Scholarships

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.

FAITH

Covers the student’s total Cost of Attendance (COA) less all other grant aid. Students attending a private institution will receive an award amount equal to the average of the prior year’s published undergraduate COA of all public institutions less all other grant aid

Applicants must:

Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application.

Complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) by September 15 during the fall of the aid year for which the student is seeking aid.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Apply through CPS for an Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible to apply.

Be younger than 25 by October 1 of the aid year for which the applicant is applying.*

Meet at least one of the following criteria:

Have been in legal custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (CPS) at any time since age 13.

Have lived in a qualified residential childcare agency (Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village, Sunnybrook Children’s Home, or Berean Children’s Home) at any time since age 13.

Have been adopted from the legal custody of CPS or a qualified residential childcare agency at any time since age 13.

Enroll at least part-time (minimum 6 hours) at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to an undergraduate certificate or degree.

*If the applicant was on active-duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces for any time before the applicant reached age 25, the number of months served on active-duty status will be rounded up to the next higher year to determine the maximum extension of age eligibility allowed.