Financial Aid and Related Facts

Law Enforcement Academy (LEA) students who wish to receive federal financial assistance (e.g., Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, Stafford Loans, etc.) must be degree seeking students at Western. Please read through the options noted below. 

The curriculum of the Law Enforcement Academy is embedded within 18 credit hours of Criminal Justice courses, with the credits earned being applicable to Missouri Western’s associate’s degree and bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.  Western students seeking POST certification to qualify for a career in law enforcement will be simultaneously earning credits that apply toward a college degree. A college degree is required for many law enforcement positions as it is recognized that the additional knowledge obtained through a college degree is of significant value to law enforcement officers. 

To enable you to achieve your career goals, Missouri Western has identified two options for your consideration:

Option 1:  Individuals who only wish to obtain POST certification and who do not plan to eventually earn a college degree will not be eligible for federal financial aid. These students will enroll in the program using personal funds, private loans, payments from agencies, or other payment sources. These non-degree seeking students will enroll in the same 18 hours of coursework that degree seeking students enroll in (i.e., 12 hours in Fall or Spring, and 6 additional hours taken in two 3 hour “mini-terms”).

Individuals selecting this option must complete an application to Missouri Western, indicate they are a non-degree seeking student, and pay a $15 application fee.  Like all potential LEA students, they must also apply to the Academy, pass a background check, and agree to the Academy policies. Once accepted by the Academy, students will need to pay a $150 non-refundable deposit for Academy uniforms and equipment.

Option 2:  Students who enroll at Western as degree seeking students may be eligible for federal financial aid. These students must meet normal University admissions requirements and adhere to policies that apply to degree seeking students. Degree seeking individuals must complete an application to Missouri Western, indicate they are a degree seeking student, and return their enclosed application with:

Like all potential LEA students, they must also apply to the Academy, pass a background check, and agree to the Academy policies. Once accepted by the Academy, students will need to pay a $150 non-refundable deposit for Academy uniforms and equipment.  

Degree seeking students who are new to Western and who are under the age of 20 must submit ACT scores. Students with an ACT math sub-score below 20 are required to enroll in developmental mathematics (MAT081). Students with an ACT English sub-score less than 19 are required to enroll in developmental English (ENG100). Students with an ACT Reading sub-score below 19 are required to enroll in developmental reading (RDG095). Students with ACT scores may also take a placement test to determine if they need to enroll in developmental classes.

Students without ACT scores must take placement tests to determine if they are to enroll in developmental courses. Please contact the Western Institute at 271-4100 for details and to schedule an appointment. 

Students who place into developmental courses must continuously enroll in these classes until they complete these courses and other required mathematics and English courses. Thus, students placed into developmental courses are advised to complete these courses before enrolling in the LEA program – if they are a degree seeking student who desires federal financial aid.

To determine financial aid eligibility, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Western’s school code is 002490. If you have questions regarding this process, please contact the Financial Aid Office at (816) 271-4145 or e-mail lepley@missouriwestern.edu.

Tuition and Fees: Beyond the $15 University application fee, tuition and fees for the 18 credit hour LEA sequence total $4500. This includes a non-refundable $150 program application fee that includes uniform and equipment expenses. Beyond application fees, each of the 18 hours of credit will be billed at a tuition rate of $206 per hour, plus a fee rate of $35.67 per hour [note – these are the 2008-2009 rates that are subject to change in subsequent academic years].

Financial Aid     Western Institute   Law Enforcement Academy
816-271-4145   816-271-4100    816-271-5843