Senior Citizen Fee Waiver Program

Missouri State University-West Plains offers a special fee waiver program to any Missouri resident at least 62 years of age who wishes to take up to 24 credit hours of academic courses offered by the University. Eligible students may register for one class per semester and have the required common fees and tuition waived. However, the student will buy textbooks (if required), supplies (including digital course material charges) and pay supplemental course fees. Parking passes are available for purchase if desired by the participant. Classes must be taken on an audit  basis. Participants in this program must take tuition-free courses on a noncredit basis and must satisfy all course prerequisites of Missouri State University-West Plains. Participants must be fully admitted to the University as nondegree-seeking students and must follow the regulations for nondegree students in the course catalog. 

Seniors participating in this program must declare their intent to enroll in the program at the point of admission in order to have all required common fees/tuition waived. Seniors may register through the fee waiver program beginning on the Friday morning before classes begin. Registration can only be done on a “seats available” basis. If a degree-seeking student needs a seat in a course occupied by a senior citizen, the degree-seeking student will be given that seat.

Qualifying students in this classification are:

• At least 62 years of age
• Nondegree-seeking
• Residents of the state of Missouri
• Citizen of the United States
• Not able to apply this waiver to any course offered in conjunction with career centers, intersession, special courses, noncredit, or off-campus courses.
• Not able to apply this waiver to courses with limited capacity, such as nursing or welding. Courses with a limited number of seats available are reserved for degree-seeking students.

Line of Authority

Responsible Administrator and Office: Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
Contact Person in that Office: Registration/Records

Effective Date: Chancellor Approval: December 3, 2025