Financial Aid for Prospective Students
Ole Miss awards scholarships to students based on their academic achievements, individual talents, and demonstrated ability to lead and empower others.
Invest in Your Future at Ole Miss
As the state’s flagship institution, the University of Mississippi aims to nurture your success by offering a high-quality education across a range of programs tailored to your aspirations at an affordable cost. With more jobs listing a bachelor’s degree among their requirements, everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their educational goals, and we’re here to guide your journey through possible financial barriers.
Personalized Financial Support
Ole Miss’s Office of Financial Aid assesses each application received to put together a tailored package of scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study, factoring in merit and financial need. As you review all requirements and gather application materials, here’s what you should keep in mind concerning financial aid.
Types of Aid
Financial Aid Resources for Prospective Students
Explore tailored financial aid resources to help make your college journey more affordable. Whether you’re a freshman, transfer student, international student, or a lifelong learner over 65, find guidance, tips, and support specific to your needs.
In fostering opportunity for all prospective students, the Office of Financial Aid considers all admitted freshmen for scholarship programs.
However, competitive scholarships, as well as academic and enrichment programs, require you to fill out and submit a separate application for consideration.
Grants for Mississippi Residents
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
Created by the Mississippi Legislature, this program is designed to provide financial assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and private not-for-profit two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities.
The primary objective of MESG is to provide educational opportunities for high-achieving high school students who wish to pursue postsecondary education in the state.
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTA)
Created by the Mississippi Legislature, this program is designed to provide financial assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and private not-for-profit two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities.
The primary objective of MTAG is to provide educational opportunities for students who wish to pursue postsecondary education in the state and do not already benefit from federal need-based aid.
While financial aid for transfer students mirrors the process for prospective freshmen, you have a few additional points to keep in mind:
- To be considered for federal aid or any need-based awards, be sure to submit a FAFSA form with the UM school code of 002440, so we can receive a copy.
- If you’re transferring here from another Mississippi state school, you’ll need to update the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, so all funds can be directed appropriately.
- Most transfer scholarships are for students who have earned at least 48 transferable credit hours, but academic departments may be able to offer you scholarships, as well.
- You will need to complete the Transfer Scholarship Application OR the Regional Campus Scholarship Application.
- Understand that financial aid awards don’t transfer from one institution to another, and your need will be reevaluated upon your acceptance to the University of Mississippi.
Thinking about attending Graduate School at the University of Mississippi? Don't let anything get in the way of pursuing your dream.
Keep in mind: students entering the School of Law or the School of Pharmacy should reference their separate admissions and scholarship web pages.
Each year, Ole Miss welcomes international students from across the globe looking to enrich their skill sets, be exposed to American culture, and add a degree to their list of accomplishments.
To help you succeed here, we offer merit-based scholarships and assistantships with partial or full tuition support to admitted international students.
For years, the University of Mississippi has embraced military personnel and veterans striving to earn a bachelor’s or graduate degree. Through our efforts, programs, and guidance, we’re now known as one of the top military-friendly colleges in the United States.
Beyond presenting a wide variety of educational opportunities and encouraging you through this stage of your journey, we’re a Purple Heart Campus and provide all military and veteran students with comprehensive resources—including non-resident fee scholarships—designed to shepherd your success.
Review our Military & Veterans Services, including information about scholarships and transferring non-traditional credits toward a degree.
For some individuals, the passion to learn increases with age.
You seek out all sorts of enriching experiences, and acknowledging your mission and drive, the University of Mississippi opens certain classes to individuals age 65 and older.
Interested in continuing your education into your golden years?
Applying for Financial Aid
Financial aid shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought. Instead, all students are recommended to complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form in conjunction with their application to attend the University of Mississippi. Submitting the FAFSA is essential to be considered for any need-based financial aid awards.
In applying to the University of Mississippi:
- Educate yourself on the financial aid process at studentaid.gov, managed by the US Department of Education;
- If you are a high school student, estimate your financial aid eligibility with the Aid Estimator tool;
- Review our financial aid timeline, which includes all deadlines for submitting documentation and scholarship applications;
- Fill out and submit a FAFSA no later than March 1 for priority consideration; you’ll need to have the following pieces of documentation available:
- your driver’s license and Social Security numbers;
- a copy of your (and your parents’, and/or spouse’s, IRS tax return transcript if applicable), or use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to transfer income information into your FAFSA;
- your (and your parents’, and/or spouse’s, if applicable) W-2 forms and other records of money earned;
- records of untaxed income such as clergy allowances and child support;
- current bank statements;
- business and farm records;
- stock, bond, and other investment records; and
- your alien registration card (if you are not a US citizen);
- After the FAFSA is submitted, you may be selected for verification, which requires additional documentation and may take two to three weeks;
- Fill out and submit any additional applications for Ole Miss’s competitive scholarships; and
- Once you receive your award notification in the mail, log into your online award notification in myOleMiss to accept your aid and review any pending actions needed on your part. For some awards, you are able to reduce or decline them (i.e. loans if you do not wish to borrow them). Please note that you must accept the terms and conditions of aid packages before the Office of Financial Aid disburses any aid.