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Re-entry Scholarship Programs

The UMKC College of Arts and Sciences is dedicated to helping non-traditional, adult learners affordably finish their undergraduate degrees.

We have two re-entry scholarships that are designed to help students who have experienced an interruption in their education of five years or more complete their first baccalaureate degree.

Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship

The Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship Program is intended for individuals with great financial needs whose education has been interrupted for five or more years and who want to resume their undergraduate education to pursue a baccalaureate degree. UMKC students may receive up to $5,000 per academic year as a Crankstart Re-Entry Scholar.

Learn more about the Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship Program

The Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship Program is designed for non-traditional, low-income and underserved students. The Crankstart Foundation is the charitable outfit of Michael Moritz and his wife Harriet. The couple’s philanthropy is mainly focused on education, and arts and culture, but support has also gone to parks and human services.

Crankstart Re-entry Scholarships may be awarded to students who:

  • Have experienced a cumulative gap in their education of five years or more;
  • Are at the undergraduate level and pursuing their first baccalaureate degree;
  • Anticipate workforce participation for a significant period of time after graduation and are ideally between the ages of 25-50;
  • Demonstrate financial need;
  • Show academic promise and a commitment to obtaining their degree;
  • Are either full- or part-time UMKC students.

Osher Re-entry Scholarship

The Osher Re-entry Scholarship Program awards scholarships on a competitive basis to a limited number of undergraduate students who demonstrate the potential for academic success. The program targets students who did not have the opportunity to complete their higher education at earlier stages in their lives. UMKC students may receive up to $5,000 per academic year as an Osher Re-Entry Scholar.

Learn more about Osher Re-entry Scholarship Program

The Bernard Osher Foundation was started in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respecited businessman and community leader. The Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life through support for higher education and the arts. In 2010, the Foundation established the Osher Reentry Scholarship, which is available to eligible adult students continuing the pursuit of their first bachelor’s degree after a significant hiatus.

Osher Re-entry Scholarships may be awarded to students who:

  • Have experienced a cumulative gap in their education of five years or more;
  • Are at the undergraduate level and pursuing their first baccalaureate degree;
  • Anticipate workforce participation for a significant period of time after graduation and are ideally between the ages of 25-50;
  • Demonstrate financial need;
  • Show academic promise and a commitment to obtaining their degree;
  • Are either full- or part-time UMKC students.

How to Apply

  • Complete the General Scholarship Application by visiting umkc.academicworks.com
  • Once you have completed the General Scholarship Application, click on the Opportunities tab and scroll to find either Osher Re-entry Scholarship or Crankstart Re-entry Scholarship.
  • To complete the Re-entry Scholarship application, you will need the following:
      • A completed general scholarship application
      • A current resume
      • An essay describing why you believe you should receive this scholarship and how it would affect your education and positively impact your life (one to two pages preferred)
      • A copy of all non-UMKC transcripts
      • Two letters of recommendation
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with priority due dates of March 1 (Fall Start) and October 1 (Spring Start) each year.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with priority due dates of March 1 (Fall Start) and October 1 (Spring Start) each year.

Questions?

Questions regarding the scholarships or the application process should be directed to the CAS Scholarship Office.

Phone: 816-235-6089

Email: CAS-Scholarships@umkc.edu