Truman Scholarships
For students entering in the 2009-2010 Academic Year
- Freshman Scholarships - Automatic
- Freshman Scholarships - Competitive
- Missouri State Scholarship Programs
- Transfer Student Scholarships
- Scholarship Renewal
- Renewal Q&A
- Transfer Student Website
Automatic Scholarships
Freshman applicants are automatically considered for some scholarship assistance based upon certain specified criteria. Accepted applicants are notified of their automatic scholarships in their official acceptance letters from Truman. Candidates may be eligible for multiple automatic awards, although scholarship assistance is primarily intended to assist with tuition expenses at Truman. All automatic awards are renewable according to the renewal procedures detailed below.
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Combined Ability Scholarship
Qualifications: A 170 combined ability or higher; calculated by adding high school rank percent or GPA percent (whichever is higher) to national percentile on the ACT or SAT. Award levels determined according to the scale outlined in the Combined Ability Scholarship Chart.
- Missouri Scholars Academy Award
Qualifications: Missouri Scholars Academy alumni who are accepted to Truman.
Award: $500 per academic year
- Missouri Boy’s State/Missouri Girl’s State Scholarship
Qualifications: Accepted applicants who participated in Missouri Boy’s State or Missouri Girl’s State.
Award: $1,000 per academic year
- Bulldog Legacy Scholarship
Qualifications: Admitted freshmen whose parent(s) and/or step-parent(s) graduated from Truman.
Award: Missouri residents - $1,000 per academic year
Non-Missouri residents - $2,000 per academic year
- International Baccalaureate Scholarship
Qualifications: Admitted freshmen who complete the rigorous IB Diploma Programme. For initial consideration, IB Diploma Candidate status must be noted on the applicant’s high school transcript. Verification of IB Diploma completion will be confirmed with the official final high school transcript.
Award: $2,000 per academic year
- Midwest Student Exchange Program
Qualifications: Admitted students from participating Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP) states – Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Award: MSEP reduced tuition rate equivalent to 150% of in-state tuition.
- The Truman Promise Award
Qualifications: Demonstrate exceptional need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Must file the FAFSA by March 1 to be initially considered for this award and by the same timeframe annually thereafter for renewal purposes.
Award: This University-funded assistance will cover the cost of full-time in-state tuition when combined with federal and state grants. Students may also be eligible for merit-based scholarships, loans and/or private grants and scholarships to further assist in covering the total cost of attendance. If tuition is waived or paid through another source, the Truman Promise Award will be reduced or cancelled.
Competitive Scholarships
There is no separate scholarship application, unless otherwise noted. The materials submitted with the admission application are reviewed in the competitive award selection process. Candidates must be accepted by January 15 in order to receive full consideration for competitive awards.
Pershing Finalists are notified by January 31. Most scholarship recipients are notified via mail of their selection by mid- to late-March, and the process is on-going until all awards have been distributed. Full financial aid package information, including federal, state and Truman-funded need-based assistance is provided on an on-going basis after March 1 as details are finalized. Competitive scholarships are renewable according to the renewal guidelines detailed below.
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General John J. Pershing Scholarship
Qualifications: Preeminent intellectual capability and energetic leadership in the classroom, school and community. Top candidates typically lead their high school peers academically based upon class rank/GPA and often score in the top three percent nationally on the ACT or SAT. Candidates must be accepted by January 15 for consideration. Through several steps of screening 40-50 finalists are identified to participate in on-campus interviews.
Award: 12 scholarships awarded annually to graduating seniors covering up to full tuition, room and board at the average 2-person room rate plus a study abroad stipend of up to $4,000.Outstanding scholars and leaders are considered for this award established in honor of General John J. Pershing. The Pershing program is unique among Missouri institutions of higher education and is recognized throughout the Midwest as one of the most prestigious awards offered to high school graduates.
Recipients become members of the Pershing Society, which promotes intellectual and social enrichment. Each scholar is assigned a faculty/staff mentor, in addition to his/her advisor, providing the student with further guidance in his/her academic and social growth. The University coordinates the study abroad programs and provides funding to the extent of $4,000 for the semester or a proportionate amount for the summer.
