Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program

Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program

This is a need-based program designed to provide students with a simplified financial aid process, provide predictable, portable awards, and increase access to a student's school of choice. Eligibility is determined by the student's expected family contribution (EFC) as calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year, the Access Missouri program replaced the Charles Gallagher Student Financial Assistance and Missouri College Guarantee programs.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for initial or renewed assistance you must:

Have a FAFSA on file by April 1, 2009,
Have any FAFSA corrections made by July 31, 2009 (school choices may be added until September 30, 2009),
Be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident and a Missouri resident,
Be enrolled full-time at a participating Missouri school,
Have an EFC of $12,000 or less, and
Not be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity
How much can I receive?

Award amounts are based on the type of school you are attending when you receive the award. If you transfer to a different school, your award amount may change based on the type of school to which you transfer.

All award amounts for the 2009-2010 academic year will be estimated until August 2009, when the amount of funding for the program and the final number of eligible students are known. Contact your financial aid office or the MDHE to see if you are eligible and to learn the estimated or actual amount of your award, depending on what time of year it is.

If you are eligible for A+ tuition reimbursement your award will be reduced by the amount of the reimbursement. Award amounts may also be reduced if your total aid package, excluding educational loans and aid based solely on academic performance, exceeds your school's cost of attendance.

Awards are not available during summer terms.

How can I apply?

There is no paper Access Missouri application to fill out. Complete your FAFSA by April 1 each year. The MDHE receives electronic FAFSA records for Missouri residents directly from the federal government.

How will I know if I am eligible?

The MDHE does not provide notice to students of eligibility. Final eligibility is determined (usually in late August) by the institution you are attending. Contact your institution or the MDHE for your tentative eligibility status.

How do I renew my award?

The Access Missouri award may be renewed annually until you have obtained a bachelor's degree or completed 150 semester credit hours, whichever occurs first. To renew you must:

Reapply and have your eligibility re-evaluated each year. This means that if you fail to file a new FAFSA by the deadline or your EFC increases to a point above the eligibility cutoff (currently $12,000), you may no longer be eligible for an Access Missouri award even though you received one in the previous year.
Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school.
How do I transfer my award?

You may transfer your eligibility to any participating school. If you choose to transfer to a different participating Missouri institution, either between academic years or semesters, you must contact the MDHE at (800) 473-6757, option 4.

To transfer your award between semesters you must have been paid in the preceding fall semester or the school you are transferring to must have been on file with the MDHE by the July 31 correction deadline.