Missouri Bright Flight Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Missouri Department Of Higher Education

Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship (Bright Flight) — Quick Reference

Description
The Missouri Higher Education Academic Scholarship Program — commonly known as Bright Flight — is a merit-based scholarship that incentivizes top-ranked Missouri high school seniors to enroll at approved Missouri postsecondary institutions. It awards students based on standardized-test performance relative to other Missouri test takers and is administered by the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD). Recent policy changes have adjusted eligibility scoring and how ACT scores are combined for consideration. The program excludes awards for theology/divinity programs.

Key takeaways
- **Purpose:** Merit-based scholarship to encourage Missouri students to attend in-state postsecondary schools.
- **Administered by:** Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD).
- **Scope:** Awards based on statewide test percentiles (ACT or SAT).
- **Exclusion:** Scholarships are not available for theology/divinity degrees.

Eligibility
Eligibility requires both residency/citizenship and academic criteria, plus enrollment and enrollment-status conditions. Applicants must be Missouri residents and either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Academic qualification is determined by a composite ACT or SAT score relative to other Missouri students. Students must also meet enrollment and enrollment-status rules, submit requested supplemental information by MDHEWD deadlines, and not be pursuing theology/divinity.

Key takeaways
- **Residency/Citizenship:** Must be a Missouri resident and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- **Academic Performance:** Composite ACT or SAT score placing you among the top Missouri test takers (top 3% or within the 4th/5th percentile bands).
- **Enrollment:** Must enroll as a first-time student and meet full-time enrollment rules (see below).
- **Full-time status:** Normally 12 semester hours; 6 semester hours allowed if reduced load is required due to a disability covered by Title II of the ADA.
- **Other requirements:** Submit supplemental eligibility info if requested; cannot pursue theology/divinity.

Eligibility — Renewal Requirements
Renewal applicants must continue to meet the initial eligibility rules and satisfy academic-progress criteria. Recipients must receive the scholarship at least one semester each academic year beginning immediately after high school graduation (or GED/home-school completion) to maintain renewal status. Recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and satisfactory academic progress as defined by their institution; the GPA requirement does not apply during the first academic year of receiving a Bright Flight payment.

Key takeaways
- **Continued eligibility:** Must keep meeting initial student requirements.
- **Annual receipt:** Must receive the scholarship at least one semester each academic year to remain eligible.
- **GPA requirement:** Maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA after the first paid academic year and meet institutional satisfactory academic progress standards.

Award Value
Awards are tiered based on qualifying test performance. For the class of 2023 and beyond, MDHEWD adjusted the Bright Flight qualifying scores and corresponding award amounts. Specific award amounts correspond to the qualifying score tier achieved on the ACT (or equivalent SAT percentile).

Key takeaways
- **Top tier:** A qualifying score of 32 on the ACT may qualify for up to $3,000.
- **Second tier:** A qualifying score of 31 on the ACT may qualify for up to $1,000.
- **Award basis:** Awards are determined by test-based tiers; consult MDHEWD for exact calculations and any updates.

Application timeline and testing rules
Timing and test-date rules are strict: qualifying scores must be achieved on acceptable test dates and submitted promptly. The qualifying score must be achieved by the June national test date immediately following your high school graduation; scores from the July test date following graduation do not qualify. MDHEWD recognizes ACT superscores beginning with seniors graduating in 2023; to have ACT scores sent directly to MDHEWD, enter code 2379 when registering (adding the code later may incur a fee). Only composite scores from national test dates or special test dates approved by the testing companies are acceptable; residual test scores are not accepted.

Key takeaways
- **Score deadline:** Qualifying score must be from the June test date immediately after graduation (July test date is ineligible).
- **Accepted test dates:** Only national or testing-company-approved special test dates; residual tests not accepted.
- **ACT registration code:** Use code 2379 to send results to MDHEWD when registering; adding the code later may carry a fee.
- **Superscoring:** MDHEWD began accepting superscores for Bright Flight eligibility starting with the class of 2023.

History of the award
Bright Flight is a long-standing Missouri merit scholarship aimed at keeping high-achieving Missouri students in-state for postsecondary education. Over time the program’s administration and eligibility criteria have been updated to reflect policy decisions and testing-provider practices. A notable recent change was MDHEWD’s adoption of ACT superscoring for eligibility beginning with the graduating class of 2023, accompanied by increased qualifying-score thresholds. For details on past changes and the program’s legislative history, consult MDHEWD resources.

Key takeaways
- **Long-standing program:** Created to reward high academic achievement among Missouri students and encourage in-state enrollment.
- **Recent updates:** Superscoring accepted starting with the class of 2023; qualifying thresholds were adjusted for that cohort.
- **For more history:** Contact MDHEWD or review their published policy updates and historical notices.