Wealthier Missourians would be eligible for scholarships under proposed budget plan

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A college scholarship program created for low- and middle-income families could be expanded to wealthier Missourians under a budget plan pending in the House.

The Access Missouri program enacted last year is the state's primary financial-need-based scholarship to attend public or private colleges and universities.

This year, it's providing aid to 38,391 students whose families have adjusted gross incomes of up to about $72,000.

A budget proposal backed by Gov. Matt Blunt and Republican House leaders would pump $100 million into the scholarship program next year -- enough to cover almost 53,000 students, including some from families with adjusted gross incomes of up to $225,000, according to the Department of Higher Education.

The expanded scholarship has narrowly survived several attempts to trim it back -- first in a House committee earlier this month, then during debate by the full chamber this week. It appears likely to stand up as the House passes the budget.

But critics say the money could be better used to boost funding to colleges and universities, whose state payments have yet to return to the amount they were supposed to receive before budget cuts began in 2002. Others want to redirect the money to expand classroom slots for health care professionals, such as nurses and dentists, who are in high demand.

House Speaker Rod Jetton has been among the most ardent supporters of the proposed scholarship expansion.

"This is probably the best program we've ever done" to provide students access to higher education, said Jetton, R-Marble Hill.

The 2007 law that created Access Missouri provides scholarships of between $300 and $1,000 for students at public community colleges; between $1,000 and $2,150 for students at public universities; and between $2,000 and $4,600 for students at private universities.

It requires all students whose families can be expected to contribute $12,000 toward their college education -- typically families with adjusted gross incomes of up to $72,000 -- to receive at least the minimum scholarship.

If state funding is insufficient to fully cover all eligible students, the scholarships can be prorated. That's what happened this year, when the state appropriated about $72 million for the program.

If the state provides more than enough money, the law allows scholarships to be awarded to students with expected family contributions of greater than $12,000. That's what Blunt and House leaders are proposing to do for next school year.

The expansion would cover about 9,900 students whose families have an average adjusted gross income of $125,000, said deputy higher education commissioner Paul Wagner.

But some lawmakers contend that's not in keeping with the spirit of the law.

"In no way was the intent of this scholarship for families who have a great deal of wealth that can send their children anywhere," said Rep. Sara Lampe, D-Springfield.

Lampe proposed to trim budget proposal to $86.4 million -- the amount projected to cover students whose families can afford to pay up to $12,000 annually toward their education. She wanted to redistribute the excess money among Missouri's public colleges and universities.

The House defeated Lampe's amendment 77-76 Tuesday night.