Welcome to the Missouri Department of Higher Education Website (MDHE)

Missouri Higher Education Academic

This merit-based program encourages top-ranked high school seniors to attend approved Missouri postsecondary schools.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

Be a graduating high school senior (or equivalent) who enrolls as a first-time, full time student at an approved Missouri school.
Receive the scholarship during the academic year immediately following your senior year in high school (or when you obtain a certificate of high school equivalence).
Be a Missouri resident and a United States citizen or a permanent resident.
Not be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity.
Have a composite score on the ACT or the SAT in the top 3 percent of all Missouri students taking those tests by the June test date of your senior year in high school. (Only composite test scores achieved on national test dates or on special test dates approved by the testing companies are acceptable. Test scores from residual tests are not acceptable.)

Individuals who have completed a home-school program or who have obtained a certificate of high school equivalence by passing the General Educational Development (GED) exam may be considered for the scholarship program. GED students must submit a copy of their GED certificate to:

Missouri Department of Higher Education
Attn: Bright Flight
3515 Amazonas Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109

What is the qualifying score?

For 2008 high school seniors to qualify for the Bright Flight Scholarship for the 2008-2009 academic year, you must have achieved one of the following test scores to qualify in the top 3 percent. Essay portions are not taken into consideration when determining the qualifying score.

ACT composite score of 31 or above
SAT verbal score of 780 or above and a math score of 790 or above

As a reminder, 2008 high school seniors must achieve the updated score on or before the June 2008 national test date in order to qualify for the Bright Flight Scholarship.

If you took the ACT or SAT as a high school junior or sophomore, your score will be accepted as long as it meets the qualifying score(s) announced during your senior year in high school.

How much can I receive?

The $2,000 annual scholarship is distributed in two payments of $1,000 each semester, conditional on sufficient state appropriations. Awards are not available during summer terms. If you are awarded a Bright Flight scholarship, your postsecondary institution will notify the MDHE of your eligibility and will request payment of the scholarship awards when you enroll for the fall and/or spring semesters.

How can I apply?

There is no Bright Flight application to complete.
The MDHE 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 MDHE to receive assessment information.

How will I know if I am eligible?

Eligible students will receive approval letters from the MDHE for qualifying composite scores achieved by the June ACT and SAT test dates.

Approval letters are mailed beginning in the spring of your senior year in high school.
If you believe you are eligible but have not received an approval letter by the time school starts in August, contact the MDHE immediately.

You will be notified if you did not indicate any Missouri school choices or if you provided conflicting information (for example, information indicating you are a Missouri resident but not a U.S. citizen). The following deadlines apply to changes to your eligibility record with the MDHE:

For students who achieved the qualifying score on or before the April 2008 national test date the preferred deadline is July 31, 2008.
For students who achieved the qualifying score on the June 2008 national test date, or for students who did not meet the July 31st deadline, the deadline for changes is September 30, 2008.

Completion of the FAFSA is not required to receive a Bright Flight scholarship. However, if you elect to complete a FAFSA, information on that application or updates to it can impact your eligibility for Bright Flight even if you have previously been notified of your eligibility.

If you completed a FAFSA, changes can be made through July 31, 2008 using the FAFSA correction process. After that date and for all other types of corrections, you must contact the higher education institution you plan to attend or the MDHE to make a change. If you do not provide all necessary information to the MDHE by September 30, 2008, you will be considered a late applicant and your award will be subject to funding availability, even if you have previously received an approval letter.

To safeguard your eligibility, we recommend that you always choose at least one approved Missouri school when you take the ACT or SAT, even if you plan to attend school in another state.

How do I renew my scholarship?

The scholarship may be renewed annually for up to 10 semesters or until you have completed a bachelor's degree, whichever occurs first. To renew, you must:

Receive the scholarship at an approved Missouri postsecondary school at least one semester each academic year, beginning with the year immediately following your senior year in high school.
Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school.
Provide any requested eligibility information by July 31 or September 30 of the year it is requested.

How do I transfer my scholarship?

If you choose to transfer to a different participating Missouri institution, either between academic years or semesters, you must contact the MDHE at (800) 473-6757, option 4. Failure to notify the MDHE of the transfer may result in loss of the scholarship.

Can the scholarship be deferred?

If you are unable to attend school for an entire academic year you may qualify for a deferment of your scholarship eligibility. Acceptable reasons for deferment include:

Participation in an international student exchange program
Service in a nonprofit organization or a state or federal government agency
Service on active duty in the armed forces
Documented medical reasons

You must submit a written request for deferment to:

Missouri Department of Higher Education
Attn: Bright Flight
3515 Amazonas Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65109

2009-2010 Academic Year (For 2009 High School Seniors)

The qualifying scores are re-evaluated each fall. At this time, the qualifying test scores for the 2009-2010 academic year have not been determined.

2010-2011 Academic Year (For 2010 High School Seniors and Renewal Recipients)

Based on legislation adopted in 2007, students whose ACT or SAT composite scores are in the top three percent of all Missouri students taking those tests will be eligible to receive an annual award of $3,000, conditional on sufficient state appropriations, beginning in the fall of 2010. It is anticipated that annual awards for students who are renewing the scholarship in the 2010-2011 academic year will increase from $2,000 to $3,000, although the MDHE cannot guarantee this increase for renewal students at this time.

This same legislation makes students whose ACT or SAT composite scores are in the top four and five percent of all Missouri students taking those tests eligible to receive an annual award of $1,000, conditional on sufficient state appropriations, beginning in the fall of 2010.

It is important to note that both of these revisions are subject to additional legislative revisions and to the appropriation of sufficient funds to make these awards. Please check this web page often for information on any additional changes.