Financial Aid in Mississippi

Affordable College Savings Program – MACS

Make the Mississippi Affordable College Savings Program a part of your savings strategy.

Many families hope to see their child or loved one graduate from college someday, but it takes more than hope to get there. The Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) Program is a 529 plan that can help your family get there.

Investing in education is a smart move and the tax advantages built into the MACS Program can make it an important part of your overall college funding strategy.

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College Savings Mississippi

With College Savings Mississippi’s MPACT plan, you can lock in today’s tuition rates for tomorrow’s college students, avoid future tuition increases, and rest easy knowing you’ve got their college tuition covered. Our MACS savings plan offers you the choice of three investment options that allow you to begin to save not only for tuition, but other qualified expenses such as certain room and board costs, and required books and supplies.

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Education Services Foundation

When it comes to financial aid, there are a wide variety of resources available to help you pay for college—such as grants, work-study programs, student loans and more. Sources include federal and state government, your chosen college or university as well as private sources.

Follow these steps to take the fullest advantage of what’s out there:

• Step 1: Submit the FAFSA
• Step 2: Complete Mississippi aid applications
• Step 3: Act on your financial award notice
• Step 4: Investigate other options

Reduced tuition possible for some degrees not available in Mississippi:
The Academic Common Market allows Mississippians to apply for a waiver of out-of-state tuition to attend a cooperating public institution of higher education to pursue a program not available in Mississippi. ACM is a cooperative, tuition-reduction agreement among 16 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states.

More than 1,900 programs are available to eligible students at in-state tuition rates in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, MIssissippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Viriginia. Graduate level programs only are available in Florida, North Carolina and Texas.

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Federal Education Loans

Kid’s Chance of Mississippi Scholarship Fund

Kids’ Chance of Mississippi is a scholarship fund established by the Mississippi Bar Foundation under the Administrative Law and Workers’ Compensation Section of the Mississippi Bar to provide scholarships for children who have had a parent killed or permanently and totally disabled on the job.  Kids’ Chance of Mississippi provides scholarships for students to attend vocational/technical school or college.  The fund brings together all those involved in workers’ compensation issues:  the legal, medical and business communities.

Mississippi residents between the ages of 17 and 23 who have had a parent killed or permanently and totally disabled in an accident that is compensable under the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Act may apply for the scholarship.  The scholarship is good for one year, but recipients may apply each year of school as long as they make satisfactory academic progress.  In addition, applicants must demonstrate substantial financial need.

The Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Scholarship Committee reviews all applications and recommends recipients to the foundation’s board of trustees.  The committee is made up of representatives from the legal community, the medical profession, insurance companies and insured employers.  Through the caring contributions of various members of the community, Kids’ Chance of Mississippi  is able to give young people a chance to further their education.

The time period for submitting completed applications and all supporting documents with respect to scholarships for each year runs from until May 1 of each year.  Applications and supporting information will not be accepted after the May 1 deadline.  Scholarships will be awarded in late June of each year and announced soon thereafter.  The amount of each Kids’ Chance of Mississippi Scholarship awarded is decided by the Scholarship Committee; the amount of the scholarship(s) awarded is undetermined at this time.  The application and required documents should be sent to:  Administrative Law and Workers’ Compensation Section, Mississippi Bar Foundation, Post Office Box 2168, Jackson, Mississippi, 39225‑2168.

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Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)

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Program Overview
Created by the Mississippi Legislature, this program is designated to provide financial aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and non profit two year and for year eligible colleges and universities.

Eligibility Requirements
Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to high school or home school completion

Have a high school cumulative grade point average GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Have scored minimum of a 29 on the National ACT or minimum score of 1290 on the SAT or National Merit or National Achievement Finalist or Semi-Finalist.

Be accepted and enrolled full time at an approved post-secondary institution in Mississippi.

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Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)

Created by the Mississippi Legislature this program is designed to provide financial aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and nonprofit two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities. The primary objective of the MTAG is to provide educational opportunities for students who wish to pursue post secondary education in the state.

Eligibility Requirements for Entering Freshman:

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application.Have a high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale or GED certificate (submit copy of GED test scores and GED certificate) or completion of Home School program (submit signed transcript of 9th through 12th grades)
• Have scored a minimum of a 15 on the National ACT
• Be accepted and enrolled full-time at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi
• Receive less than the full Federal Pell Grant as determined by the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid uses the latest version of the results of the FAFSA process to determine an applicant’s Pell Grant eligibility.
• Must be pursuing first certificate, first associate or first bachelors degree
• View the complete Rules and Regulations.

Mississippi Student Financial Aid

Each year, the State Legislature sets aside about $30 million that Mississippi students can use to go to college.

Loan/scholarships are awards that carry a repayment obligation.  Money is loaned to students in certain high-demand majors, such as nursing and teaching.  To receive the money, a student signs a contract with the state to fulfill a service obligation after degree completion.  If the student completes the service obligation, the loan converts to an interest-free scholarship.  If the student fails to complete the service or otherwise abrogates the contract, the loan becomes due with interest.

ECSI Services Mississippi Loan/Scholarships

ECSI is a thirdy-party vendor that services all of the state’s loan/scholarship programs.  Students who receive money from Mississippi through any loan/scholarship program will receive informatin from ECSI regarding repyment once the student separates (graduates or stops out) from the program of study.

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Read more about financial aid in Mississippi
Download Get Money for College (pdf file)