State Financial Aid: Mississippi

The Mississippi Institute of Higher Learning offers a one-stop-shop website for resident students looking for information on student loans, scholarships and other Mississippi financial aid.

The good news is that state money for tuition is available for traditional students, transfer students, adult learners and graduate students. The great news is that only one application is needed to apply for all types of state financial aid (minus the Nissan Scholarship and the Mississippi Teacher Loan Repayment Program).

Be prepared to fork over 2 of the following 3 items: a photocopy of your Mississippi driver license, a signed copy of pages 1 & 2 of your latest tax return, or the results of your FAFSA application.

Upcoming Deadlines – September 15:

• Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
• Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)

Several community colleges in Mississippi also participate in tuition guarantee programs, a project spearheaded by the CREATE Foundation, which guarantees two years of college education for high school graduates in the state. This is a great opportunity for students who aren’t ready to commit to a four-year program or have limited money for tuition.

Finally, the Clarion Ledger offers a full searchable scholarship database offered at the state’s eight universities (heads up though, this database boasts “new features for 2002″, so some information may not be up to date, though the site is still fully functional).