merit scholarship, your need-based aid, or your loans first.

See sources and other schools

How Missouri State compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    Missouri State is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    Missouri State is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against Missouri State’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring Missouri State merit aid

The next chapter

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