SPRINGFIELD, Mo., October 15, 2025 鈥� When Drury University introduced its Drury Springfield Promise (DSP) program just over a year ago, President Dr. Jeff Frederick told the community, 鈥淚f you think you can鈥檛 afford Drury, think again.鈥� It seems as if the greater Springfield community listened.
Nearly 200 students enrolled for the start of fall classes via DSP, the program which offers a $2,000 scholarship to any admitted student within an eight-county area. It also assures Pell Grant-eligible students that out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and student fees to attend Drury as a commuter student won鈥檛 exceed $3,000 in any given year.
The Drury Springfield Promise covers high school graduates from Greene, Christian, Dallas, Polk, Taney, Stone, Webster, and Lawrence counties, and the communities of Ava, Lebanon, and Monett. Homeschooled students, OTC graduates, Drury GO graduates, and transfers from these counties are also eligible.
鈥淒rury’s recommitment to Springfield and the Ozarks has come in many forms, none more emblematic than the Drury Springfield Promise,鈥� Frederick said. 鈥淔or too long, hard-working, thoughtful students may have thought a signature Drury University experience with small classes in a welcoming environment was unaffordable. Now a growing number of Springfield area families know that Drury is within reach. I couldn’t be more pleased with the response and the strong new class of students from our backyard.”
More than 40 high schools are represented amongst the first DSP class. Over half of the DSP enrollees who began their Drury journey in August are from the immediate Springfield-Greene County area.
As impressive as Drury鈥檚 initial DSP success has been, Frederick has even bigger hopes for the future of the program.
鈥淒rury Springfield Promise is also a reminder to the community that we are partners in developing a local and regional skilled workforce that blends cutting edge academic preparation with old-school civility about the ability to make personal connections and conversations,鈥� Frederick added. 鈥淲e are grateful that Springfield has leaned into the Drury difference. ”
For more information on the Drury Springfield Promise, visit .
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Media Contact: Cris Belvin, Director of University Communications & Media Relations | (417) 873-7392 | gbelvin@drury.edu
