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College Savings Match

College Savings Match - 9th Grade

9th Graders – This Is Your Opportunity To Start Saving For College Now

Students with 529 College Savings Plans are four times more likely to complete college. Begin saving and planning for college and your path to a more financially secure future.

The KC Scholars Match and Incentive program provides eligible students with a 1:1 match and incentives up to $1,400 to use toward college. It is a one-time award.
Match and incentive participants must enroll in college full-time following high school graduation and remain enrolled full-time at a KC Scholars Post-secondary Network campus while receiving KC Scholars funding.

College Savings Match

When can I apply for the College Savings Match Program?

The application cycle opens in January, please check back then to apply.

What are the eligibility requirements for the College Savings Match Program?

You must meet all of the following requirements to apply:

  • Be a current 9th grader during the application cycle;
  • Be home-schooled or attend a public, charter, or private high school in the following counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte (MO) or Johnson and Wyandotte (KS);
  • Have at least a 2.5 cumulative unweighted GPA fall semester of 9th grade;
  • Be considered low- or modest-income. Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation on the Federal Student Aid Estimator must be $12,000 or less. The calculation is based on household income, number of members in the family, and number of family members that will be in college at the same time. It is the amount of annual financial support a family can be expected to pay toward the student’s college education.

How can I apply for the scholarship?

Use this scholarship checklist to walk you step by step through the application process, and return in January to apply.

College match Savings

What College Savings Account and Match and Incentive Recipients Are Saying

There are more than 1,000 9th, 10th, and 11th graders in the KC Scholars College Savings Account or Match and Incentive Program.
 To date, they have saved $700,000 in their accounts.

Awardees have shared that:

  • They are having fun learning about saving money for college
  • They are preparing to apply for the Traditional Scholarship when they enter11th grade
  • They are already working with a college adviser and visiting college campuses as 10th and 11thgraders
  • Some are in this program at the same time as their brothers and sisters are in the Traditional Scholarship program and their parents are back in college as KC Scholars’ Adult Learners
Check back this fall to apply

FAQ

To be considered low- or modest-income for the purposes of the KC Scholars application, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation on the Federal Student Aid Estimator must be $12,000 or less. The calculation is based on household income, number of members in the family, and number of family members that will be in college at the same time. It is the amount of annual financial support a family can be expected to pay toward the student’s college education. 

Each year, up to 250 9th graders will be selected for the College Savings Match program. 

Awardees are eligible to earn 1:1 match on college savings, not to exceed $1,000 and up to $400 for achieving college-ready milestones during high school.

Application materials will be reviewed, evaluated, and scored to select award recipients. More information about the selection process can be found HERE.

Yes, if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements in 11th grade, you can also apply for the  Traditional Scholarship

 

A 529 college savings plan is an investment account that is used for savings for college. KC Scholars works with the Missouri MOST and Kansas Learning Quest programs.

You may ask if $50 in a college savings account matters. Yes, it does!

 

Research demonstrates that having a college savings account produces positive results no matter what the value of the initial contribution to the account.

Positive results include:

  • creating a college-intending mindset in the student and the parent(s) – the student builds assurance that college is possible
  • parents of children with a college savings account acts in ways that support the child planning for and going to college
  • students with college savings accounts are four times more likely to go to college and six times more likely to complete. Further, knowledge learned about savings and financial literacy are transferrable to all areas of life, even beyond attending and completing college. And, students in the KC Scholars program have a college adviser throughout high school to help them prepare for college.

Every 529 college savings account must have a designated account owner that is 18 years or older and a U.S Citizen or resident alien with a valid Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number. The account owner can be a parent, grandparent, other relative, or friend. If awarded, the recipient must have identified an account holder before June orientation, and the student and the account owner must attend orientation in June. 

College savings accounts are seeded with $50.

All 250 9th graders selected will be eligible for a 1:1 match of up to $1,000 and an additional $400 of incentives. This is one time award.

To earn the $400 in incentives, a student must complete the minimum number of college-ready activities identified for each grade (9-12). More details will be shared after awarded and at orientation.
Yes. To receive the match and incentive paid by KC Scholars, you must plan to attend one of the 17 KC Scholars Post-secondary Network institutions. To see the full list of partner institutions, 

 

No, KC Scholars will not pay for dual credit or any other classes taken while still in high school.

Yes! We want to ensure you are successful getting to college and completing your degree. KC Scholars has partnered with a few support organizations and with 17 colleges and universities to provide assistance such as one-on-one and group advising, assistance with college admissions and scholarship applications, FAFSA completion assistance, advice for parents and families, and campus tours. Click here to see other Resources.

You must graduate from a public, charter, private high school, or a home-school in the six-county service area to receive the KC Scholars Match and Incentive.

All questions should be directed to scholarships@kcscholars.org. Please allow up to two business days for a reply. Please review the Program Guidelines carefully for any additional questions.