A+ Scholarship Program | dhewd.mo.gov

At-a-Glance

Overview: What this scholarship is and is not

The A+ Scholarship is a Missouri state tuition reimbursement program for high school graduates who meet high school performance requirements and then enroll in approved postsecondary programs in Missouri.

It is not a private grant you apply for once with a single online form. It is a state reimbursement system triggered at the college/technical school level after you are certified as eligible and enrolled in qualifying coursework.

The state page states this is a merit-based program that helps eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend participating public community colleges, participating vocational/technical schools, and certain private two-year vocational/technical schools. The official details shown are for the 2025-2026 academic year unless otherwise noted.

This distinction matters because many students assume there is a final “one-time award date.” In practice, the more important timing constraints are:

1. whether you meet high school eligibility (including GPA, attendance, mentoring, citizenship, and math requirements),
2. whether your college enrollment fits the full-time and progress rules for the term,
3. whether you file the right federal financial aid information for the right academic year.

What A+ typically helps with in plain English

The program pays the unpaid balance of tuition and general fees after federal non-loan aid has already been applied. The most important consequence is:

• If Pell and other federal aid fully cover your tuition and general fees, your A+ tuition reimbursement for that term may be zero.
• If aid does not fully cover those charges, A+ can cover the difference, within the per-credit/clock-hour cap and school-year cap rules.

The scholarship does not normally cover books, supplies, or program-specific/individualized charges. The official language defines general fees as charges to all students rather than program-specific fees.

The program has a cap. For 2025-2026, reimbursement is capped at $225 per credit hour or $6 per clock hour. The state says this cap is announced in late spring or early summer each year and may change.

The amount can also be reduced if state appropriations are insufficient and by enrollment/payment details on what was successfully completed:

• Reimbursement is linked to completed coursework with a standard grade; grades of Incomplete are treated as standard grades for A+ purposes.
• If you withdraw or drop classes and still complete fewer than 12 semester credits (6 in summer) in that payment period, those dropped classes may still count under specific rules.
• If you exceed the 12-credit completion minimum and drop below the minimum completion for the period, reimbursement for dropped coursework may not apply and eligibility may be delayed.
• Repeat coursework is not reimbursed.

That last part is why two students with similar tuition can see different A+ outcomes: A+ is paid based on how the term is completed, not only what was enrolled in.

Who should apply (and who probably should not)

Good candidates

This scholarship is often worth the effort when a student is:

• already committed to attending a participating Missouri community college or vocational/technical school;
• planning to earn a degree or certificate at that school;
• likely to complete 12 credits each fall/spring term or 6 credits in summer (or meet one of the documented exceptions in official policy);
• prepared to file federal aid records on the correct term cycle each year;
• prepared to keep a 2.0 or 2.5 cumulative GPA path depending on initial or renewal status.

Probably not ideal candidates

This may be the wrong pathway if:

• the student is primarily pursuing a four-year baccalaureate-only path and does not plan an associate-level certificate/degree track first;
• the student already has an associate or bachelor’s degree before enrolling;
• all costs are mainly books, tools, and non-qualified fees that A+ does not cover;
• academic history or attendance patterns make it hard to maintain first-year/renewal rules;
• the school you want is not in the participating postsecondary list (you need confirmation before planning).

Because this scholarship is tied to both completion and term-level eligibility, it favors students who can plan workload, financial aid, and enrollment in a structured way.

Who is eligible: high school side

You can be a high school student candidate if your circumstances match all required criteria listed by the state:

• You are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• You sign a written agreement with your high school before graduation.
• You attended an A+ designated high school for two years before graduation.
  • For the 2020 high school seniors and forward, attending any two of the four years before graduation can satisfy this rule.
  • Military-related exemption: if a parent is active-duty or retired military and moved to Missouri within one year of retirement, the two-year attendance rule is waived, but the student must still attend an A+ designated high school in the school year before graduation and meet every other high school criterion.
• You graduate with at least a 2.5 unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• You maintain at least 95% attendance across grades 9–12.
• You complete at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring; up to 25% of those hours may be job shadowing.
• You maintain good citizenship with no unlawful use of drugs/alcohol while in grades 9–12.
• You pass Algebra I EOC (proficient or advanced) or a higher-level approved DESE EOC math exam.
• If you are part of the 2018 class of high school seniors and forward and miss that requirement, you may still qualify with a qualifying Pre-ACT/ACT math score + GPA combination:
  • ACT/Pre-ACT 17+ with GPA 2.5+
  • ACT/Pre-ACT 16 with GPA 2.8+
  • ACT/Pre-ACT 15 with GPA 3.0+

Important: The official site allows the qualifying ACT/Pre-ACT score to be earned in high school or postsecondary. If it is earned after high school, the student may become eligible in the same term if high school eligibility is already established before the institution submits the reimbursement request.

