MISSOURI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD • SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Your future deserves a real plan.

College, trade school, a career, or military service — start with the numbers. See what your goal may really cost, how much debt it could create, and what options could make it more realistic.

Check My College Plan Meet SGT Barks

No AI photos. No fake success stories. No guaranteed-benefit claims. Just real Southeast Missouri people, real planning, and current information you can verify.

SGT Barks in Missouri Army National Guard uniform — WELCOME TO THE DOG HOUSE **SGT Barks** Missouri Army National Guard Recruiter

Real numbersCollege costs you can edit

Realistic answersNot every plan gets a green light

Real peopleEvery photo on this site is real

COLLEGE REALITY CHECK

What will your plan really cost?

Pick a school and choose a major from the dropdown. The 2026–27 tuition estimate fills itself in, and schools with major-based pricing update again when the major changes. School choices also show the current tuition estimate right in the list.

Your numbers stay on your device. This calculator runs in your browser and does not send your financial entries anywhere.

2. Money you expect to have

Scholarships + grants / year

Family / savings / cash / year

Work income used for school / year

Student debt already expected

3. What do you expect to earn?

This helps estimate whether projected debt is reasonable. It is okay if you are unsure.

Expected starting salary

Loan interest estimate

READY TO CHECK

Southeast Missouri State University

Enter your plan to see the numbers.

We will estimate your total cost, funding gap, student debt, and monthly loan payment.

Total estimated cost—

Money you plan to contribute—

Estimated funding gap—

10-year loan payment—

Lower riskHigher risk

Your result will appear here.

Ways to improve the plan

Run your numbers to get personalized suggestions.

MISSOURI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD COMPARISON

What could Guard education programs change?

This uses published program limits and shows a range because eligibility, funding, school charges, service status, and other aid can change the final amount.

Planning estimates only. This website does not guarantee admission, aid, enlistment eligibility, education benefits, or funding. Always confirm school costs and benefit eligibility with official sources.

REAL PEOPLE • REAL SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

This is what local involvement looks like.

School workouts, student conversations, enlistments, and training — photographed as they actually happened.

Southeast Missouri students and Missouri Army National Guard personnel after an outdoor workout — School & community workouts

SGT Barks with a new Missouri Army National Guard enlistee — Enlistment milestones

SGT Barks with student athletes after a tactical athlete workout — Connecting with student athletes

MISSOURI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD EDUCATION

See what the programs actually say.

The comparison tool is intentionally conservative. It does not automatically count every possible program or promise that every applicant qualifies.

Federal Tuition Assistance

Current Missouri Guard guidance states FTA can pay up to $250 per semester hour for up to 18 semester hours per fiscal year.

State Tuition Assistance

Missouri STA may pay 50–100% of the amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri, subject to eligibility and available funding. FTA must be used first when applicable.

GI Bill & other programs

Potential GI Bill, Kicker, scholarships, loan repayment, and other incentives are not automatically added because qualification varies.

Verify current benefits:Missouri National Guard Education & IncentivesProgram details and funding can change.

MORE THAN COLLEGE

Build skills while you build your future.

Explore paths that can connect military training, education, and civilian goals. Specific MOS availability changes, so local openings should be confirmed before making a plan around one job.

BUILD

Engineering & Construction

Hands-on skills for construction, heavy equipment, engineering, and infrastructure.

TECH

Technology & Communications

Signal, networking, electronics, communications, and technical career paths.

LEAD

Leadership & Service

Develop responsibility, teamwork, confidence, and experience that goes beyond a job title.

SUPPORT

Medical & Logistics

Explore support specialties that can pair military training with civilian education and careers.

SGT Barks shaking hands with a student at a school

SGT Barks at a military entrance processing location with a new enlistee

MEET SGT BARKS

I joined young. I know what it feels like to make a big decision before you have life figured out.

I am SGT Barks, a Missouri Army National Guard recruiter serving Southeast Missouri. I built this resource so students and families can slow the decision down, look at real numbers, ask questions, and compare options.

The goal is not to tell every student the Guard is automatically the answer. The goal is to help you understand what you want, what it costs, and whether serving could help you get there.

Ask Me a Question

RECRUIT SUSTAINMENT PROGRAM

Training starts before Basic Training.

Real photos from training with Missouri Army National Guard recruits. Students can see the environment instead of trying to imagine it from a brochure.

Army recruits lined up during outdoor training

Missouri Army National Guard recruits receiving instruction outdoors

Missouri Army National Guard soldiers and recruits walking on a training trail

Group of Missouri Army National Guard recruits moving along a trail

IN THE SCHOOLS

Not just a table in the hallway.

Fitness events and team workouts create a chance to meet students where they already are and show what teamwork and Army fitness can look like.

Bootheel student athletes with Missouri Army National Guard personnel

SGT Barks with students wearing tactical athlete shirts

Twin Rivers student athletes after a Missouri Army National Guard workout

SGT Barks with student athletes after an outdoor workout

TALK TO SGT BARKS

Have a question about your plan?

You do not have to know what you want to do yet. Ask the question you actually have — college costs, careers, ASVAB, training, benefits, or what serving part-time would look like.

MISSOURIARMY NATIONAL GUARD★