ST. LOUIS – WGU Missouri is pleased to announce that the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant—which was introduced by the State of Missouri last year as a way to help adults pursue a certificate, degree or credential in a high-need area to help strengthen the Missouri workforce—is now open to eligible students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in 19 different areas from the online, nonprofit university. The grant, coupled with WGU’s already low, flat-rate tuition, will allow eligible students to complete their degrees faster at less cost, while helping to address Missouri’s workforce needs.
The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant is open to Missouri residents who are 25 years or older and have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. Eligible students must not have been enrolled in any school within the last two years, must maintain Missouri residency and work in Missouri for three years after graduation. The WGU bachelor’s degree programs that are eligible for the grant include: Business Administration degrees in Accounting, Healthcare Management and Management; IT degrees in Cloud Computing, Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Data Management/Data Analytics, Information Technology, Network Operations and Security and Software Development; Health degrees in Nursing (RN to BSN); and Education degrees in Mathematics Education (secondary and middle grades), Special Education and Science Education (middle grades, secondary biological science, secondary chemistry, secondary earth science and secondary physics).
“We are thrilled that the State of Missouri has implemented this much-needed grant program to help address the growing demand for an educated workforce,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “Providing this crucial resource will help prepare the many working adults in the state, who have some college but no degree, with the skills they need to excel in high-demand career fields of business, IT, education and nursing. WGU aims to provide adults in the state with access to affordable, high-quality higher education, and we are thrilled that many of our students will be able to take advantage of this wonderful grant program, which will significantly reduce already-low tuition costs for eligible students, if not cover their tuition in full.”
New students wishing to apply for the grant must complete the WGU Missouri and FAFSA application forms. Eligible individuals must make no more than $80,000, when filing jointly, or $40,000 per year when filing any other tax status. Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents can apply. Grant funding is applied on a first come, first served basis. More information on the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant and eligibility can be found at https://www.wgu.edu/lp/wgu/missouri-fast-track.html.
