The following grants are available at Mississippi College:
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is available to eligible students. Eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on a formula that uses the information provided by on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at studentaid.gov to produce a Student Aid Index (SAI). Award amounts are prorated based on the number of hours for which a student is enrolled. Only undergraduate students who have not previously received a bachelor’s degree are eligible. More information about the Pell Grant is available from the Federal Guide to student aid at www.studentaid.gov. The Pell award amount can be up to $7,395 per year.
The maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%. The 12-semester or six-year equivalent is 600%.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Grants of up to $4000 per year are available to students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree who show exceptional financial need. Due to limited funds, grants at Mississippi College vary in amount each year. To apply, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
If a student has met the Pell lifetime eligibility, they would not be eligible for SEOG funds.
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
This grant is available in the amounts of $500 per year for freshmen/sophomores and $1,000 per year for juniors/seniors who meet the requirements:
- At least one year of Mississippi residency
- Not eligible for full Pell Grant
- MTAG is prorated for those students who receive a Pell Grant; therefore, students who receive the maximum Pell award are not eligible for MTAG.
- Minimum ACT score of 15 or equivalent SAT
- 2.5 GPA
Applications are available from high-school counselors or from the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid in Jackson. Applications are due by September 15, and all requirements must be completed by October 15 of each year. In order to maintain the award, students must reapply each year, complete 15 credit hours per semester, and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA in college.
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
A grant of $2,500 per year is available to Mississippi residents who are entering freshmen and meet the requirements:
- National Merit/Achievement Finalists/Semifinalists OR achieve an ACT score of 29 or better (or comparable SAT score)
- 3.5 high-school grade-point average
- At least one year of Mississippi residency
Applications are available from high-school counselors or from the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid in Jackson. Applications are due by September 15, and all requirements must be completed by October 15 of each year. In order to maintain the award, students must reapply each year, complete 15 credit hours per semester, and maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA in college.
Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP)
Created by the Mississippi Legislature, this program is 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. The program provides a grant to qualified students for up to four years. Students must meet the requirements:
- At least one year of Mississippi residency
- High school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Minimum score of 20 on the National ACT
- Complete a specific high school curriculum
- Meet income limitations
- Demonstrate need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and qualifying for a full or partial federal Pell Grant
- Enroll full-time at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to a first certificate, first associate’s degree, or first bachelor’s degree.
Applications are available from high-school counselors or from the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid in Jackson. Applications must be completed by March 31st of each year, and all supporting documentation must be turned in by April 30th of each year. In order to maintain the award, students must reapply each year, complete 15 credit hours per semester, and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA in college.
Federal TEACH Grant/Loan
The Department of Education offers a TEACH Grant Program providing funds to postsecondary students who are completing or plan to complete coursework that is needed to begin a career in teaching and agree to serve for at least four years as a full-time, highly qualified teacher in a high-need field at a school serving low-income students. Eligible full-time students may receive $4000 per year in TEACH Grant funds up to the maximum of $16,000 for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate study or $8,000 for graduate study.
If you are awarded the TEACH Grant, you must complete the Agreement to Serve and Counseling by going to studentaid.gov. If you receive a TEACH Grant but do not complete the required four years of teaching service within eight years after completing the coursework for which you receive the grant, or if you otherwise do not meet the requirements of the TEACH Grant program, all TEACH Grant funds that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan that you must repay in full the the Department of Education including interest dating back to the original disbursement date. Once a TEACH Grant is converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.
If you are interested in the TEACH Grant, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@mc.edu.
