💰 University of Missouri-Columbia Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships

26

Automatic

23

In-State Awards

$500-$11,000/yr

Out-of-State Awards

$500-$22,500/yr

Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit

3.2 GPA / 33 ACT

What you'd actually pay at University of Missouri-Columbia

Tuition & fees

$34,877

−

Largest annual award

$22,500

=

Students receiving it pay about

$12,377/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $13,700), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information

View complete details on University of Missouri-Columbia's website

Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at University of Missouri-Columbia — no separate application

23 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

Academic Enrichment Award (Missouri resident, test optional)

Eligibility: Holistic review (test-optional applicants reviewed holistically).

Source ↗

Black & Gold Border County Award (Nonresident)

Award

$21,500/yr out-of-state

**Black & Gold Border County Award** | **$21,500**

Eligibility: Have a biological, adoptive or stepparent who graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and the student lives in a county bordering Missouri

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Black & Gold Level 1 (Nonresident, legacy)

Award

$21,500/yr out-of-state

**Black & Gold Level 1** | **$21,500** **Black & Gold Level 2** | **$11,000**

Eligibility: Have a biological, adoptive or stepparent who graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou).

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Black & Gold Level 2 (Nonresident, legacy)

Award

$11,000/yr out-of-state

**Black & Gold Level 1** | **$21,500** **Black & Gold Level 2** | **$11,000**

Eligibility: Have a biological, adoptive or stepparent who graduated from the University of Missouri (Mizzou).

Source ↗

Border State Award (Nonresident eligible bordering states)

Award

$3,000/yr out-of-state

**Border State Award** | **$3,000**

Eligibility: Reside in one of the eight states that border Missouri: Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee.

Source ↗

Bright Flight (Missouri residents)

Award

$3,000/yr in-state

**Bright Flight\*** | **Up to $3,000**

Eligibility: Awarded by the State of Missouri (amount varies depending on ACT or SAT scores)

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Chancellor’s Award - Automatic (Missouri resident)

Award

$7,200/yr in-state

**Chancellor’s Award** | **$7,200**

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Columns Award (Nonresident)

Award

$15,000/yr out-of-state

**Columns Award**(Nonresidents only) | **Starting at $15,000**

Eligibility: Nonresident, incoming, first-time college students

Source ↗

Columns Scholars Award (Nonresident)

Award

$15,000/yr out-of-state

**Columns Scholars Award** (Nonresidents only) | **Starting at $15,000**

Eligibility: Nonresident, incoming, first-time college students

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Curators Scholars Award - Automatic (Missouri resident)

Award

$5,000/yr in-state

**Curators Scholars Award** | **$5,000**

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Excellence Award - Automatic (Missouri resident)

Award

$3,500/yr in-state

**Excellence Award** | **$3,500**

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International Honors Scholarship (International freshman)

Eligibility: Application materials; English proficiency; SAT/ACT preferred

How to apply: ["must be admitted by March 1 for fall applicants"]

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International Merit Scholarship (International freshman)

Eligibility: Application materials; English proficiency; SAT/ACT preferred

How to apply: ["must be admitted by March 1 for fall applicants"]

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Mark Twain Level 1 (Nonresident)

Award

$21,500/yr out-of-state

**Mark Twain Level 1** | **$21,500** | See chart below **Mark Twain Level 2** | **$8,500** | See chart below

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Mark Twain Level 2 (Nonresident)

Award

$8,500/yr out-of-state

**Mark Twain Level 1** | **$21,500** | See chart below **Mark Twain Level 2** | **$8,500** | See chart below

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Mizzou Scholars Award (Missouri resident)

Award

$11,000/yr in-state

Requirements

ACT 33+ • SAT 1450+

**Mizzou Scholars Award**(Missouri only) | **$11,000**

Eligibility: Must be a Missouri resident with 33–36 ACT or 1450–1600 SAT and excellent academic record

How to apply: ["apply for admission by Dec. 1"]

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National Merit Finalist Scholarship (Nonresident)

Award

$22,500/yr out-of-state

Resident award page excerpt: "* Full Tuition and Fees * $3,500 additional annual stipend * $13,700 one-year on-campus housing and dining * $2,000 research/study abroad support (one-time award) * $1,000 tech enrichment (one-time award)"

