The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant is a program designed to provide adults with the education and skills needed to enter the workforce in fields that are in high demand. Changes to the program made during the 2022 legislative session became effective on August 28, 2022. They increased the number of eligible training providers and expanded the program to include apprenticeships.
Additionally, the grant no longer converts to a loan that must be repaid if recipients fail to live and work in Missouri for three years after completing their program or apprenticeship. However, recipients are still required to report their employment and residency to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development for three years.
Fast Track serves both students and apprentices by providing grants to assist with coursework tuition and general fees or direct costs of an apprenticeship such as tools, books and uniforms.
Students must be enrolled in a designated program of study at a participating Missouri school. Apprentices must be participating in an apprenticeship in Missouri that is approved by the U.S. Department of Labor and that prepares them for employment in a high demand field as designed by the department.
To find a list of participating institutions or programs, review the Fast Track Eligible Institutions and Programs List.
- Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- Be either
- At least 25 years old, or
- If you are a student, have not enrolled in an educational program (high school or postsecondary) in the last two years, or
- If you are an apprentice, have not been enrolled in a postsecondary program in the last two years, unless the program relates to your current apprenticeship.
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a Missouri resident, an active duty member of the U.S. military transferred to Missouri, or the spouse of an active duty military member.
- If you are a student who is a Missouri resident, you must have been a Missouri resident for at least two years prior to receiving the grant.
- Apprentices need to be a Missouri resident, but do not need to be a resident for at least two years prior to receiving the grant.
- Have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), if applicable. Check with your provider to see if a FAFSA® is required to determine your Fast Track award.
- Have a federal adjusted gross income as documented on your most recent Missouri 1040 Individual Income Tax Return (or federal 1040 form if you’re active duty military) of either:
- $80,000 or less if your tax filing status is married filing jointly, or
- $40,000 or less for any other tax filing status.
- For students, enroll in an eligible program at least half-time.
- For apprentices, be formally participating in a U.S. Department of Labor-approved and DHEWD designated apprenticeship and meeting any requirements defined by your apprenticeship provider.
- Have not yet received a bachelor’s degree.
For a renewal student, defined as an individual who has received a Fast Track grant in a previous academic year, you must meet all of the above requirements and, in addition, must be making satisfactory academic progress, must maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and have not received a bachelor’s degree.
For a renewal apprentice, defined as an individual who has received a Fast Track grant in a previous award year, you must meet all the above requirements and, in addition, must maintain active apprenticeship status and not have received a bachelor’s degree.
- Be either
- Application
The application is available electronically through the State Financial Aid Portal.
You must create an account in the State Financial Aid Portal to access the application.
More Information about the State Financial Aid Portal.
To Apply:
- Login to the State Financial Aid Portal.
- Select the "Estimate Eligibility" link in the menu at the top of the page.
- Select the appropriate academic year from the “Select an academic year” dropdown menu.
- Click the "Apply" link in the Fast Track Workforce Incentive grant row of the table.
You must upload a copy of your most recent Missouri 1040 Individual Income Tax Return to complete your application. Contact the Missouri Department of Revenue for questions regarding your Missouri 1040 Individual Income Tax Return.
- Awards
- The Fast Track grant is designed to ensure, when combined with other state and federal non-loan financial aid, that tuition and fees are fully covered for students attending a public two- or four-year institution and that direct apprenticeship costs such as tools, books and uniforms are covered for apprentices. Students attending private institutions will receive up to the in-state tuition and fees at the comparable public institution
- Awards will be for any remaining tuition and fees not covered by other state and federal non-loan student aid programs.
- For students, if other aid covers the full tuition and fee costs, the award will be up to $500 to cover other costs such as books and supplies, room and board, or transportation.
- How long can I receive an award?
Your eligibility expires when the earliest of the following occurs:
- Receipt of the grant for four semesters or the equivalent
- For an eligible student, four semesters means
- Sixty (60) semester credit hours
- One thousand eight hundred (1,800) clock hours
- For an eligible apprentice, you have up to forty-eight (48) months of eligibility
- For an eligible student, four semesters means
- Receipt of a bachelor’s degree
- Reaching 200 percent of the academic time typically required to complete the program of study.
Fast Track grant recipients will be required to report their employment and residency to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development for three years. More information will be available at a later time.
- Receipt of the grant for four semesters or the equivalent
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