Missouri Higher Education Academic Bright Flight program

At the Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development, the Missouri Higher Education Academic program is now available for Missouri resident and a United States citizen or permanent resident.

The award is a merit-based program that encourages top-ranked high school seniors to attend full-time approved Missouri postsecondary schools.

With the workforce needs of the Commonwealth’s development and emerging industry sectors, the Department of Higher Education supports and coordinates economic and workforce development initiatives to align training, certificate, and degree programs at 29 public college and university campuses in Massachusetts.

Application Deadline: July 31, 2019

Brief Description

• University or Organization: Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
• Department: NA
• Course Level: High school
• Award: Multiple
• Access Mode: Online
• Number of Awards: Varies
• Nationality: United States citizen
• The award can be taken in the United States

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

Initial Students

• Be a Missouri resident and a United States citizen or permanent resident.
• Have a composite score on the ACT or SAT in either: the top 3 percent of all Missouri students taking those tests, or the top 4th or 5th percentiles of all Missouri students taking those tests.
• Enroll as a first-time student and receive the program in the academic year immediately following high school graduation, receipt of your General Education Development certificate, or completion of your secondary coursework, if home-schooled.
• Enroll full time at a participating Missouri school. Full-time enrollment is defined as a minimum of: 12 semester hours, or 6 semester hours for students who are unable to enroll in 12 hours as a result of a disability defined by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Submit supplemental eligibility information, if requested, by the deadline established by the MDHEWD.
• Not be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity.
• Individuals who have graduated from Missouri’s virtual public school, have completed a home-school program or have obtained a certificate of high school equivalency by passing the GED exam may be considered for the opportunity
  program.

Renewal Students

• Continue to meet the eligibility requirements for initial students.
• Receive the program at least one semester each academic year, beginning with the academic year immediately following your senior year in high school, receipt of the GED, or completion of your secondary coursework, if home-schooled.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school. If this is the first academic year in which you have received a Bright Flight payment, this requirement does not apply.

How to Apply

To Apply: There is no Bright Flight application to complete.

1. The MDHEWD will receive your ACT or SAT composite score(s), along with approved Missouri college or university choices, from your ACT or SAT assessment records. It takes approximately six to eight weeks after each national test date for the MDHEWD to receive assessment information.
2. Eligible students will receive approval letters from the MDHE for qualifying scores achieved by the June ACT and SAT test dates. Information about your eligibility status is also available by logging into the Student Portal.

• Supporting Documents: GED students must submit a copy of their GED certificate to: Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Attn: Bright Flight, P.O. Box 1469, Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
• Entry Requirements: Applicants must have an ACT or SAT composite score. There is no need to obtain a bright flight scholarship to complete the FAFSA.

Benefits

The program will provide awards as the following:

2018 High School Graduates:

• Statutory Maximum Award: ACT Score 31 or above will get up to $3,000 and ACT Score 30 will get Up to $1,000.
• Final Award: ACT Score 31 or above will get up $3,000 and ACT Score 30 will get Up to $0.

2019 High School Graduates

• Statutory Maximum Award: ACT Score 31 or above will get up to $3,000 and ACT Score 30 will get Up to $1,000.
• Final Award: ACT Score 31 or above will get up $3,000 and ACT Score 30 will get Up to $0.

The award can be renewed for up to 10 semesters per year or until you have completed a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.