Eligibility: * Must be a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist * Enroll at MU the first semester after high school * U.S citizen or permanent resident

Source ↗

National Merit Finalist & Semifinalist Scholarship (Missouri resident)

Resident award page excerpt: "* Full Tuition and Fees * $3,500 additional annual stipend * $13,700 one-year on-campus housing and dining * $2,000 research/study abroad support (one-time award) * $1,000 tech enrichment (one-time award)"

Eligibility: * Must be a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist * Enroll at MU the first semester after high school * U.S citizen or permanent resident

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Nonresident Academic Enrichment Award

Award

$20,000/yr out-of-state

Eligibility: Holistic review (test-optional applicants reviewed holistically).

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Perfect Score Scholarship (Missouri resident)

Requirements

ACT 36+ • SAT 1600+

* Full Tuition and Fees * $3,500 additional annual stipend * $13,700 one-year on-campus housing and dining * $2,000 research/study abroad support (one-time award) * $1,000 tech enrichment (one-time award)

Eligibility: * Missouri Resident * Official test score of a 36 ACT composite or 1600 SAT (superscores accepted) on file with Mizzou * Enroll at MU the first semester after high school * U.S citizen or permanent resident

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Provost’s Award - Automatic (Missouri resident)

Award

$1,000/yr in-state

**Provost’s Award** | **$1,000**

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Tiger Border County Award Level 1

Award

$21,500/yr out-of-state

Out-of-State Requirements

GPA 3.8+

**Tiger Border County Award Level 1** | **$21,500** | 3.8+ cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale **Tiger Border County Award Level 2** | **$17,000** | 3.25-3.799 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale

Eligibility: Level 1: 3.8+ cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale; Level 2: 3.25-3.799 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Source ↗

Tiger Border County Award Level 2

Award

$17,000/yr out-of-state

Out-of-State Requirements

GPA 3.2+

**Tiger Border County Award Level 1** | **$21,500** | 3.8+ cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale **Tiger Border County Award Level 2** | **$17,000** | 3.25-3.799 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale

Eligibility: Level 1: 3.8+ cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale; Level 2: 3.25-3.799 cumulative high school GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Source ↗

Other scholarships at University of Missouri-Columbia (3)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

Mizzou Alumni Scholars Awards (various)

$500-$5,000/yr

**Award amount:** $500 – $5,000 per year (fall and spring only; does not apply to summer terms)

Eligibility: Awarded by Mizzou Alumni Association; applicants matched via ScholarshipUniverse

How to apply: ["complete ScholarshipUniverse application", "submit Alumni scholarship application by Dec. 1 (incoming)"]

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Osher Scholarship (Reentry)

$5,000/yr

**Award Amount:** Up to $5,000 Scholarship funds may be applied only toward the cost of tuition and course fees.

Eligibility: Must be a Mizzou student working toward your first bachelor's degree; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; have experienced a cumulative five-year interruption in your studies; have financial need.

How to apply: ["apply via ScholarshipUniverse"]

Source ↗

Stamps Scholars Award (competitive, application required)

**Stamps Scholars Award** | **Full Scholarship**(up to estimated cost of attendance)+ one-time award$16,000 for academic development and leadership

Eligibility: 32–36 ACT or 1420–1600 SAT and 3.5 core GPA

How to apply: ["admit to Honors College by Dec. 1", "submit required documents by Dec. 1", "interview (semifinalists notified of next steps)"]

Source ↗

Deadlines that affect merit consideration at University of Missouri-Columbia

Regular Decision

07/28/2026

Common questions about University of Missouri-Columbia scholarships

How much merit aid does University of Missouri-Columbia give?

Published awards range $500-$22,500/yr. University of Missouri-Columbia lists 26 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at University of Missouri-Columbia?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 3.2 GPA / 33 ACT. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Does University of Missouri-Columbia give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $500-$22,500/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at University of Missouri-Columbia?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 65% of tuition.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at University of Missouri-Columbia?

4 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

When is the scholarship deadline at University of Missouri-Columbia?

Merit consideration usually follows the admission deadline, which is 07/28/2026. Confirm scholarship-specific dates with the financial aid office.

More on University of Missouri-Columbia

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