Who is eligible: initial postsecondary students

Once enrolled, A+ is no longer a “high school-only” program. The same student must now be eligible under college rules:

• Enroll and attend full-time at a participating school.
• Students with ADA Title II-defined disability may be treated as full-time if enrolled in at least six credit hours.
• You must be pursuing a degree or certificate at the school where you attend.
• You cannot be seeking a theology or divinity credential.
• You cannot have a criminal record that blocks receipt of federal Title IV aid.
• You must make a good faith effort to get federal aid via FAFSA (or the federal student aid estimator if the school is not in Title IV).
• You need at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA by the end of the fall term (or initial payment period in non-semester models) and must maintain school-defined satisfactory academic progress.
• You must complete at least:
  • 12 semester credits per qualifying fall/spring term, or
  • 6 semester credits in summer, or
  • 90% of required clock hours in clock-hour programs.

This minimum-completion rule is for continuing toward an award in the next term, not just a one-time hurdle.

Renewing the award vs first-time award cycle

If you receive A+ in the first year and then continue to use it, you become a renewal student in later cycles:

• Renewal students keep high school and most college-level expectations and then apply school-specific satisfactory-progress expectations plus A+ GPA thresholds.
• Initial students in their first receiving year are not subject to the renewal minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 until after the first initial-year rules are cleared, but they still must meet the initial 2.0 requirement by fall.
• Renewal students generally must keep cumulative GPA at 2.5 and satisfy term completion and FAFSA requirements each year.
• Missing renewal requirements means you may lose A+ in the following cycle; you may become eligible again after your school confirms criteria are met again.

Because renewal policies can be interpreted through each institution’s progress checks, students should ask financial aid when progress is measured (each term), especially when borderline on GPA or completion.

When an applicant should pause or defer

The rules include a specific deferment path for service-related interruptions:

• If you cannot attend due to active-duty military service, you may request deferment so the 48-month clock is preserved.
• You must return to full-time student status within 12 months of service end.
• You must provide DD214 documentation showing service length.

If this applies, students can preserve remaining A+ value while away, which is why it is important to plan with your advisor before and after service.

How to get started: practical checklist with sources

There is no stand-alone paper application. That means your process is coordinated with the school that will pay your bill:

1. Confirm your high school status through your A+ coordinator while you are still a student.
2. Keep a clean high school record that tracks:
   • attendance,
   • mentoring/tutoring logs,
   • final GPA,
   • math score or ACT/Pre-ACT option.
3. Ask your A+ coordinator for your high school completion confirmation and review whether the required transcript A+ mark/stamp is required to prove eligibility.
4. After enrolling, bring this information to your college technical aid office and complete the college’s internal materials checklist.
5. File FAFSA each year using the academic-year filing cycle that matches the college’s summer-term designation (July 1–June 30 cycle).
   • If the college counts summer as a “header” to the upcoming year, you file FAFSA for that year.
   • If summer is a “trailer,” you file for the prior year.
   • The state says it funds the summer term after July 1 even if the school labels that summer term as trailer.
6. Confirm your award is requested by the school for each term deadline (summer, fall, spring).

You should expect:

• MDHEWD does not directly notify students about eligibility.
• A+ eligibility must be verified through your high school coordinator (high school rules) and your college financial aid office (term and postsecondary rules).

Timeline and decision planning (plain English version)

Before graduation

Work backward from your planned first term:

• If you are a 2020+ senior or forward, confirm the two-year attendance requirement is met with school records.
• If you are close to a GPA threshold, ask your counselor about retake or support options, but don’t assume alternatives unless confirmed with school policy.
• Build your 50-hour mentoring/ tutoring requirement early. You get more flexibility and fewer surprises in your senior year.
• Get your math requirement finalized as soon as possible; if needed, use the ACT/Pre-ACT combination only after confirming that path is still valid for your graduation year.

On a gap year or after graduation

• You do not lose everything after graduation immediately, but time is your enemy:
  • 48-month legal expiration from graduation date.
  • You may still qualify for a spring term with mid-year graduation if your transcript reflects that date.
• Keep a file of all school and military/other deferral documentation if any.
• Enroll within that window at a participating institution.

Each term

• Register for enough credits to meet A+ term rules.
• Watch repeat-course and dropped-course consequences.
• File/refresh federal aid records in time.
• Follow up with both your aid office and, if needed, high school coordinator for corrections in a time frame that allows school billing cycles to resolve before late-fee deadlines.

How your finances actually change: what to expect

A+ can be the difference between starting college and borrowing more, but outcomes vary by household aid profile.

The payment is made to the school, not directly to the student, and applied on your account.

