Financial Aid

Many Mississippi State University students receive various types of financial aid to help pay the costs associated with attending college. The following information is provided to inform students and their families of the estimated costs of attending MSU, the types of financial aid available to help pay these costs, some of the general aid eligibility requirements, and the aid application procedures. The information contained in this section is accurate as this document went to print. Please visit our Web site at www.sfa.msstate.edu for further information and updates.

Student Expenses - The Cost of Attending MSU - 2015-2016

The following list of basic university expenses covers those for a full-time, undergraduate student living in a residence hall on campus for a nine month academic year. Note: These costs are average costs.

Financial Aid

Starkville/Main Campus	Planned Expenses
Tuition and Fees	$7,502.00
Books and Supplies	$1,200.00
Room and Board	$9,068.00
Personal and Transportation	$5,156.00
Total (Mississippi Resident)	$22,926.00
Non-Resident Total	$35,566.00 (Additional fees - $12,640)

Sources of Financial Aid

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

A. 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 2016-2017 year ranged from $598 to a maximum of $5,815. 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. Federal Direct Plus Loans - Plus Loans are credit loans for parents of dependent students and for graduate/professional students. Eligible parents may borrow on behalf of their eligible dependent student and eligible graduate/professional students may borrow for themselves. Plus Loans are non-need based in that borrowers may request funds to cover the student's unmet cost of attendance.

B. Institutional Sources of Financial Aid

1. Mississippi State Promise - Mississippi State University 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 that are Pell Grant eligible. 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.

C. Institutional Sources of Scholarships

Mississippi State University has a variety of academic scholarships including scholarships for National Merit  and overall academic excellence. These scholarships require a competitive ACT/SAT score and an above average high school GPA.  Leadership and Service Scholarships are also available to students who have excellent leadership and service activities.

Scholarship amounts are competitive and awarded on a funds-available basis. 

Admission to the university is required for all scholarships.  To be considered for competitive and private scholarships, a general scholarship application must be submitted.

1. Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarships – Mississippi State University has a variety of academic scholarships for National Merit finalists and semi-finalists, and overall academic excellence. These scholarships require at least a 3.0 scholarship GPA (9-11 grade) and minimum 20 ACT (1020 SAT score).  Students must maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA to renew scholarships.
2. Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships – Non-resident freshmen who have at least a 3.0 scholarship GPA (9-11 grade) and minimum 22 ACT (1100 SAT score).  The non-Resident Tuition Scholarship may be combined with the Freshman Academic excellence Scholarship. Students must maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA to renew scholarships.
3. Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships – Non-resident freshmen who are sons and daughters of alumni.  The minimum qualification for alumni status is 48 semester hours of work completed at MSU.  Student must have a minimum 3.0 scholarship GPA (9-11 grade). The Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship may be combined with the Freshman Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship for students with a minimum ACT of 22 (1100 SAT score). Students must maintain at least a 3.0 overall GPA to renew scholarships.
4. Level one Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship – This scholarship is awarded to non-resident students who have completed at least 48 transferable hours from the community/junior college and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA as computed by MSU.
5. Level two Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship – This scholarship is awarded to non-resident students who have completed 24-47 transferable hours from the community/junior college and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA as computed by MSU.
6. Leadership and Service Scholarships – MSU offers a variety of Leadership and Service Scholarships including Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Eagle Scout, Gold Award, Key Club, etc.  Verification letters or other supporting documentation are required.
7. 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.
8. Sumners Scholarships are available to permanent residents of Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Montgomery and Webster counties in Mississippi.  A Sumners Scholarship Application must be submitted by September 15.

D. 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://riseupms.com , Jackson-area phone 601-432-6647; toll free 1-800-327-2980.

To Apply for Financial Aid at MSU

The following forms MUST be completed by the student each year:

A. Federal Student Aid - (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, TEACH, Federal Work Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Sub-sidized and Unsubsidized Student Loans and the Federal PLUS Loan). Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. The FAFSA can be submitted over the web at www.FAFSA.ed.gov and should be submitted as soon as possible after January 1st each year for the coming school year. Any required verification or tax documents should be delivered to the Department of Student Financial Aid at MSU by April 1. Late applicants will be considered on a funds available basis. Mississippi State University’s Federal School Code Number is 002423.

B. State Student Aid - Applications for student aid programs offered by the state of Mississippi should be submitted or updated as soon as possible after January 1 each year for the coming school year. Information and online applications are available at http://www.mississippi.edu/riseupms/index.php .

C. Academic and/or Regional Scholarships - Submit an Application for Admission and General Scholarships and an online resume. Please refer to www.admissions.msstate.edu for additional information and applicable priority dates.

D. Sumners Scholarships - Students should submit the Sumners Scholarship application to MSU via the Web at www.admissions.msstate.edu by the September 15 priority deadline.

