Grant Opportunities at Ole Miss
A type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid, making it a valuable way to help you afford college.
Make College More Affordable
Grants can significantly reduce the cost of attending Ole Miss—helping students focus more on their studies and less on finances.
- Unlike loans, grants don’t have to be repaid, making them a powerful resource for covering tuition, books, and other expenses.
Whether based on financial need, academic achievement, or special qualifications, grants can open the door to an affordable, high-quality education.
Available Grants
Federal Pell grants are available to eligible students. Eligibility is determined by the U.S. Department of Education based on a formula that uses the information provided by the student/parent on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to produce a Student Aid Index (SAI).
The Pell Grant eligibility has been expanded to include student’s who have had a parent or guardian killed in the line of duty while either serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. armed forces on or after September 11, 2001 or performing official duties as a public safety officer.
Award amounts are prorated based on the number of hours for which a student is enrolled. Only undergraduate students who have not previously received a bachelor’s degree are eligible. More information about Pell grants is available at Federal Student Aid.
Per federal regulation, the duration of Pell Grant eligibility is limited to 12 semesters (or its equivalent). Since the amount of Pell Grant funding a full-time student can receive for a traditional academic year (both Fall and Spring semesters) is equal to 100%, this lifetime limit is called the 600% rule. Please note that students may receive Pell Grant funding during summer sessions if otherwise eligible, which counts towards the 600% limit as well. More information is available at Federal Student Aid.
For more information, consult the Office of Financial Aid’s current policies and procedures for the Federal Pell Grant.
Grants of up to $4,000 per year are available to students pursuing a first bachelor’s degree who show exceptional financial need.
- Due to limited funds, grants at The University of Mississippi usually do not exceed $500-$1000 per year.
To apply, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information, consult the Office of Financial Aid’s current policies and procedures for the Federal SEOG (FSEOG) program.
A grant of $500 per year is available for freshmen and sophomores and $1,000 per year for juniors and seniors who are Mississippi residents. MTAG is prorated for those students who receive a Pell Grant; therefore, students who receive the maximum Pell award will not be eligible for MTAG.
- One-year Mississippi residency and full-time enrollment are required.
- Entering freshmen must have a minimum ACT score of 15 or equivalent SAT and a 2.5 GPA. Application is available online at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/.
- It must be submitted by September 15 of each year. Renewal requires submission of an application each year, continued full-time status and maintenance of a 2.5 college GPA.
- Undergraduate students must enroll in and earn (complete with passing grades) 15 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility for state aid for programs that require full-time enrollment.
Only one state grant can be received in a term, so if students are eligible for more than one of the following (MTAG, MESG, FAITH, HELP, Nissan Grant, or the MS Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship), they will receive aid through the program that will award the larger amount.
A grant of $2,500 per year is available to Mississippi residents who are entering freshmen and are designated as National Merit/Achievement Finalists/Semifinalists OR who achieve an ACT score of 29 or better (or comparable SAT score) and a 3.5 high-school grade-point average.
- One-year Mississippi residency and full-time enrollment are required.
- Application is available online at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/. It must be submitted by September 15 of each year.
- Renewal requires submission of an application each year, continued full-time status and maintenance of a 3.5 GPA.
- Undergraduate students must enroll in and earn (complete with passing grades) 15 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility for state aid for programs that require full-time enrollment.
Only one state grant can be received in a term, so if students are eligible for more than one of the following (MTAG, MESG, FAITH, HELP, Nissan Grant, or the MS Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship), they will receive aid through the program that will award the larger amount.
A grant covering the cost of tuition (including required fees) is available for up to 4 years for qualified Mississippi resident undergraduates whose financial need (as demonstrated on the FAFSA) will not be met with gift aid from other sources.
- Must be within one year of high school graduation with a minimum ACT score of 20 or equivalent SAT and a 2.5 GPA.
- Must have completed a specific high school curriculum and meet income limitations.
- Application is available online at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/.
- It must be submitted by March 31 of each year.
