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Access Missouri is a need-based financial aid program for Missouri students attending Missouri colleges and universities. It was created with the input of financial aid professionals, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the General Assembly so that more students with demonstrated financial need could obtain a college education. It’s working ... some 40,000 students received Access Missouri grants last year and demand is increased this year.
The Threat to Access Missouri
The Threat To Access Missouri
Access Missouri was developed three years ago with extensive input from financial aid professionals, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the General Assembly. They recognized that financial aid is not “one size fits all.” It works best when designed to meet the needs of the individual students it serves.
After careful analysis and deliberate research, Access Missouri was created with graduated awards to best meet the needs of Missouri students. The average award was set to cover 22 percent of the tuition and fees at four-year independent institutions, while covering 25 percent at four-year public institutions. In other words, average Access Missouri grant awards for students attending independent colleges actually cover a lower percentage of tuition and fees than the average awards to students at a public four-year college.
In the 2010 Legislative Session, two bills were filed to reduce maximum Access Missouri grant awards to students attending independent institutions. After hearings and protests from students in the Keep Me In College coalition, Senate Bill 784 and House Bill 1812 have been revised with substitute bills that meet some of our goals. This is a real accomplishment in a difficult budget year.
We currently support the substitute bills for SB 784 and HB 1812. These bills would set the same maximum grant awards for students attending public and independent institutions. While not ideal, this effort a parity is significantly better than Gov. Nixon's proposal to eliminate Access Missouri altogether for independent college students. Under the substitute bills, students at four-year independent institutions and public colleges would be eligible for maximum grant awards of $2,850 starting in 2014. Most students currently enrolled in school would not be affected by this change. Most importantly, the substitute bills eliminate the sunset clause which would have caused Access Missouri to discontinue in 2013. The Keep Me In College coalition currently supports the substitute bills and encourages the legislature to pass them as written.
On March 11, students attending independent institutions came under attack from Governor Jay Nixon. Gov. Nixon’s proposal would make Missouri the only state in the country that does not provide financial aid to students attending independent institutions. He proposes prohibiting all state aid to students at independent institutions, including Access Missouri, Bright Flight and Marguerite Ross Barnett scholarships. The Gov. has since indicated that he will support the substitute bills for SB 784 and HB 1812, however he has also indicated an interest in cutting $50 million in financial aid to independent students through Access Missouri. This proposal would signicantly harm the ability of students to continue their college education in our state. We strongly oppose this effort to cut independent students' aid at a time when they need it most.
Funding of public higher education in our state is a problem the Legislature needs to address, but this budget problem should not be solved on the back of Missouri's neediest students.
Let your elected representatives and the Governor know you care about protecting financial aid for all Missouri students. Take action today!
Access Missouri Students
- Approximately 60% are first-generation college students.
- The program is available to families with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) of $12,000 or less.
- About one-third of Access Missouri grant recipients have an EFC of $500 or less.
- Nearly two-thirds demonstrate need (EFC of $4,000 or less) that also makes them eligible for a Pell grant, the federal government's lead need-based financial aid program.
Where Access Missouri Students Go To School
- According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, almost three-fourths of the students (73%) receiving support through Access Missouri attend public institutions.
- Students with greater financial need tend to choose independent colleges.
- For FY 2009, the average adjusted gross family income of Access Missouri recipients attending four-year independent institutions was only $42,620; while it was $45,546 for those enrolled at four-year public institutions.
- In FY 2009, more than 43,000 students in our state are able to attend a Missouri college or university of their choice because of Access Missouri. Of the award recipients, 12,500 choose to attend Missouri’s independent institutions.
How Access Missouri Works
- Access Missouri supports students attending any eligible public, independent, 2-year or 4-year post-secondary institution in the state.
- The current minimum award amount is $300. The maximum award amount is $3,590.
- Students must have their FAFSA on file by April 1, re-apply each year and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA to receive support.
- Access Missouri is primarily funded through taxpayer dollars from General Revenue.
For More Information
Stay up-to-date on what’s happening in the Missouri Legislature by joining the Keep Me In College Coalition. We’ll send you periodic updates on the threat to Access Missouri and how you can help protect financial aid to Missouri students.
Additional information about Access Missouri can be found on the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s website.
To learn if you qualify for Access Missouri funds, or other questions about your own financial aid options, please meet with the financial aid director at your Missouri college or university.
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