FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fulton, Mo. – Nov. 3, 2026: Westminster College is making the promise of a private education a reality for Missouri residents by offering $0 tuition to qualifying 2027-2028 freshmen and transfer students.
Through the Blue Jay Promise, tuition will be waived all four years for full-time freshmen and up to six semesters for transfer students if they meet eligibility criteria.
“At Westminster, we are aware that expenses are rising and causing increased financial pressure on families,” says Derek Zander, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Services. “The Blue Jay Promise makes a Westminster College education within reach for many throughout the state who need assistance.”
To qualify for the Blue Jay Promise, prospective Missouri students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 1, 2027, and satisfy other requirements: They must receive both the maximum federal Pell Grant and Access Missouri award. Students should additionally meet all federal, state and Westminster financial aid requirements.
A minimum grade-point average of 2.5 is required to keep the award from year to year.
By eliminating tuition costs, the Blue Jay Promise makes the total cost of a Westminster education, including housing, meals and fees, less than what many students pay for all standard college expenses at other four-year institutions in the region. For qualifying students, it also makes Westminster nearly half the cost of attending other private, four-year colleges in Missouri.
Qualifying students who live within a 40-mile radius are permitted to live at home while benefitting from the Blue Jay Promise, quite possibly making Westminster the most affordable college option locally available.
Westminster’s announcement correlates strongly with recent information from U.S. News & World Report that the College is a Top Performer in Social Mobility. In simple terms, the ranking aligns with the College’s Pell Grant student graduation rates as well as the retention efforts and support lower-income students receive at Westminster.
The College’s other outstanding U.S. News rankings — No. 13 in the Midwest for Best Regional College and No. 13 as a Top Private School — make Westminster a natural choice, particularly for those seeking strong leadership skills fostered in a smaller setting, a variety of social opportunities, competitive NCAA Division III Athletics and hands-on learning from more than 30 majors, 30 minors and 23 certificates.
“Currently, 100% of our students receive financial aid, which is proof Westminster is committed to making college affordable,” Zander said. “The Blue Jay Promise is one more way we are making a private education accessible to all.”
For more information on the Blue Jay Promise, visit wcmo.edu/Promise. For more information on attending Westminster, visit the College’s website or reach out to admissions@wcmo.edu or call 573-592-5251.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER COLLEGE: Learn more at wcmo.edu.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Sarah Backer at 573-220-9038 or Sarah.Backer@wcmo.edu.
Sarah Rummel Backer is the Director of Media Relations and Senior Writer at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. A proud Westminster graduate, Sarah has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications in the areas of higher education, medicine, agriculture, and the private business sector.
