SFCC Financial Aid secures A+ scholarship waivers

Every year, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) announces what the reimbursement cap will be for the upcoming school year. In many cases, the amount awarded does not always cover the full price of a college’s tiered tuition programs.

For example, students (considered Missouri residents) in State Fair Community College’s Dental Hygiene program are charged $321 per credit hour. The current A+ reimbursement cap is $196 per credit hour. These students would still be responsible for the difference not covered by their A+ ($125 per credit hour). After A+ is awarded to their accounts, these students each would still incur a bill upwards of $3,000 to $4,000 per semester.

This year, SFCC’s Angel Mefford, Financial Aid and Veteran Services director, initiated getting several tiered programs approved for the A+ Reimbursement Cap Waiver, so that students with A+, in these higher priced programs, could get their full tuition paid. Mefford had to prove to MDHEWD that these programs were in high demand by students and employers, provide accurate data on program outcomes (graduation rate, placement rate, licensure rate, etc.) and justification for the program’s cost above the cap in relation to comparable programs in other community colleges.

Mefford was able to provide this information to MDHEWD with the help of SFCC’s division chairs and program coordinators that qualified SFCC’s programs for the cap waiver. To date, the following programs have been approved for the A+ Reimbursement Cap Waiver:

Automotive Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Professional Certificate (PC)

Industrial Technology Electrical Maintenance AAS; PCs in Total Productive Maintenance, Robotics and Automation Technician, Millwright Technician, Manufacturing Production Technician; Skills Certificate (SC) in Electro-Mechanical Technology

Precision Machining Technology AAS; Machine Tool Technology PC; Machinist Level 1 SC

Welding Technology AAS and PCs in Pipe Welding, Welding Technology, Structural Welding

Dental Hygiene AAS

Diagnostic Medical Sonography AAS

Medical Coding PC

Health Information Technology AAS

Nursing AAS and Practical Nursing PC

Radiologic Technology AAS

For the spring semester, 123 eligible students in these programs will get 100% of their tuition and technology fees paid by the A+ Scholarship program, which totals $101,365. This waiver will extend for three years (until January 2026) and will cover normal tuition increases by the institution.

“I’m excited to be able to provide these students an opportunity to have less of a financial burden and for some, to graduate debt free,” said Mefford. “I hope that this increase in funding will also encourage future students to pursue these high demand programs. I am currently working on getting more of our technical and career education programs approved as well for the A+ Reimbursement Cap Waiver.”

For more information about SFCC’s programs and how to enroll for summer and fall classes, visit www.sfccmo.edu.