Financial aid special notices

Aid Recipient Rights and Responsibilities:

Financial aid recipients will receive a detailed summary of their rights and responsibilities with their award letter by mail and/or on the web. Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in order to maintain aid eligibility. Contact the financial aid office for an explanation of these rules and regulations or visit the website at https://wp.missouristate.edu/finaid/satisfactoryacademicprogress.htm.

Entrance interview:

First-time borrowers of Stafford Loans and Unsubsidized Stafford Loans must complete an entrance interview prior to check disbursement. These interviews can be completed at http://studentloans.gov.

Exit interview:

Stafford Loan and Unsubsidized Stafford Loan borrowers must attend an informational session on loan repayment prior to graduation or withdrawal. The interviews take approximately 20 minutes and are conducted by the financial aid office or by electronic completion of the interview at http://studentloans.gov.

Financial Aid & Study Abroad

Missouri State University-West Plains degree-seeking students who are studying abroad at the China campus may be eligible to use their federal financial aid and/or Missouri State University-West Plains scholarships. In order to use any financial aid or scholarships, this MUST be approved by the Financial Aid Office. 

Refund and repayment policy:

The University refund policy is explained in detail in the Missouri State University-West Plains catalog. Refunds are used to repay aid sources and will be returned to the student only if the refund exceeds the amount of the student's aid. Any student who receives aid and fails to complete the semester must repay that portion of aid which cannot reasonably be attributed to meeting educational expenses such as books charged at the Drago College Store. For students who are recipients of federal Title IV student aid, refunds will be made in accordance with all applicable federal regulations.

Selective service:

Selective Service Law requires all men who are at least 18 years old and born after Dec. 31, 1959, to register with Selective Service before financial aid funds can be disbursed. Proof of registration is required.

Summer school:

Students planning to attend the summer session should be aware of the following: 1) Applicants for summer school aid must complete a "Summer Supplement" form which is available from January through March in the financial aid office. 2) In addition to the summer supplement, students must have a current academic year FAFSA on file to determine eligibility for financial aid. 3) The student would then receive a Summer Financial Aid Award Letter or access it online at https://mygrizzlyden.missouristate.edu.

Taxable aid:

Grants and scholarships are tax free only to the extent they are used for tuition, fees, books, course materials, school supplies and other items that are directly related to education. Any awards given for room, board and personal expenses are taxable. Students should keep records and receipts of all educational expenses.

General tax information for international students:

International students are responsible for assessing and meeting their tax obligations. "Students may be subject to U.S. taxation based on the source and type of income and the number of years they have been present in the U.S. Tax treaties with over 40 countries may alter tax liability. Other forms of taxation include state income tax, state and local sales tax and Social Security/Medicare tax. Under the U.S. system, it is the individual's responsibility to determine tax liability and file the appropriate forms in a timely manner." (U.S. Federal Income Tax Guide for International Students and Scholars, 1997 edition, "Overview of U.S. Taxation of International Students.")

In addition, many scholarships are subject to U.S. taxation. For more information about tax information for international students, contact the admissions office at 417-255-7955.