Missouri college scholarships expanded to upper incomes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- State budget writers agree to give college scholarships to students from families earning as much as $200,000 annually.

The Access Missouri program was created last year as the state's main financial-need scholarship for students attending public or private colleges and universities.

This year, it's providing help to more than 38,000 students whose families have adjusted gross incomes of up to about $72,000.

But the budget deal struck Wednesday would expand that to several thousand more students from wealthier families.

Republican supporters say even upper-middle-class families have trouble paying for college.

But Democratic opponents countered that the state doesn't provide other public benefits to families earning that much.