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Federal Aid

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step in getting money for college. It is required for federal student aid. However, the FAFSA results may also be used for private scholarships, money that comes directly from the college or university and also for state financial aid, all with different deadlines.

 The direct link is https://studentaid.gov/

 The FAFSA asks for BASIC information about your family’s financial situation and, depending on your circumstances, you will need your parent’s tax information, social security number, and driver’s license.

You can contact Itawamba Community College for assistance or you can contact get2college.org for an appointment. They will provide FREE hands-on and confidential assistance for completing the FAFSA. They also have FAFSA tutorials on their You Tube Channel.

State Aid

The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid offers scholarships and grants based on merit and financial need to full-time (15 credit hours per semester) students attending eligible Mississippi colleges and universities. The application is available at https://www.msfinancialaid.org or you can link to the Mississippi application after completing the FAFSA and most of your info will be pre-filled.

Mississippi State Aid Application is for three specific financial aid opportunities, some of which are substantial! These are listed below in more detail.

MISSISSIPPI TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANT (MTAG)

 DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15 (after graduation)

Covers up to $500/year for freshmen and sophomores and up to $1000/year for juniors and seniors. Initial eligibility for the student who:

  • Has a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a minimum of 15 on the national ACT or equivalent score on the national SAT
  • Is not full Pell Grant eligible

MISSISSIPPI EMINENT SCHOLARS GRANT (MESG)

DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15 (after graduation)

Covers up to $2500/year, but may not exceed tuition and required fees at attending institution.

Initial eligibility for the student who:

  • Achieves a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5.
  • Scores a minimum of 29 on the national ACT or equivalent score on the national SAT or is a National Merit/National Achievement Finalist or Semi-Finalist.

HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE PLAN (HELP)                   

DEADLINE: MARCH 31

Covers tuition and required fees for no more than 8 semesters at a public institution. Participants attending a private institution in Mississippi will receive an award amount equal to the award of a student attending the nearest comparable Mississippi public institution. Additional documents must be submitted by April 30. Initial eligibility for the student who:

  • Is a freshman and/or sophomore who graduated from high school within the immediate past two years using the designated core curriculum and is a resident of Mississippi.
  • Demonstrates need as determined by the results of the FAFSA
  • Meets the income threshold to qualify as listed on the HELP website.
  •  Has a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a minimum of 20 on the national ACT.

 

Available Scholarships and Deadlines

CREATE Foundation Scholarships:

CLOSED - Scholarships will open in January

Other Local/State Scholarships:

National/Regional Scholarships:

Institutional Scholarships

Most scholarships come directly from individual colleges and universities, these are considered institutional scholarships. Complete applications for admission in the fall of your senior year. You must be accepted for admission in order to receive scholarships and financial aid. Sometimes the application for admission is used to award scholarships, however many colleges have additional applications.  

There may be departmental scholarships or scholarships for specific programs such as Honors Colleges, or talent based scholarships requiring auditions or portfolios. Check out each college’s financial aid website for the institutions "General Scholarship Application" and make sure you meet all the deadlines. 

Other Scholarship Websites

Below you will find some links to websites and search engines that may prove to be useful in your search for additional private scholarships. 

https://get2college.org/scholarships

http://www.fastweb.com

http://www.meritaid.com

https://www.salliemae.com/college-planning/tools/scholarship-search/

https://www.unigo.com/scholarships

https://studentscholarships.org/

https://www.scholarships.com/