Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant

Scholarship Sponsored by Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid

The Mississippi Legislature has established a program aimed at offering financial support to Mississippi residents who are enrolled in state-approved public and private non-profit two-year and four-year colleges and universities. The main goal of the MESG program is to facilitate educational opportunities for high-achieving high school students who are interested in pursuing higher education within the state.

Key Dates:

• Application Period: October 1 - September 15
• Deadline for Submission of Supporting Documents: October 15 (following the September 15 application deadline)

Eligibility Criteria for Incoming Freshmen:

• Must have been a legal resident of Mississippi for at least one year before completing high school or Home School.
• Must have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. (Home School applicants are required to submit a signed transcript of grades 9 through 12.)
• Must score at least 29 on the National ACT (or 1350 on the SAT), or be a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist. ACT Superscores are accepted.
• Must enroll full-time in a Mississippi-approved postsecondary institution in a program leading to a first certificate, first associate’s degree, or first bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility Criteria for College Students:

• Must meet all the eligibility criteria of incoming freshmen and apply within three years of graduating from high school.
• Must have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.5 on at least 12 completed college hours but no more than 18 completed college hours.
• Must be enrolled in a Mississippi-approved postsecondary institution in a program leading to a first certificate, first associate’s degree, or first bachelor’s degree.
• Must enroll full-time and maintain full-time enrollment (with passing grades) each semester. Full-time enrollment is defined as 15 hours per semester or 9 hours per trimester.

Award Amount:

The MESG program offers up to $2,500 per academic year, but the award amount cannot exceed tuition and required fees.

Maximum Duration of Eligibility:

An MESG recipient can receive the award for up to 8 semesters (12 trimesters) or until they complete their degree, whichever comes first.

Note: A student cannot receive undergraduate grant aid from more than one state-supported undergraduate grant program in the same enrollment term. If a student qualifies for aid from multiple grant programs, they will be awarded from the program that offers the larger amount. No student can receive undergraduate grant aid from any program or combination of programs for more than eight semesters or twelve trimesters.

Application Process:

1. Fill out the online application. The online application must be completed for each academic year the applicant is seeking aid.
2. Submit the necessary supporting documents. New applicants and some returning applicants with a break in enrollment will need to submit two forms of residency documentation.

Accepted Alternate Residency Documents:

State Tax Return (NOT Federal) for the current tax filing year. Dependent students should provide a signed copy of the first two pages of the parent’s return. Independent students should provide a signed copy of their own return. Am I dependent or independent?

• Homestead Exemption
• Voter Registration
• Vehicle Registration

Note: Our office receives FAFSA results electronically for all Mississippi residents. When possible, the state tax return or Mississippi driver’s license pending document will be replaced by the FAFSA.