- Truman Leadership Award
Qualifications: Missouri high school seniors with records of exceptional academic and co-curricular accomplishments, highlighted by captivating leadership potential. Top candidates demonstrate energetic classroom, school and community leadership - generally illustrating class rank, GPA and ACT or SAT scores that place them at the pinnacle of their peer group. Candidates must be admitted to Truman by January 15 to be considered.
Award: A limited number of awards covering up to full tuition, room and board at the average 2-person room rate plus a leadership development experience including the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People™ training.
The prestigious Truman Leadership Award, established in honor of Harry S. Truman, is designed to help cultivate the promising leadership potential of outstanding Missouri high school graduates.
- Neighboring States Scholarship
Qualifications: Accepted freshmen from states contiguous to Missouri who have earned a 3.75 high school GPA and a minimum 30 ACT (or equivalent SAT: Critical Reading & Math).
Award: A maximum of 25 scholarships waiving the out-of-state portion of tuition will be awarded competitively to incoming freshmen.
- A+ Recognition Scholarship
Qualifications: Accepted applicants expected to successfully complete the A+ Program. A minimum 23 ACT (or equivalent SAT: Critical Reading & Math) and at least a 3.25 high school GPA. Verification of A+ Certification required on official final high school transcript.
Award: $1,500 per academic year. These Truman-funded scholarships are awarded competitively. Honoring the spirit of the legislation that established the State of Missouri’s A+ Schools Program, selections often are influenced by the desire to increase access to higher education at a 4-year university for those who might not otherwise have the means.
- President’s Leadership Scholarship
Qualifications: Exceptional record of leadership in classroom, community and/or co-curricular activities while demonstrating outstanding academic achievement.
Award: Several awards in varying amounts.
- President’s Honorary Scholarship
Qualifications: Significant academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.
Award: Several awards in varying amounts.
- Jim Sears Leadership Scholarship
Qualifications: Missouri residents showing strong records of leadership or community service.
Award: $1,000 per academic year. Ten awards – one per Missouri’s State Congressional District and one at-large. Scholarship established by the State of Missouri and Truman State University in honor of the late Jim Sears, a state representative and Truman alumnus.
- National Merit Scholarship
Qualifications: Accepted applicants who have earned National Merit Finalist status and have designated Truman as their first choice institution.
Award: Several scholarships varying up to full tuition.
- Foreign Language Scholarship
Qualifications: Superior achievement and aptitude in a foreign language taught at Truman, preference being given to students planning a foreign language major. Current language offerings include French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Italian and Portuguese.
Award: Several awards in varying amounts.
- Endowed Scholarships
Qualifications: Unique criteria for each award established through monetary gifts from alumni and friends of the University.
Award: Varying amounts awarded competitively based upon specified criteria. Some endowed awards are non-renewable - Service Scholarship in Music, Theatre or Art
Qualifications: Excellence in music (instrumental, strings, or vocal), theatre (acting or dramatic production) or art (studio art or art history). Of special interest to piano students is the Truman Piano Fellowship Competition.
Award: Award amounts vary. Contact the Department Office at 660-785-4417 for further information about how to apply for these competitive awards.
- Service Scholarship in Forensics (Speech & Debate)
Qualifications: Exemplary performance in forensics, speech or debate.
Award: Award amounts vary. Contact Kevin Minch at kminch@truman.edu or 660-785-5677 for further information about how to apply for these competitive awards.
- ROTC Scholarship
The U.S. Army offers scholarships to men and women who qualify medically and academically. The award provides a monthly stipend, pays for tuition and provides an allowance for books and fees for the academic year. Truman offers a limited number of on-campus room and board scholarships for ROTC Scholarship recipients. Contact the Department of Military Science at 888-ROTC-TSU for more information.
Qualifications: 25 ACT and 3.25 GPA for Truman-funded room and board scholarship consideration.
Award: Truman's ROTC room and board scholarship covers the 2-person room rate in designated halls.
Please note that Truman participates in the following scholarship programs.
