Public Service Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program

This program provides tuition assistance to certain public employees and their families if the employee is killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible, you must:

• Be one of the following:
  • A public safety officer permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty;
  • A spouse of a public service officer killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty; or,
  • A child of a public safety officer or a Missouri Department of Transportation employee engaged in the construction or maintenance of the state's highways, roads, and bridges killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty;
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full time undergraduate student in a participating Missouri postsecondary school;
• Be less than 24 years of age (applies to dependent children only);
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school;
• Be a Missouri resident and a United States citizen or permanent resident; and
• Not be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity.

Note: Public safety officers include firefighters, police officers, parole officers, probation officers, state correctional employees, water safety officers, conservation officers, park rangers, or Highway Patrol employed by Missouri or a political subdivision of the state.

How much can I receive?

The maximum annual grant amount will be the lesser of the following:

• Actual tuition charged at the school where you are enrolled full time OR
• Amount of tuition charged to an undergraduate Missouri resident enrolled full time in the same class level and in the same academic major at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Awards are not available during summer terms.

How can I apply?

Download the Public Service Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program Application here, or contact the MDHE.

There is no application deadline; however, early submission of the completed application is encouraged.

Students applying for an initial grant must provide qualified certification from the employer of the deceased or totally disabled person that confirms the death or disability occurred in the line of duty.

Renewal applicants must submit an application annually. However, the qualified certification is not required after the initial application.

How will I know if I am eligible?

The MDHE will provide notice to students of eligibility. The institution you are attending determines final eligibility at the time the grant funds are requested.

How do I renew my award?

The grant may be renewed annually until you have obtained a bachelor's degree or completed 150 semester credit hours or, if you are a dependent child, through the semester in which you turn 24, whichever occurs first.

How do I transfer my award?

You may transfer your eligibility to any participating school. If you choose to transfer to a different participating Missouri institution between semesters, you must complete another application.