Scholarships at Missouri State University-West Plains are designed to recognize and reward students for their academic performance and leadership abilities. They are also an incentive for students to continue to excel during their college years. The Missouri State University-West Plains Scholarship Committee is responsible for administration of the various competitive scholarship programs, both institutionally funded and privately endowed.

Scholarships vary in their academic emphases. Look carefully through the remainder of this handbook to identify scholarships which fit your educational background and interests. Application requirements and procedures for each scholarship are indicated in the individual descriptions. To apply for scholarships, complete the application found at the end of this handbook or on the web. Unless otherwise noted, scholarship recipients are determined by the Missouri State University-West Plains Scholarship Committee.

Many scholarships cover all or part of the required student fees. Missouri State University-West Plains scholarships are awarded for the academic year, August to May, and may not be received for more than two years. (Students who have met the academic requirements for an associate degree are not eligible for a scholarship.) Unless otherwise specified, scholarships are available to Missouri State University-West Plains students. Scholarships are usually disbursed in two equal installments, one at the beginning of the fall semester and one at the beginning of the spring semester. Recipients must normally be enrolled full-time (a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester). Requests for exceptions to this or any other scholarship policy should be submitted in writing to the Scholarship Committee. All applicants (first time and renewals) are considered only under criteria printed in the most recent edition of the Missouri State University-West Plains Scholarships and Financial Aid Handbook.  Endowed and restricted scholarship requirements may differ and are specified in each scholarship description.  Endowed and restricted scholarship requirements may differ and are specified in each scholarship description.

Students should be aware that some private, institutional, state and federal scholarship/aid programs may be combined to fund a student's education (required student fees, other fees, and books). Once these educational costs have been met, however, the various scholarship/aid sources may be reduced, as required by the respective programs' regulations, in order to prevent a surplus of funds and a resulting overpayment to the student.

Scholarship athletes are eligible to receive academic scholarships.  Under no circumstances, however,  may assistance to an athlete exceed the amount of need established by a needs analysis system approved by the Department of Education, or the amount of a full scholarship as described in Article VIII, Section I, of the NJCAA Handbook, whichever is greater.

This handbook contains information about scholarship values, and selection criteria. Missouri State University-West Plains reserves the right to change any of these without notice. The University invites applications; however, awards are given annually contingent on funding.

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