- Truman State University MOST Scholarship
A limit of 15 scholarships are awarded annually to students whose families participate in Missouri’s 529 Savings Plan (MOST). Recipients of these $500 awards will be selected based upon financial need as determined by federal financial aid guidelines. To be considered for the Truman State University MOST Scholarship, a student must:- Be a designated beneficiary of a MOST 529 College Savings Plan account that has been in effect for at least five (5) years at time of application
- Be an accepted incoming student or an enrolled full-time student in good standing at Truman
- Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Have significant financial need
- Complete and submit Truman’s MOST Scholarship application. This application is available online at https://secure.truman.edu/admissions-s/mostapp/mostapp.asp
- Dollars for Scholars
As a Collegiate Partner of Citizen's Foundation of America (CSFA) and the Dollars for Scholars Family of community scholarship foundations, Truman agrees that Dollars for Scholars awards of up to $2,500 per student will not adversely affect scholarship funding by Truman State University. Contact Dollars for Scholars at 800-248-8080.
Missouri State Scholarship Programs
- Missouri Higher Education Academic "Bright Flight" Scholarship
(State Program--subject to state funding)
Qualifications: Missouri high school seniors scoring in the top 3 percent of all Missouri students who plan to attend full-time at a participating Missouri post-secondary institution. For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Higher Education at 800-473-6757.
Award: Subject to state funding, this renewable award currently provides $2,000 annually to qualified Missouri high school graduates. The "Bright Flight" is packaged with University scholarships and ROTC room and board scholarships to the extent that the total package cannot exceed tuition and on-campus room & board plus a $1,000 book and educational expense allowance.
- Missouri Teacher Education Scholarship
(State Program--subject to state funding)
Qualifications: Missouri residents entering a state-approved teacher education program at a 4-year college or university in Missouri. To be considered, candidates must rank in the top 15 percent of their class or score in the top 15 percent on a college entrance examination. Recipients must agree to teach in a Missouri public school for five years after earning teacher certification. Application deadline is February 15. Contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at 573-751-1668 or visit online for more information.
Award: One-time, non-renewable $2,000 ($1,000 from the State of Missouri; $1,000 from Truman)
- Minority Teacher Education Scholarship
State Program-subject to state funding)
Qualifications: Minority students who are Missouri residents committed to teaching math or science. To be considered, candidates must rank in the top 25 percent of their class or score at or above the 75th percentile on either the ACT or SAT. Recipients must agree to teach math or science full-time in a Missouri public elementary or secondary school for five years after earning teacher certification. For further information, contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at 573-751-1668.
Award: Renewable $3,000 ($2,000 from the State of Missouri; $1,000 from Truman)
Scholarship Renewal
- Students earning a cumulative
GPA of 3.0 or above while completing at least 24 hours of credit
per academic year at Truman may renew all academic scholarship(s)
by completing scholarship renewal service. Renewal is according
to the following scale:
TRUMAN GPA % OF ORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT
3.25 or higher 100%
3.20-3.24 90%
3.10-3.19 80%
3.00-3.09 70% - Scholarship renewal service of 60 hours per semester begins in the sophomore year. Renewing students submit proposals for their service projects. Examples of service include research for a faculty member in your academic major, service to a University office, a special project related to an interest area, or assistance in a community non-profit organization.
- Scholarship renewal service is not required of students receiving $750 or less per semester in Truman scholarship(s).
- Students opting not to perform scholarship renewal service may renew one half of their approved scholarship amounts.
- Scholarship renewal is determined at the end of the academic year based upon Truman GPA. Transfer hours are not credited toward scholarship renewal.
- Scholarship can be renewed, but
not lost, because of Truman summer coursework.
GPA including summer coursework will be calculated following the second summer session. - Unless otherwise stated,
scholarships awarded to beginning freshmen can be used for up to
eight semesters. Length of potential scholarship eligibility
for transfer students is as follows:
TRANSFER CREDIT ELIGIBILITY
12-29.9 hours eight semesters
30-59.9 hours six semesters
60-89.9 hours four semesters
90 hours or more two semesters - Students who increase their Truman GPA (either to renewal range or to a higher level of renewal percentage) after any term of enrollment, should contact the Financial Aid Office regarding potential change in their renewal status.
- Students who earn a 2.5-3.0 Truman GPA can apply for Truman Foundation loans in the amount of their lost scholarship.