“We have offered the free tuition giveaway for several years, and it is very popular,” says Lenell Hahn, Southeast’s director of admissions. “It really does two things. First, we know students can be concerned about the cost of college. For one student, much of that worry goes away. But for everyone else, applying by Dec. 1 is important because that is the scholarship guarantee deadline. Applying by Dec. 1 means students are eligible to receive the maximum amount of scholarships they qualify for.”

Students interested in the giveaway must enroll full-time for the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters and live in a University residence hall. Students who are first-time freshmen as well as first-time transfer students are eligible. Application must be submitted by December 1, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

“The University is always looking for incentives to encourage students who may be starting or transferring to Southeast,” said Hahn, “and the possibility of free tuition is a great example of such an incentive because it drastically reduces the cost for the student selected.”

The student selected will receive free tuition for one year, a value of $7,761 based on the fiscal year rate for 2023. Tuition will cover up to 30 credit hours of Missouri undergraduate tuition, but doesn’t cover general fees, program fees, or other course-related fees.

Students who apply to Southeast are automatically considered for the University’s Copper Dome Scholarship without additional forms to complete. About 70 percent of students receive a scholarship, and scholarships are possible without submitting an ACT/SAT score. Hahn says there is no application fee to apply. To be eligible for the Copper Dome Scholarship or the free tuition giveaway, students should apply at semo.edu/apply by Dec. 1.