Financial Aid & Scholarships

Mississippi Scholarships

Award Amount/Length of Eligibility: Up to $500/year for freshmen and

sophomores Up to $1000/year for juniors and seniors Not to exceed eight semesters of eligibility

total, regardless of the dollar amount received by an individual student

Deadlines- Applications: Jan. 1 – Sept. 15 Supporting Documents: October 15

Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant(MTAG)

Award Amount/Length of Eligibility Not to exceed tuition and required fees at a public institution Not to exceed ten semesters of eligibility total, regardless of

dollar amount received by an individual Cumulative 2.5 high school GPA 20 ACT (national testing) Able to demonstrate financial need Two-year average adjusted gross income of $36,500 or less Specific high-school core curriculum Mississippi resident (two years) Full-time Student at an eligible Mississippi institution

Application Deadline: JAN. 1 – MARCH 31

Higher Education Legislative Planfor Needy Students(HELP)

Award Amount/Length of eligibility Tuition, required fees and average cost of

campus housing not to exceed eight semesters

Application Deadline: OPEN

Mississippi Law Enforcement Officersand Firemen Scholarship Program(LAW/FIRE)

Award Amount/Length of Eligibility: Up to $2,500/year, not to exceed tuition and required

fees Not to exceed eight semesters of eligibility total,

regardless of the dollar amount received by an individual student

Cumulative 3.5 high school GPA 29 ACT (national testing) or 1280 SAT Full-time student at an eligible Mississippi institution Mississippi resident (one year)

Deadlines-Applications: Jan. 1 – Sept. 15 Supporting Documents: October 15

Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant(MESG)

Federal AidThe United States Department of Education presently provides more than 67 billion dollars in loans, grants, and campus based every year.

1. Stafford Loan Program (2 types)a) Subsidized loans proof of financial need is requiredb) Unsubsidized loans available regardless of financial need and

interest must be paid. Varying amounts can be borrowed terms can be modified.

2. Federal Pell Grantsc) Do not have to be paid back.d) These are based on financial need.e) Amounts depend on the costs to attend school.f) Funds are paid directly to the student (usually each semester)

3. Campus Based Aid Programsg) Federal Work Study Programs (FWS)h) Perkins Loan

Federal Student Loan Programs

Determined on the basis of financial need Qualify for financial need Have high school diploma for GED or a state

approved test Be working toward a degree or certificate Be enrolled and in attendance Be a US citizen or an eligible non citizen Have a valid Social Security Number Register with the Selective Service Maintain satisfactory academic progress

Basic Eligibility Requirement for Student Aid

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). This is an online application.

2. Gear Up Mississippi offers assistance via College Goal Sunday at sites around the state yearly in February.

Applying for Federal Aid

Gear Up Mississippi Scholarship

Be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen Be registered with the Selective Service if

required Be able to document Mississippi residency Have no criminal record, other than a

misdemeanor traffic violation

General Requirements

Enroll full-time as undergraduate student Pursue a first bachelor’s degree or first

associate’s degree at an eligible Mississippi institution

Complete all parts of application and document deadlines

Complete FAFSA Be less than 22 years old at the time of first

award Have participated in GEAR UP Mississippi in

ALL grades 9-12

GEAR UP- Specific Requirements

Demonstrate financial need and be Pell-eligible

Be in compliance with the terms of federal and other state aid programs

Cannot combine with certain other state aid programs that cover tuition and fees

Financial Requirements

Graduate from high school between Jan. 1 and Sept. 1, 2014.

3.0 GPA cumulative on high school course work

ACT of 18 on National Testing Complete the Required CPC

Academic Requirements

Continue to meet all General, GEAR UP, and Financial eligibilities.

Maintain full-time, continuous enrollment Maintain 2.5 GPA on 4.0 scale every year. Cannot exceed max length of eligibility (8

semesters)

Renewal Requirements

Maximum Award◦ Freshman- $2,500◦ Sophomore- $3,000◦ Junior- $3,500◦ Senior- $4,000

◦ *If funds are not available in a given year to make full awards to all eligible students, awards will be reduced on a pro-rate basis for all eligible students.*

Amount & Length of Scholarship

www.riseupms.com/financialaid or www.mississippi.edu/financialaid www.gearupms.org www.federalstudentaid.gov/guide www.fafsa.ed.gov

Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid 3825 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 (601) 432-6997 or (800) 327-2980

Contact your college of choice’s office of financial aid

For more info visit the following: