Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions

The new UCM scholarships program launched on November 3, 2025, for students starting at UCM in Fall 2026 and beyond.

Students who submitted their UCM admissions application on or before November 2, 2025, will still qualify for the old Red and Black Scholarship structure.

However, if a student’s scholarship amount would be higher under the new structure, they will automatically receive the higher award amount.

Students who have not yet completed their application must still have their high school send an official transcript so UCM can provide an admissions decision and award their scholarships.

If a student would like to confirm whether their application was submitted on or before November 2, 2025, they can contact their UCM admissions counselor for assistance.

Example:
A student with a 3.75 GPA and a 22 ACT would have received $2,500 under the old structure, but will now receive $4,000 under the new one.

Another student with a 2.8 GPA would keep the $1,000 award they earned under the old structure, since that GPA range is no longer included in the new model.

The new scholarships are based only on GPA, rather than a combination of GPA and ACT score.

Yes, UCM will use whichever GPA is higher (weighted or unweighted).

We also super score the ACT, including both the standard composite and a version without the Science section, awarding the student the higher result.

No, the full tuition and fees scholarship is no longer available beginning Fall 2026. However, most students who previously qualified for that level of award will now receive equal or higher total scholarship amounts under the new structure. Students who applied on or before November 2, 2025 will keep the full tuition and fees scholarship or the new red and black scholarship depending which value would be higher.

Students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA at UCM to renew their Red and Black Scholarship each year. Scholarships are renewable for up to four years or eight semesters.

Yes, incoming freshman student students with a 27 or higher ACT super score will automatically receive an additional $1,000 scholarship on top of their GPA-based Red and Black Scholarship.

The Mule Grant is available to Missouri residents with an annual household income below $75,000, beginning with students starting in Fall 2026 or later. It is open to both freshmen and transfer students and may cover up to full tuition and general fees after all other grants and scholarships are applied.

To qualify, students must file the FAFSA by the State of Missouri’s priority deadline of February 2 and continue to file annually to remain eligible.

Students who begin before Fall 2026 will still qualify under the previous Mule Grant requirements.

Yes, transfer students are eligible for the Transfer Red and Black Scholarships, which replace the previous Dean’s, President’s, and President’s Distinguished awards.

Yes! UCM offers several scholarships specifically for out-of-state students who plan to attend as incoming first-time freshmen.

 

Out-of-State Visit Award

Incoming freshman out-of-state students who visit UCM on or before March 31 of their senior year are eligible to receive an additional $1,000 scholarship.

Qualifying visit types include:

• Mule Day
• Multicultural Visit Day
• Discover Central Days
• Rock the Red Days
• Personalized Saturday Visits
• Personalized Daily Visits
• Provost Excellence

If a student would like to confirm whether they’ve attended a qualifying visit in the past, they can contact their UCM admissions counselor to check their eligibility status.

 

Second Generation Award

This award recognizes students whose parent or legal guardian graduated from UCM.

• Freshmen: Covers 100% of non-resident fees.
• Transfer students: Covers up to $2,000 per year of non-resident fees.

 

UCM Out-of-State Award

This award significantly reduces the non-resident portion of tuition, helping out-of-state students make UCM an affordable choice.

 

Non-Resident Scholar Award

Students with strong academic performance may qualify for the Non-Resident Scholar Award, which provides additional tuition support for high-achieving out-of-state students.

Information regarding UCM Alumni Foundation scholarships is available through UCM Scholarship Finder (Formerly MoCents), the University's online scholarship application.

Your high school transcript and the information you provide on University of Central Missouri's application for admission are reviewed to determine your eligibility for freshman academic scholarships. Students must submit the online scholarship application to be considered for UCM’s Missouri Boys State/Girls State Scholarship and UCM Alumni Foundation Scholarships.

 

Information about scholarships external to UCM is available in the External Scholarships section on this page.

Complete details on how to submit your off-campus scholarship check(s) are located on this page under "Submitting Scholarship Checks to UCM."

Your scholarship eligibility will be reconsidered if your 7th semester high school cumulative gpa is higher than your 6th semester and/or your ACT composite score improves on or before the April national ACT test. Please note: Scholarship reconsideration is contingent upon receipt of your official 7th semester high school transcript and/or the receipt of your official ACT scores by the Office of Admissions, University of Central Missouri, Ward Edwards 1401, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Certain UCM renewable scholarships may be reinstated. To be considered for reinstatement, earn the required grade-point average and maintain status as a full-time (at least 12 undergraduate credit hours ) UCM undergraduate student each semester. See reinstatement information under "Current Students" for more details.

Students transferring from an accredited 4-year or 2-year, private or public college or university may be considered for a scholarship.

Most of the UCM scholarships require full-time enrollment (earning a minimum of twelve undergraduate hours per semester at UCM). However, if otherwise eligible, you may be enrolled in less than twelve hours and receive a proportional amount of the award value under the following conditions:

• Be enrolled in a University-approved off-campus internship
• Be a last semester senior completing a degree program

Scholarships may be reduced or canceled if the recipient fraudulently misrepresents any information or engages in serious misconduct warranting substantial disciplinary penalty.