A+ Program

The A+ Schools Program provides students who have attended an A+ designated high school and met A+ eligibility requirements with a scholarship covering tuition at a public, two-year community college or vocational school in the state of Missouri.  The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education established the A+ Schools program in 1993. The key goal of the A+ Schools program is to assure that all students, when they graduate, are well prepared to pursue advanced education, employment or both.  Once a high school is designated as an A+ institution, then students who have completed the eligibility requirements may attend any Missouri community college or state technical school and receive FREE tuition. Read the A+ Guidelines brochure to learn more.

A+ Requirements during High School:

• Enter into a written agreement with your high school during the last three years prior to high school graduation.
• Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid unlawful use of drugs;
• Have at least a 95% attendance record;
• Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring for younger students;
• Graduate from high school with a GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale;
• Beginning with 2015 High School Graduates, meet the A+ College Preparedness Math Criterion

Eligible A+ High School Graduates must complete these College Level A+ Requirements:

1. File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) annually;
2. Complete an application for admission and submit the $25 application fee;
3. Submit a Final High School Transcript with the official A+ Seal;
4. Submit any additional FAFSA Verification documents as requested by the college;
5. Read, sign, and submit the A+ Contract.

The A+ Program has many unique rules established by the Missouri Department of Higher Education, carefully review each component of the A+ Contract before signing and submitting it to the Office of Student Financial Services

Reinstatement Of A+ Eligibility

A+ students who had to utilize federal grant funds instead of A+ or who transferred from another institution may get A+ funding reinstated if still meeting the A+ eligibility criteria.  In addition, A+ students who have lost eligibility for A+ funding may be reinstated if they enroll in subsequent terms and earn sufficient credit hours and/or cumulative GPA to remove the deficits. Students are responsible for all costs incurred during terms of enrollment in which reinstatement is being sought. To be considered for A+ reinstatement, submit an Application for Reinstatement of A+ Program Eligibility.