Scholarship and Financial Aid Policies

A. Scholarship Criteria:

1. All academic scholarships are made in accordance with the guidelines established by the Executive Enrollment Management Council.
2. Students currently enrolled at MSU are evaluated on the basis of overall grade point average and the General Scholarship Application.
3. Transfer students are evaluated on the basis of cumulative grade point average and transferable community college hours.
4. Entering freshmen are evaluated on the basis of their ACT/SAT composite score and overall high school grade point average.
5. Students for Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Montgomery and Webster counties in Mississippi may be eligible to apply for the Sumners Scholarship.  Permanent residency in one of these five counties for 12 continuous months prior to the award period is the primary basis of eligibility.  Recipients of the Sumners Scholarship must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (Section C).  Application must be submitted each year by September 15.
6. All students have the right to appeal their scholarship status.  Exceptions may be made in cases of mitigating circumstances such as:  death in immediate family, personal injury, illness, etc., as determined by the Office of Admissions and Scholarships and the University Scholarship Appeals Committee. Appeals Forms are available in the Office of Admissions and Scholarships. 
   
   The University Scholarship Appeals Committee has authority over all appeals and its decisions are final.
    

B. Federal and State Programs of Financial Aid

1. All Federal student-aid funds are awarded on the basis of criteria established by the United States Congress and the Department of Education, as required by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
2. Priority in the awarding of some need-based aid is given to students with the greatest financial need first, within the availability of funds. Funds that are limited are awarded until depleted. Applicants are encouraged to apply early each year.
3. The family of a student is expected to make a maximum effort to assist the student with college expenses. Financial assistance from the University and other sources should be viewed only as supplementary to the efforts of the family. In determining the extent of a student’s financial need, the University will take into account the financial support which may be expected from income, assets, and other resources of the parents and of the students as required by Federal Regulations.
4. Students themselves are also expected to use all available resources for their college expenses. This includes savings accounts, trust funds, etc.
5. The total amount of financial assistance offered by the University and other sources must not exceed the amount of the student’s cost of attendance as specified in federal regulations. If need-based financial aid is awarded, the total need-based award and educational resources cannot exceed the amount of financial need as determined by the federal need formula. The student is responsible for notifying the Department of Student Financial Aid at Mississippi State University upon learning that additional educational resources/benefits (scholarships, tuition waivers, etc.) have been awarded or received.
6. Because the amount of financial assistance awarded usually reflects the financial situation of the student’s family, the University does not make a public announcement of the amount of financial aid awarded.
7. The University will clearly state the total yearly cost of attendance. (See costs listed under “Students Expenses” or visit our Web site at www.sfa.msstate.edu .)
8. All financial assistance is awarded on an annual basis and no award implies automatic renewal from year to year. A new FAFSA and MTAG/MESG application must be submitted each year. Other applications may also be required. Always check with the granting agency to determine application procedures and deadline dates.

C. Satisfactory Academic Progress for Purposes of Student Financial Aid

Purpose: To define reasonable standards for measuring academic progress in order for students to remain eligible for financial aid under Title IV.

Policy: Mississippi State University, as required by federal law, defines and enforces minimum standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students receiving federal financial aid and Sumners funds must conform to these minimum standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress. Students receiving federal financial assistance and Sumners funds must enroll in courses leading to, and earning credit toward, a degree. These satisfactory academic progress standards will include an evaluation of each student’s progress in terms of quality and quantity of progress toward the degree. Students who are not successfully completing appropriate courses will not be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and will not be eligible for further federal financial aid. These satisfactory academic progress standards supersede any award letter that the student might have received. This policy applies to all Title IV federal Financial Aid programs at Mississippi State University and the Sumners Scholarship Program

For details regarding this satisfactory academic progress policy, including the appeals process, and other consumer information, visit our Web site at www.sfa.msstate.edu .

D. Withdrawal from School

Treatment of Student Aid Funds when a Student Withdraws from School: Students who choose to withdraw from the University prior to the end of an enrollment period (semester) should follow the University’s guidelines for withdrawing from school. An Official Withdrawal Form must be completed and submitted to the proper office before a student can be considered officially withdrawn. Information concerning the details of withdrawal procedures can be found in the MSU Bulletin or by contacting the Registrar.

Federal student aid recipients who begin attending classes during a semester and who cease attending or performing academic activities prior to the end of the semester, and never complete an Official Withdrawal Form are considered by the federal government to have unofficially withdrawn. If University records indicate that a student did begin attending classes but subsequently unofficially withdrew, the University will consider the Unofficial Withdrawal date to be the midpoint of the semester (unless documentation exists of an earlier or later date of academic activity by the student).

When a federal student aid recipient withdraws, officially or unofficially, after attending at least the first class day, the University will return, and the student aid recipient will be required to repay, a prorated portion of funds received based upon a federally required calculation.

If University records show a federal student aid recipient never attended a class and/or never performed an academically related activity for a semester or term, then the recipient never established eligibility for any aid funds that may have been disbursed for that semester or term. In addition, any student aid recipient who drops all classes prior to the first day of class or whose schedule is voided for a semester or term, did not establish eligibility for any aid funds that may have disbursed for that semester or term, and must repay the entire amount of aid disbursed for that semester or term.

If a student did not receive any federal student aid but did receive other types of aid funds, and subsequently officially withdraws, refunds and repayments will be based upon the University’s refund schedule.

For more information regarding return and repayment of Title IV (federal) funds, see the Return of Title IV Funds section of “withdrawal from school” on the Web site at www.sfa.msstate.edu under Policies/Consumer Right to Know.

**Note: The information contained in this section is accurate as of the date of publication but is subject to change, without notice, in order to comply with federal, state, or university requirements. Updates are posted on the MSU Web site