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(AP) -- JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri is increasing the size of scholarships it awards in a pair of state programs.

Gov. Jay Nixon says the state's merit-based Bright Flight scholarships will be increased by $250. That brings the scholarships up to $2,000 per award, which is still less than the $3,000 authorized by state law.

Scholarships awarded in the Access Missouri program will also grow. Depending upon the type of college a student attends, the maximum scholarship will increase by up to 3 percent.

Missouri scholarship levels had been set below the maximum allowed under state law because of tight budgets.

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