Every year, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) announces what the reimbursement cap will be for the upcoming school year. In many cases, the amount awarded does not always cover the full price of a college’s tiered tuition programs.

For example, students (considered Missouri residents) in State Fair Community College’s Dental Hygiene program are charged $321 per credit hour. The current A+ reimbursement cap is $196 per credit hour. These students would still be responsible for the difference not covered by their A+ ($125 per credit hour). After A+ is awarded to their accounts, these students each would still incur a bill upwards of $3,000 to $4,000 per semester.

This year, SFCC’s Financial Aid and Veteran Services director Angel Mefford initiated getting several tiered programs approved for the A+ Reimbursement Cap Waiver, so that students with A+, in these higher priced programs, could get their full tuition paid. Mefford had to prove to MDHEWD that these programs were in high demand by students and employers, provide accurate data on program outcomes (graduation rate, placement rate, licensure rate, etc.) and justification for the program’s cost above the cap in relation to comparable programs in other community colleges.

Mefford was able to provide this information to MDHEWD with the help of SFCC’s division chairs and program coordinators that qualified SFCC’s programs for the cap waiver. To date, the following programs have been approved for the A+ Reimbursement Cap Waiver:
-Automotive Technology Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and Professional Certificate (PC)
-Industrial Technology Electrical Maintenance AAS; PCs in Total Productive Maintenance, Robotics and Automation Technician, Millwright Technician, Manufacturing Production Technician; Skills Certificate (SC) in Electro-Mechanical Technology
-Precision Machining Technology AAS; Machine Tool Technology PC; Machinist Level 1 SC
-Welding Technology AAS and PCs in Pipe Welding, Welding Technology, Structural Welding
-Dental Hygiene AAS
-Diagnostic Medical Sonography AAS
-Medical Coding PC
-Health Information Technology AAS
Nursing AAS and Practical Nursing PC
-Radiologic Technology AAS
For the spring semester, 123 eligible students in these programs will get 100% of their tuition and technology fees paid by the A+ Scholarship program, which totals $101,365. This waiver will extend for three years (until January 2026) and will cover normal tuition increases by the institution.