Sources

This is an archived copy of the 2015-16 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Federal Sources of Financial Aid Programs are “need based” or “non need based” as determined by the federally mandated needs analysis formula.

Federal Sources of Financial Aid
1. Pell Grants - A federal student aid program designed to provide a foundation of gift aid to students who demonstrate financial need. All undergraduate students enrolled for their first undergraduate degree are eligible to apply for Pell Grants. Pell Grants awards for the 2011-2012 year ranged from $555 to a maximum of $5,550. Depending on Congressional allocations, Pell Grant amounts may change each year.
2. Federal Work-Study - A program of part-time employment for students who demonstrate financial need. Eligible students may work up to 16 hours per week during regular school sessions.
3. Stafford (subsidized and unsubsidized) Student Loans - Long-term loans provided by the U.S. Department of Education for students who need assistance in meeting educational expenses. Subsidized loans are based upon financial need. Unsubsidized loans are not based upon financial need.
4. Federal Perkins Student Loans - A program of long-term, low-interest loans to students who demonstrate financial need to meet college expenses. No interest accrues, nor does payment begin, until nine months after the borrower ceases to be at least a half-time student.
5. Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants - A federally sponsored program to provide gift aid for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Funds are limited. Apply early each year.
6. Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) - PLUS Loans are credit based loans for the parents of dependent students. Parents may borrow on behalf of their eligible dependent student. PLUS Loans are non-need based in that parents are eligible to be certified by the school if other funds have not covered the student’s cost of attendance.
7. Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP) - A federal and state sponsored program to provide gift aid for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Funds are limited. Apply early each year.
Institutional Sources of Financial Aid
1. Mississippi State Promise - Mississippi State University now offers the Mississippi State Promise program that provides institutional financial assistance for entering freshmen and community college transfer students from Mississippi who are from families with low incomes. Please refer to the Student Financial Aid Web site at www.sfa.msstate.edu for details.
2. Undergraduate Tuition Remission Policy for Children of Faculty and Staff - The partial tuition remission policy applies to all single dependent children of full time faculty and staff. See tuition remission policy for any restrictions that may apply.
3. Emergency Short-Term Loans - The University has available for students a means of borrowing small sums of money to meet emergency expenses during the academic year. Such loans are repayable during the same semester in which the loan is made. Application is made to the Dept. of Student Financial Aid.
Institutional Sources of Scholarships
1. Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarships - Mississippi State University has a variety of academic scholarships for National Merit and National Achievement finalists and semi-finalists, valedictorians, salutatorians, and overall academic excellence. In addition to earned outstanding honors and awards, these scholarships require an above average ACT/SAT score, a competitive high school GPA, and excellent leadership and service activities. Scholarship amounts are competitive and awarded on a funds available basis. Students must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA to renew academic scholarships.
2. Out-of-State Scholarships and Waivers
  1. Child of Alumni Waiver - This scholarship waives 50 percent of the non-resident tuition for sons and daughters of alumni. The minimum qualification for alum status is 48 semester hours of work completed at MSU. Students must maintain a 3.0 overall GPA to continue the Alumni Waiver.
  2. Non-resident Freshman Scholarship – Non-resident freshmen who have a competitive ACT/SAT score, above average high school GPA, and have completed the online scholarship resume, and who are admitted by December 1, may be eligible for a scholarship ranging from 50% to 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition.
  3. Community College Transfer Non-resident Scholarship - This is a scholarship for the non-resident portion of tuition for community college transfer students with 48 transferable community college hours, a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average, and who are admitted and have completed the online scholarship resume by June 1.
3. Departmental Scholarships - Colleges and Departments within the University offer scholarships designed to assist students majoring in a specific discipline. Most are competitively awarded and renewable. Students who have a chosen major are encouraged to contact the department in their major areas of study regarding scholarship opportunities.
4. Sumners Scholarships are available to permanent residents of Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Montgomery and Webster counties in Mississippi. A Sumners Scholarship application is available online at www.admissions.msstate.edu and must be submitted by September 15.
5. A portion of student tuition and fee charges is used for scholarships, tuition waivers and other operating costs.
State and Other Sources of Financial Aid
1. Army/Air Force ROTC Four-Year Scholarships - Scholarships available to students interested in commissions as officers in either the Army or the Air Force. Scholarships are based on ACT scores and high school grades, not financial need. Visit the following Web pages for further information. Army ROTC: http://armyrotc.msstate.edu . Air Force: www.msstate.edu/dept/afrotc .
2. The state of Mississippi provides several student aid programs for students who are residents of the state of Mississippi. These include, but are not limited to: Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG), Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG), William Winter Teacher Scholar (WWTS), Critical Needs Teacher Program (CNTP), Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP) and Summer Developmental Program Grant (SDPG).
  
  Information about these and other aid programs is available from the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211. Web: http://www.mississippi.edu/riseupms/index.php , Jackson-area phone 601-432-6647; toll free 1-800-327-2980