A+ Information

What is the A+ program?

• The A+ Scholarship is a Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) program, that will provide scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools (maximum of $175.25 per credit hour) that attend an eligible Missouri public community college, vocational, or technical school. To qualify for the A+ benefit, you must complete a FAFSA and enroll full-time (12 or more credit hours per semester) within 48 months after graduation from high school.
• Many 4-year Universities and vocation/technical schools in Missouri offer a benefit to students who graduate with A+ status; please see our list of Universities and list of Vocational/Technical schools.
• To use A+ monies, students must enroll and attend full-time at a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or private two-year vocational/technical school. (Students who have a disability as defined by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are unable to enroll full time because of their disability but are enrolled in at least six credit hours may be considered to be enrolled full time.)
• Students must be seeking a degree or certificate at the school in which you are enrolled. For example, a student may not use A+ money part time to enroll in summer classes without enrolling in a degree seeking program.

What are the requirements to complete the A+ program?

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Attend an A+ qualified high school for 2 years/4 semesters
• Enroll in the A+ program via signed application
• Complete 50 hours of unpaid tutoring (this is total and can be accumulated over the 4 years of high school)
• Maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA (cumulative)
• Maintain a 95% attendance rate (cumulative)
• Score Proficient or Advanced on the Algebra I EOC**
• Maintain a record of good student citizenship
• Fill out/complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid)
• Register with the Selective Service (males only, Federal Law)

**Students who do not score Proficient or Advanced on the Algebra I EOC, may elect to re-take it the end of 1st semester senior year, or achieve a qualifying score on the Math portion of the ACT:

ACT Math Score      GPA    

       15                   3.0 or higher 

       16                   2.8 or higher 

       17                   2.5 or higher 

FAFSA Information 

• The 2021-2022 FAFSA is available beginning October 1, 2020. The 21-22 FAFSA is for August 2021 through July 2022. 
• Any student wanting to use their A+ benefit, must make a good faith effort to secure financial assistance funds by filling out the 2021-2022 FAFSA.
• For priority consideration, submit your FAFSA application by Feb. 1, 2021. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2021, by midnight CT.

Federal Deadline

Online applications must be submitted by midnight Central Time, June 30, 2021. Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 14, 2021.

State Deadline

Missouri - For priority consideration, submit application your application by February 1, 2021. Applications are accepted through April 1, 2021, by midnight, CT. Awards are made until funds are depleted.

College Deadline

Check with the college(s) you are interested in attending and/or contact the Financial Aid Office. School deadlines are usually early in the year (often in February or March, although some are even earlier now that the FAFSA form is available in October).  You may also want to ask your college about its definition of an application deadline - whether it is the date the college receives your FAFSA, or the date your FAFSA is processed.