Think through it in order:

1. School posts charges.
2. Aid (including Pell and similar non-loan federal aid) is applied first.
3. A+ is calculated on the remaining eligible tuition/general-fee balance.
4. State cap and appropriations rules may reduce the final number.
5. The school applies payment to your account.

If your FAFSA and non-loan aid already cover tuition, the scholarship can be effectively $0 for that term. That is not a failure; it is a lawful result of the formula and still means you met eligibility.

Common mistakes that drain time or money

• Assuming filing FAFSA late only affects federal aid and not A+. The site explicitly says late filing may jeopardize your payment.
• Waiting until term start to confirm whether your high school is properly marked A+ on the transcript.
• Submitting a drop pattern that creates ineligible completion for the next term because you believed only enrollment matters.
• Planning a transfer without notifying MDHEWD.
  • The state page gives a direct instruction to contact MDHEWD at (800) 473-6757 option 4 if you transfer.
  • Failure to notify can reduce the total amount you receive.
• Treating the 12-credit rule as “initial students only.” The page states this completion requirement applies to both initial and renewal award flow.
• Forgetting that no federal aid can be processed means no eligibility notice is sent to the student directly; you must pull the status from your coordinator and aid office.

Is this scholarship worth your time? A practical fit decision

Use this practical filter:

• If your target program is in a participating public or qualifying private two-year technical setting and you can reasonably maintain the required term credits/GPA, the scholarship is usually worth pursuing.
• If you are already filing federal aid and expecting Pell to be large enough to cover tuition, treat A+ as a backup/replacement stream:
  • If there is a gap, it fills it up to the cap.
  • If no gap exists, it may be zero that term.
• If your likely path is unstable (interrupted enrollment, repeated classes, frequent withdrawals), A+ complexity may create admin overhead. In those cases, a financial planning call with aid staff before enrollment can prevent confusion.
• The program is strongest for students who can plan ahead, keep documentation, and communicate each term.

This is not just about free money. It is mostly about consistency. Students who succeed with A+ are often the ones who manage workload and paperwork in parallel.

FAQ (confirmed from official page)

Is there a paper application?

No paper application is required. The college should tell you what materials it needs in addition to the A+ stamp/indication on your high school transcript.

Can I apply if my high school is not public?

Yes, some non-public schools can participate, but only if they submitted the required A+ assurances and were designated.

Do I need to be a full-time student in every case?

The base rule is full-time at a participating school, with a documented ADA-related exception allowing six credit hours for certain disabilities. Schools also apply their full-time and progress policies for exceptions and internships.

What happens if I take fewer than 12 credits after already receiving A+?

For students receiving A+ and having a positive net disbursement, not completing the required hours can delay the next term award. Zero-net-disbursement and no-enrollment terms have additional rules, but those are narrow and best verified with aid staff.

Can I get A+ and still attend summer term?

Yes, if your FAFSA is for the correct academic year based on how your school defines summer in the July 1–June 30 cycle. The page also says funding can be available for the summer term after July 1 even if the school treats that term as a trailer.

Can I transfer to another school and keep A+?

You can, but you must notify MDHEWD and you should confirm credit transfer and reporting impact before the transfer takes effect.

Can I defer my A+ if I go active-duty?

Yes, if you request deferment. You need to provide a DD214 and return to full-time status within 12 months of service end.

Can A+ be used at a private school?

The page says certain private two-year vocational/technical schools can qualify. Four-year institutions are not described as the standard A+ route on this page.

Official links and next steps

• Official program page: https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants-scholarships/a-plus
• Participating schools and institution-facing details: https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants-scholarships/a-plus/participating-schools
• FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov
• Federal Student Aid Estimator (for schools outside Title IV): https://studentaid.gov
• Official notification pathway for non-public high school participation is listed as a linked item on the official A+ page.
• MDHEWD mailing/deferral address for written requests:
  • Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
  • ATTN: A+
  • P.O. Box 1469
  • Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469

Final action plan before enrollment

If your goal is simply to decide whether this is realistic for you, complete this in order and keep a written copy:

1. Confirm you are in an A+ eligible high-school track before graduation.
2. Verify mentoring and attendance records with your school counselor.
3. Confirm one participating college/technical school and ask that office how it handles A+ onboarding.
4. Prepare a simple term-by-term plan for 48 months (max) showing credit load and projected completion.
5. File FAFSA or Federal Student Aid Estimator in the right term cycle, then cross-check with the aid office.

If everything aligns, you can treat this as a predictable part of your college funding plan rather than a mystery benefit.

Practical decision summary

The A+ Scholarship is most useful for students who want to move quickly and cheaply into credentialed technical or community college programs in Missouri. It is less useful when a student’s plan is already fully covered by Pell or when program fit and enrollment consistency are uncertain.
Because it is reimbursement-based, your outcome depends as much on term completion, timing, and documentation as on grades.