Scholarships are one of the ways we can help you meet the cost of your education. Whether they are merit-based awards for first-time freshman – earned through hard work and diligence in your academic studies – scholarships for incoming transfer students, Honors students or awards from individual departments or athletics, you can find out how to apply below.
Are you a first-time freshman? See if you qualify for our merit scholarships designed to help meet the cost of your education. You earned it with hard work.
Learn More About Merit Scholarships
At MSSU, we have completely redesigned our transfer scholarship model. Get the degree you have always wanted with the scholarship you earned.
Learn More About New Transfer Scholarships
Starting in the fall 2023 semester, international students can qualify for our new MOSO International Achievement Scholarship, MOSO First-Year International Award, and MOSO International Retention Scholarship. See if you are eligible today!
Learn More about International Scholarships
Graduate Student Scholarships
Starting in the spring 2025 semester, domestic and international graduate students can qualify for our new Graduate Student Achievement Scholarship and Graduate Non-Resident Scholarship.
We are now offering new and improved merit scholarships for incoming freshman. The awards will be automatic and based on your ACT score and high-school GPA.
The three scholarship levels are:
Premier: $5,000
Gold: $3,500
Green: $2,000
Missouri Southern State University introduced the new Global Leaders Program in the fall 2021 semester. Each participant in the program will have access to $4,000 in private funds that can be used toward international travel, leadership development, undergraduate research, and travel to academic conferences, along with a number of other unique opportunities.
The Legacy Scholarship is designed to award students who are continuing their family’s legacy at Missouri Southern State University. It is a one-time $500 scholarship awarded to 20 students each fall. Recipients will be selected based on the number of legacy family members, their involvement in student organizations, and their response to the question: What does being an MSSU Lion mean to you?
You are eligible to apply for this scholarship if you completed the State of Missouri A+ Leadership Program, are a first-time freshmen, and are attending MSSU the first semester immediately following high school graduation. If you qualify, you will be awarded $1,000 per academic year ($500 per semester), renewable for eight consecutive semesters. To remain eligible, you must complete 24 credit hours for the Fall and Spring semesters with at least a 2.50 GPA.
This scholarship will be automatically awarded to first-time freshmen who have graduated from a high school in one of the participating exchange states: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio or Wisconsin. You will be automatically awarded 25% of out-of-state tuition costs.
We are now offering new and improved scholarships for incoming transfer students starting in the fall 2023 semester.
The Legacy Scholarship is designed to award students who are continuing their family’s legacy at Missouri Southern State University. It is a one-time $500 scholarship awarded to 20 students each fall. Recipients will be selected based on the number of legacy family members, their involvement in student organizations, and their response to the question: What does being an MSSU Lion mean to you?
To qualify for this scholarship, you must be a current member of PTK, transferring at least 42 credit hours and have at least a 3.75 GPA. If you qualify, you will be awarded $1,000 per academic year ($500 per semester), renewable for six consecutive semesters. This scholarship can be combined with the Board of Governor's Scholarship.
This scholarship will be automatically awarded to you if you are transferring to MSSU from one of the participating exchange states: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio or Wisconsin. You will be awarded 25% of out-of-state tuition costs.
Starting in the fall 2023 semester, international students can qualify for our new MOSO International Achievement Scholarship, MOSO First-Year International Award, and MOSO International Retention Scholarship. See if you are eligible today!
The Walter and Frederica Evans Scholarship is available to students who have been accepted into the Honors Program. It is awarded to the most highly qualified applicants as funds allow. The Honors Program at Missouri Southern State University is a specially-designed academic path exclusively for high-achieving students. Honors students have the advantage of a distinguished learning environment, enhanced resources, a strong community to support them, and special recognition designed to help them succeed academically. To graduate with Honors, a student must earn 18-20 Honors credits by completing Honors-specific courses. The Evans Scholarship is Southern's most valuable institutional academic award, and Honors students who are awarded this scholarship receive $6,500 per academic year ($3,250 per semester). The Evans Scholarship is renewable for up to eight semesters (total value of $26,000 over 4 years) if the student continues to make acceptable academic progress. To learn more about the Honors Program, including the application process, please visit the Honors page.
Value: $1500 ($750 per semester)
Eligibility: To be considered, a student must meet the following criteria:
Renewability: The Graduate Student Achievement Scholarship may be received for a maximum of four (4) semesters of graduate study provided the recipient:
Value: $2500 ($1250 per semester)
Eligibility: To be considered, a student must meet the following criteria:
Renewability: The Graduate Non-Resident Scholarship may be received for a maximum of four (4) semesters of graduate study provided the recipient:
If you are a full-time student and a participating athlete in one of our athletic teams, you qualify to apply for our NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) scholarships. These are performance-based scholarships awarded on a competitive basis. Each scholarship has its own specific criteria and award amount. If you qualify, submit your FAFSA and submit a scholarship application to the Director of Athletics.
For a variety of additional scholarships awarded by governing bodies outside our university, have a look at this resource of outside scholarships. You may qualify for any number of scholarships based on a number of factors such as financial standing, ethnic background, disabilities, and more.
In order to apply for Financial Aid Suspension Appeal and/or Scholarship Appeal, please complete this online application. Your information will be sent to Financial Aid. If you are appealing both financial aid and a scholarship, you will need to complete an appeal for each. If your costs are due during that time, please make the necessary payment arrangements to avoid being dropped. Documentation for medical and/or extenuating circumstances must accompany the application within one week of submitting the appeal for consideration. Send documentation to Financial Aid, or email to: finaidSAP@mssu.edu
Missouri Southern State University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict nondiscrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, students, third parties on campus, and applicants for employment and admissions. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally-protected class, in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University, including, but not limited to, athletics, instruction, grading, the awarding of student financial aid, recruitment, admissions, and housing.
