State aid is available through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. For more information call 1-800-327-2980 or visit https://www.msfinancialaid.org/ for requirements and eligibility. Eligibility for these programs is determined by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid.
*Students must be residents of Mississippi to receive state scholarships.
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
Provide financial aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and nonprofit two-year eligible colleges and universities.
Application dates: October 1 – September 15
Document deadline: October 15
Award Amount: Up to $2,500 per academic year but may not exceed tuition and required fees. May receive grant up to 8 semesters or degree completion whichever comes first.
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
Provide financial aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and nonprofit two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities.
Application dates: October 1 – September 15
Document deadline: October 15
Award Amount: Up to $500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores and $1,000 per academic year for juniors and seniors.
Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP)
Program designed to provide tuition assistance to qualified students whose financial need, as demonstrated by federal student aid eligibility, will not be met with gift aid from other sources.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30
Award Amount: Tuition and required fees at a public institution up to 8 semesters or degree completion, whichever comes first.
State Rep. Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope Scholarship (FAITH)
Awards scholarships up to the full cost of attendance for current and former foster youth to attend college in Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – September 15
Award Amount: Up to full cost of attendance (COA) less any other grant aid received at a public or private institution for a maximum of 5 calendar years.
Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship (LAW)
Offers financial assistance to dependent children and spouses of any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time firefighter or volunteer firefighter who has suffered fatal injuries or wounds or become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office.
Application Deadline: October 1 – September 15
Award Amount: Tuition, including required fees, and the average cost of campus housing at any state-supported college or university up to 8 semesters or degree completion, whichever comes first.
Nissan Scholarship (NISS)
Provide financial aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
Application dates: October 1 – March 1
Document deadline: March 1
Award Amount: Tuition, required fees, and a book allowance for up to four years.
Nursing Education Forgivable Loan, BSN (NELB)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to become nurses and to address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NELB awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except for the Letter of Acceptance, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: Up to $4,000 per academic year, not to exceed two calendar years or $8,000. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, but priority is given to eligible renewal applicants.
Nursing Education Forgivable Loan, RN to BSN (NELR)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to advance their nursing degree and to address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NELR awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except for the Letter of Acceptance, which may be submitted no later than June 30
Award Amount: Up to $4,000 per academic year, not to exceed two calendar years or $8,000. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, but priority is given to eligible renewal applicants.
Nursing and Respiratory Therapy Incentive Loan (NERT)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to become nurses and respiratory therapists and to address Mississippi’s shortage of healthcare workers. NERT awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a certificate in practical nursing or an associate of science or applied science in nursing, respiratory therapy or respiratory care technology in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: June 30
Award Amount: Annual award amount is the average tuition and required fees charged by all Mississippi public institutions for the specified program.
Critical Needs Dyslexia Therapy Forgivable Loan (CNDT)
Available to students seeking a first master’s degree in Dyslexia Therapy in an approved program of study based on the Orton-Gillingham teaching approach. Students must be seeking a Class “AA” Mississippi educator license with a 203 (Dyslexia Therapy) designation. Loans will be forgiven for recipients who serve as dyslexia therapists in public or charter schools/districts in Mississippi for one year for every year of funding received. Loan recipients who choose not to fulfill the service obligation will be required to repay the loan in full with interest.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except the Letter of Acceptable, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: Loans will be made to cover the full cost of tuition, materials and required fees
Speech-Language Pathologist Forgivable Loan (SLPL)
Available to students seeking a first master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Communicative Disorders, or Communication Sciences and Disorders. The loan will be forgiven for recipients who serve as licensed speech-language pathologists in a Mississippi public or charter school for one year for each year of funding received. Loan recipients who choose not to fulfill the service obligation will be required to repay the loan in full with a penalty of 5% and interest.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except the Letter of Acceptable, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: For full-time students, awards will be made in the amount of tuition and required fees at a public institution. For part-time students, awards will be based on hours enrolled, but will not exceed the highest tuition and required fees for part-time students attending a public institution of higher learning.
Nursing Education Forgivable Loan (NELM)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to continue their education in nursing and to address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NELM awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a master’s degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing or teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except the Letter of Acceptable, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: Up to $4,000 per academic year, not to exceed two calendar years. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, but priority is given to eligible renewal applicants.
Nursing Education Forgivable Loan, RN to MSN (NERM)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to continue their education in nursing and to address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NERM awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a master’s degree in nursing through an approved RN to MSN bridge program at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing or teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except the Letter of Acceptable, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: Up to $4,000 per academic year, not to exceed three calendar years. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, but priority is given to eligible renewal applicants.
Nursing Teacher Stipend Forgivable Loan, MSN (NTSPM)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to continue their nursing education and to address Mississippi’s nurse educator shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurse educators. NTSP-Masters awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a master’s degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except the Letter of Acceptable, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: Up to $1,000 per month, no to exceed one calendar year or $12,000.
Nursing Education Forgivable Loan, Ph.D./DNP (NELP)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to continue their nursing education and to address Mississippi’s nursing shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses. NELP awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a Ph.D. or DNP degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing or teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except the Letter of Acceptable, which may be submitted through June 30
Award Amount: Up to $5,000 per academic year, not to exceed two calendar years. Awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis, but priority is given to eligible renewal applicants.
Nursing Teacher Stipend Forgivable Loan, Ph.D./DNP (NTSPP)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to continue their nursing education and to address Mississippi’s nurse educator shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurse educators. NTSP-Ph.D./DNP awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a Ph.D. or DNP in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except for the Letter of Acceptance, which may be submitted no later than June 30
Award Amount: Up to $1,000 per month, no to exceed two calendar years or $24,000.
SREB Regional Contract Forgivable Loan for Optometry (SREB)
Provide educational opportunities to students who wish to become an optometrist and to address Mississippi’s health care shortage by providing a constant source of qualified optometrists. SREB awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking an optometry degree at an approved out-of-state school in exchange for employment as a practicing optometrist in the State of Mississippi.
Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: April 30, except for the Letter of Acceptance, which may be submitted no later than June 30
Award Amount: Determined annually by the Southern Regional Education Board. Awards available for up to four years.
