New Mule Grant Funds Financial Gap Not Covered by Other Grants and Scholarships to Make UCM Degree More Accessible and Affordable

WARRENSBURG, MO – In an effort to ensure cost does not dampen a student’s ability to pursue their higher education goals, the University of Central Missouri announces the new Mule Grant program. An initiative just in time for students who are residents of the state of Missouri and plan to begin their undergraduate education in fall 2023, this program is designed to fund the gap between the total cost of tuition and general fees and those expenses covered by federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships.

“We are excited to expand on our scholarship offerings again with this new need-based grant for students who are trying to decide if they are able to afford to go to college or not,” said Chris Lang, assistant vice provost for Admissions and Analytics at UCM. “Keeping with UCM's mission to increase access and affordability, this grant will allow more students to realize their dreams and further their education without taking on overly burdensome debt to achieve it. UCM remains committed to making higher education affordable and accessible for all by helping to remove the financial barriers standing between them and graduation.”

The Mule Grant is available for undergraduate degree-seeking students who reside in the state of Missouri, and are either in their first year of their undergraduate program at UCM or transfer to the university after completing an associate degree program. To qualify, students must be United States citizens living in Missouri or be an eligible non-citizen, eligible to receive the Federal Pell Grant and maintain full-time (12 hours) enrollment in good academic standing. Students also are required to complete the FAFSA on or before Feb. 1 every year to qualify for the Mule Grant, which is renewable for up to eight semesters, if criteria are met. Students who have all tuition and fees covered through Pell, Access Missouri or other traditional institutional/external scholarships will not receive this grant.

The Mule Grant initiative comes on the heels of the university’s recent efforts to restructure its Red and Black Scholarship program to extend its reach and improve its financial impact on a greater number of incoming freshmen for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Mule Grant exemplifies the university’s desire to help students - particularly those who face tremendous financial obstacles - limit the amount of debt they incur in pursuit of their academic degree.

                       
“UCM's commitment to providing financial assistance to students who desire a degree, but hampered with a high need, is coming to fruition.  A college education has lately been seen as an avenue for only the more affluent students, but this kind of financial support once again proves the affordability of a UCM education, and we are excited to make this offering,” said Tony Lubbers, director of financial aid at UCM.

 

Learn more about the Mule Grant by visiting ucmo.edu/mulegrant.