Using 529, Kauffman, Hagan, and Veterans Benefits to Fund Your Education Abroad Experience

If students wish to use 529 funds, a Kauffman or Hagan scholarship, or Veterans benefits to fund their education abroad experience fully or partially, they should first check with their financial institution to see if they will pay the program provider directly.

If the financial institution will not pay the provider directly, we can use a process called Direct Bill. The Office of Education Abroad will pay all or a portion of the student's program fee to their provider. In turn, the office will place that fee on the student's MSU student account. So, students will pay MSU instead of their program provider. 

In order to initiate the Direct Bill process, students need to follow these steps:

  1. When completeing the MSU education abroad program application, within the section titled "Paying for Your Program", select "Yes" when asked "Will you use Veteran benefits, 529, Kauffman Scholarship, or Hagan scholarship for your program?"
  2. The student must check with their financial institution to see if they can pay the program provider directly. If so, MSU does not need to be involved. 
  3. If the financial instutution will not pay the program provider directly, The student must send an email to the Office of Education Abroad (educationabroad@missouristate.edu) or to the International Business Programs Office (IBP@MissouriState.edu) for COB students, notifying them of the direct bill arrangements. Specifying that they wish to use 529, Kauffman or Hagan scholarship funds, or Veterans benefits to fully or partially fund their education abroad experience. 
  4. The student must contact their program provider to request an invoice sent to EducationAbroad@missouristate.edu (IBP@MissouriState.edu) for COB students, with the payee as Missouri State University and the student’s name and M number somewhere on the invoice as reference. The student must confirm the amount on the invoice before their provider sends it to Education Abroad/IBP. Specifically, the amount on the invoice can be no greater than the funds available in the student’s 529, Kauffman or Hagan scholarship, or Veterans benefits. Additionally, the invoice amount must include all optional add-ons (e.g., excursions). MSU will make one payment to each student’s program provider. Anything not included in the invoice sent to Education Abroad/IBP will be the student’s responsibility to pay to their provider directly.
  5. After receiving the invoice, the student's MSU account will be billed for the corresponding amount by Education Abroad/IBP.

  6. The student must coordinate with their financial institution to pay the amount to MSU and notify Education Abroad/IBP when payment has been made. The amount must be paid in full to MSU before Education Abroad/IBP will pay the invoice to the provider.

  7. After Payment has been verified, Education Abroad/IBP will send proper payment to the program provider.