5 Pell Grants in Mississippi

Pell Grants in Mississippi

Pell Grant Mississippi – Pell Grant is an educational grant given to students by the United States Department of Education to pay college fees.

Not every student is eligible for a Pell Grant. Pell Grants are available for undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree; students with a graduate degree are ineligible.

The good thing about Pell Grants is that you don’t have to refund these (except in a few circumstances), just like loans. So you no longer need to worry about repaying the grant.

The Pell Grant distribution is under the federal government, which independently assesses the students’ grant needs.

Pell grants are specifically for low-income families consisting of students who don’t have the money to obtain postsecondary education.

The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2023-2024 session is $7,395.

The amount you will receive depends on several factors, such as your status as a full-time or part-time student, your financial need, and your cost of attendance.

Pell Grants Mississippi – What are the Options

Pell Grants are available in Mississippi for students from low-income families. We will now discuss the available options.

1. Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are available for students who don’t have money for further studies.

Not every student in Mississippi is eligible for this grant, and the US Department of Education determines eligibility based on a formula.

This formula uses the information the student or parent provides when submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

How much money can you get?

The amount you get under the Federal Pell Grant changes each year. For the 2022-2023 session, the Federal Pell Grant limit is $6895.

The amount you will get depends on:

  • Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
  • Status of the applicant as a full-time or part-time student
  • The cost of attendance
  • Your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less

Remember, the duration of Pell Grant eligibility is limited to 12 semesters. Pell Grant funding for a full-time student is 100 percent for a traditional academic year.

A student’s Pell Grant eligibility is limited to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding, or 600%.

2. Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Under SEOG, grants between $100 and $4,000 per year are available for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. The availability of limited funds is why the grants at Mississippi College average $750 per year.

You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for this grant.

Note: If you have met the Pell lifetime eligibility, you will not be eligible for SEOG funds.

3. Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP)

The HELP program provides tuition assistance to Mississippi residents with specific academic and financial criteria.

Students who enroll in this program get full tuition for four years.

Eligibility Conditions for HELP:

  • You must have been a legal resident of Mississippi for at least one year before completing the application for the HELP program.
  • Applicant must have a high-school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • You have a score of a minimum of 20 on the National ACT.
  • You must have enrolled full-time at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to your first bachelor’s degree, first certificate, or first associate’s degree.

For more information, you can visit msfinancialaid.org.

4. Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)

MESG provides up to $2,500 per academic year for Mississippi residents who are National Merit Finalists or Semifinalists or who have a 29 or higher ACT score and at least a 3.5 high school GPA.

You are also eligible for MESG if you achieve an ACT score of 29 or more and a 3.5 high school grade point average. Moreover, one-year Mississippi residency and full-time enrolment are also required.

To get the grant, fulfill all requirements by September 15, and your application must reach the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid in Jackson before this date.

For renewal, an applicant must apply yearly, have continued full-time status, and maintain a 3.5 GPA.

5. Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)

MTAG offers a grant of $500 per year to first-and second-year students and $1,000 per year to juniors and seniors. You must be a Mississippi resident for one year before you apply to get this grant.

Moreover, full-time enrollment is also required. All freshmen must have an ACT score of 15 and a 2.5 GPA.

Applications must be completed in all respects and must reach the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid in Jackson by September 15 of each year.

An applicant must apply each year for renewal, have continued full-time status, and maintain a 2.5 college GPA.

See Also

Pell Grants for Single Moms

Pell Grants in Ohio

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

Business Grants in Mississippi

IVF Grants in Mississippi

Current Version
April 3, 2024
Updated By
Andrea Morales G.
June 16, 2022
Written By
Victoria Abigail Friedland

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