College is an important investment and Mizzou scholarships are a great way to make it more affordable. The information on this page applies to first-year students entering in Fall 2027. Scholarships are reviewed annually, so award amounts and eligibility criteria may change for future entering classes.
Key Dates
| Date | Actions |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2026 | Submit your application for admission, pay the application fee and request your official high school transcript to the University of Missouri. All required official materials must be received by December 15 for priority merit scholarship consideration. |
| Late January 2027 | Merit scholarship notifications begin. |
| February 1, 2027 | Submit the FAFSA for priority consideration for need-based scholarships |
| March 2027 | Financial aid offers, including additional scholarship awards, become available. |
Criteria for Award
Merit scholarships at Mizzou are awarded based on:
- The Mizzou Core GPA
- The rigor of the core course curriculum a student enrolled in at their high school
How We Evaluate Course Rigor
Mizzou considers the rigor of your coursework within the context of each high school’s core course offerings and curriculum.
Rigor can include:
- The overall number of the most rigorous core courses taken
- The grades earned in those courses
Each high school offers different types of challenging courses, such as:
- AP (Advanced Placement)
- IB (International Baccalaureate)
- Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment
Students are evaluated fairly within the context of the curriculum offered at their high school. Mizzou does not prefer one type of rigorous course type over another.
At high schools that do not offer AP, IB, or dual credit/enrollment courses, Mizzou will review the overall curriculum to identify which core courses are designated the most rigorous.
Your individual curriculum rigor is based on:
- The rigorous core courses available at your high school
- How many of those courses you completed compared with your peers
- Your performance in those courses
Example: Understanding Course Rigor
To understand how Mizzou assesses rigor, consider the example below.
Two Students, Same High School, Same GPA*
| Student A | Student B |
|---|---|
| 1 AP course | 2 AP courses |
| 1 dual credit course | 2 dual credit courses |
In this example, Student B completed a more rigorous curriculum and would receive a larger scholarship. However, it is still possible that Student A will receive a scholarship.
*The above scenario is an example only and is not intended to describe a real outcome in scholarship awarding.
Test Scores and Supporting Materials
Whether you submit test scores or apply test optional, you will receive the same scholarship consideration.
Standardized test scores are considered for some scholarships, but not all. Scholarships that require a test score are clearly noted.
If you’re homeschooled, earned a GED or HiSET, or attend an unaccredited high school, you’ll need an official ACT or SAT score to be considered for merit scholarships. All official scores must be received by Dec. 15, 2026.
Your official high school transcript is part of your admission application. High schools can take up to two weeks to send and process it, so request yours early. If your transcript does not reach our office by Dec. 15, 2026, you may not be considered for scholarships.
Merit Awards
Award details listed below apply to first-time college freshmen entering Fall 2027. All scholarships are renewable provided certain criteria are met. Renewal criteria are available on the Student Financial Aid website. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships may not be combined. Missouri resident scholarships are available to Missouri residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents only.
Missouri resident undergraduate first-time college students who submit a complete application for admission by Dec. 1 are considered for merit-based scholarships.
Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit.
| SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FALL 2027 FRESHMAN STUDENTS | AMOUNT PER YEAR |
|---|---|
| Mizzou Scholars Award | $11,000 a year for up to four years |
| Chancellor’s Award | $7,200 a year for up to four years |
| Curators Scholars Award | $5,000 a year for up to four years |
| Excellence Award | $3,500 a year for up to four years |
| SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FALL 2027 FRESHMAN STUDENTS | AMOUNT PER YEAR | MINIMUM CRITERIA |
|---|---|---|
| National Merit Finalist & Semifinalist Scholarship | 100% tuition and fees + $3,500 additional annual stipend + $15,234 one-time, one year on-campus housing and dining + one-time payment of $2,000 for research/study abroad + $1,000 for tech enrichment | Deemed a National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist by National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) |
| Perfect Score Scholarship | 100% tuition and fees + $3,500 additional stipend + $15,234 one-time, one year on-campus housing and dining + one-time payment of $2,000 for research/study abroad + $1,000 for tech enrichment | 36 ACT or 1570-1600 SAT (Superscores used) |
Must maintain a 2.75 GPA to renew scholarships above. Unless noted, all scholarships/fee reductions require recipients to enroll at Mizzou the first semester after high school graduation. Some scholarships/fee reductions are subject to change without notice. They are not to be regarded as offers to contract. Financial aid awards from all sources (federal, state, institutional or private aid) may not exceed the annual cost of attendance assigned by MU. Scholarships requiring a separate application (including those in the Mizzou Scholarship Application Portal and Honors College scholarships) have a due date of Dec. 1. Scholarships are only applicable to the fall and spring semesters; therefore, students cannot receive these scholarships in the summer semester. Students starting in the middle of the academic year (Spring term) will receive half of the scholarship award for their first term of entry. See Terms & Conditions for Financial Aid Eligibility.
Award details listed below apply to nonresident first-time college freshmen entering Fall 2027.
All scholarships are renewable provided certain criteria are met. Renewal criteria are available on the Student Financial Aid website. Unless otherwise noted, scholarships may not be combined. Nonresident scholarships can only be applied to the nonresident portion of tuition. Nonresident scholarships are available to nonresident U.S. citizens or permanent residents only. Nonresident distance students admitted into an online program are not eligible for merit scholarships due to distance students being charged a different tuition rate.
Nonresident first-time college students who submit a complete application for admission by Dec. 1 are considered for merit-based scholarships.
Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit.
| SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FALL 2027 FRESHMAN STUDENTS | AMOUNT PER YEAR |
|---|---|
| Mark Twain Level 1 | $21,500 a year for up to four years |
| Mark Twain Level 2 | $8,500 a year for up to four years |
| OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FALL 2027 FRESHMAN STUDENTS | AMOUNT PER YEAR | SCHOLARSHIP AWARDING AND AMOUNTS ARE DETERMINED BY ACADEMIC MERIT AND ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA. |
|---|---|---|
| Border State Award Can be combined with Mark Twain Level 2 and Black & Gold Level 2 scholarships. | $3,000 a year for up to four years | Reside in one of the eight states that border Missouri: Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee. Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
| Black & Gold Level 1 | $21,500 year for up to four years | Have a biological, adoptive or stepparent who graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou). Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
| Black & Gold Level 2 | $11,000 year for up to four years | Have a biological, adoptive or stepparent who graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou). Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
| Black & Gold Border County Award | $21,500 year for up to four years | Have a biological, adoptive or stepparent who graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou). Reside in a county bordering Missouri. Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
| Tiger Border County Award Level 1* | $21,500 year for up to four years | Reside in a county bordering Missouri. Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
| Tiger Border County Award Level 2* | $17,000 year for up to four years | Reside in a county bordering Missouri. Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
| National Merit Finalist Scholarship | $21,500 year for up to four years | Declare the University of Missouri first choice with NMSC. Declare by May 1 for an additional $1,000. Scholarship awarding and amounts are determined by academic merit. |
Merit scholarships scholarships cannot be combined unless otherwise noted. Tiger Border County Awards cannot be combined with other MU grants or scholarships.
Must maintain a 2.75 GPA to renew scholarships above. Unless noted, all scholarships/fee reductions require recipients to enroll at Mizzou the first semester after high school graduation. Some scholarships/fee reductions are subject to change without notice. They are not to be regarded as offers to contract. Financial aid scholarships from all sources (federal, state, institutional or private aid) may not exceed the annual cost of attendance assigned by MU. Scholarships requiring a separate application (including those in the Mizzou Scholarship Application Portal and Honors College scholarships) have a due date of Dec. 1. Scholarships are only applicable to the fall and spring semesters; therefore, students cannot receive these scholarships in the summer semester. Students starting in the middle of the academic year (Spring term) will receive half of the scholarship award for their first term of entry. See Terms & Conditions for Financial Aid Eligibility.
Competitive Scholarships
Competitive award details listed below apply to first-time college freshmen entering Fall 2027. These scholarships are available to students enrolling at Mizzou the first semester after high school graduation. They are renewable provided certain criteria are met. Renewal criteria are available on the Student Financial Aid website. Unless otherwise noted, none of these scholarships may be combined with any other scholarships.
COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BOTH MISSOURI RESIDENTS AND NONRESIDENTS
| COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS | AMOUNT PER YEAR | MINIMUM CRITERIA | ADDITIONAL CRITERIA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stamps Scholars Award | Full scholarship (up to estimated cost of attendance) one-time award of $16,000 for academic development and leadership | 32–36 ACT or 1420–1600 SAT and 3.5 core GPA | Must be admitted to Mizzou and the Honors College by Dec. 1 and submit required documents by Dec. 1. The most distinguished applicants will become quarter-finalists and will be notified of the next steps in the interview process. Learn more about Stamps Scholars. |
| Columns Award (Nonresidents only) | Starting at $15,000 | Nonresident incoming first-time college students | Recipients are screened upon admission and selected determined by criteria including, but not limited to, geography, legacy status, and overall academic record. This award cannot be combined with other MU grants or scholarships. A limited number of these scholarships are available. |
| Columns Scholars Award (Nonresidents only) | Starting at $15,000 | Nonresident incoming first-time college students | Recipients are screened upon admission and selected determined by criteria including, but not limited to, geography, legacy status, and overall academic record. This award cannot be combined with other MU grants or scholarships. A limited number of these scholarships are available. |
Must maintain a 2.75 GPA to renew the Columns Award. Must maintain a 3.25 GPA to renew the Columns Scholars Award. Consult the Honors College for renewal criteria for the Stamps Award. Unless noted, all scholarships/fee reductions require recipients to enroll at Mizzou the first semester after high school graduation. Some scholarships/fee reductions are subject to change without notice. They are not to be regarded as offers to contract. Financial aid scholarships from all sources (federal, state, institutional or private aid) may not exceed the annual cost of attendance assigned by MU. Scholarships requiring a separate application (including those in the Mizzou Scholarship Application Portal and Honors College scholarships) have a due date of Dec. 1. Scholarships are only applicable to the fall and spring semesters; therefore, students cannot receive these scholarships in the summer semester. Students starting in the middle of the academic year (Spring term) will receive half of the scholarship award for their first term of entry. See Terms & Conditions for Financial Aid Eligibility.
General & Departmental Scholarships
Once you’re admitted, log into the Mizzou Scholarship Application Portal — it’s how we connect you with general and departmental scholarships across campus.
You’ll access the Mizzou Scholarship Application Portal via your Application Status Page after you submit your application for admission.
Scholarships for International Students
Visit the International Student Scholarships page for information on scholarships for international freshmen and international transfer students.
Your Path to In-State Tuition
The University of Missouri offers in-state tuition to students who change their residency to the state of Missouri. This is a great way for students to save money on their education at Mizzou.