Undergraduate students must enroll in and earn (complete with passing grades) 15 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility for state aid for programs that require full-time enrollment. Only one state grant can be received in a term, so if students are eligible for more than one of the following (MTAG, MESG, FAITH, HELP, Nissan Grant, or the MS Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship), they will receive aid through the program that will award the larger amount.
A grant covering full tuition (including required fees) and a book allowance is provided by Nissan North America, Inc. to applicants who are Mississippi residents who are graduating from a Mississippi high school in the current year.
- Selection is competitive and requires an essay.
- Application is available online at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/.
- It must be submitted by September 15 of each year.
Undergraduate students must enroll in and earn (complete with passing grades) 15 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility for state aid for programs that require full-time enrollment.
Only one state grant can be received in a term, so if students are eligible for more than one of the following (MTAG, MESG, FAITH, HELP, Nissan Grant, or the MS Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship), they will receive aid through the program that will award the larger amount.
A grant covering the cost of tuition (including required fees) and the average cost of campus housing is available for dependent children and spouses of any Mississippi law enforcement officer, full-time fire fighter or volunteer fire fighter who has suffered fatal injuries or wounds or become permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the performance of the official and appointed duties of his or her office.
- Application is available online at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/. It must be submitted by September 15 of each year. Undergraduate students must enroll in and earn (complete with passing grades) 15 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility for state aid for programs that require full-time enrollment.
Only one state grant can be received in a term, so if students are eligible for more than one of the following (MTAG, MESG, FAITH, HELP, Nissan Grant, or the MS Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship), they will receive aid through the program that will award the larger amount.
Complete 2 Compete (C2C) is a statewide initiative designed to help Mississippi adults who have earned college credit, but do not yet have a degree, return to college to complete their degree. One-time grants are available to help students pay off past due balances or apply towards one semester’s tuition and fees. Grants are maxed out at $500.
- All eligibility requirements must be met to receive a grant.
For additional information, students should visit https://msc2c.org.
C2C Tuition Assistance Grant
Eligibility Requirements:- Be a MS resident and a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Meet FAFSA definition of an independent student
- Be enrolled in MS public institution pursing first postsecondary degree
- Complete FAFSA
- Complete state aid application
- Not be enrolled at any higher education institution for the previous, consecutive 24 months
- Be able to earn the required GPA to earn degree
- Not have been disciplinarily dismissed from the most recently attended higher education institution
C2C Tuition Assistance Grant (Dependent and Income-Based)
Per the MDHS contract, these are the criteria that a returning adult learner must meet in order to qualify for tuition assistance using MDHS grant money:
- Have a dependent child in the home
- Have an income level that is at or below 350% of the poverty level
- Pell and other federal aid must be applied first, except for prior debt
- Meet all eligibility criteria listed in C2C Tuition Assistance Grant
A grant covering up to the full cost of attendance for Mississippi residents who are current and former foster youth for up to 5 years. Application is available online at https://www.msfinancialaid.org/.
It must be submitted by September 15 of each year. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and apply through CPS for an Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible to apply. Applicants must be younger than 25 by October 1 of the aid year in which they are applying.
Undergraduate students must enroll in at least 6 credit hours per semester to maintain eligibility. Only one state grant can be received in a term – so if students are eligible for more than one of the following (MTAG, MESG, FAITH, HELP, Nissan Grant, or the MS Law Enforcement Officers & Firemen Scholarship), they will receive aid through the program that will award the larger amount.
- Interested students should review the information below and submit a Request for Federal TEACH Grant application (instructions at the bottom of the page).
What are the Eligibility Requirements?
To receive the TEACH Grant each academic year, a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be enrolled in a degree program at either the undergraduate or graduate level (undergraduates must qualify for admission to Phase II of the Teacher Education Program, usually at the junior or senior years only – refer to the UM School of Education for requirements)
- Receive a GPA of at least a 3.25 for each payment period
- From high school for first year students
- From college for other students
- OR score above the 75th percentile on an admissions test, such as SAT, ACT, or GRE
- Student must be completing coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching, or must plan to complete coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching.
Demonstration of financial need is not required.
How Much Can a Student Receive?
The TEACH Grant will provide up to $4,000 per year for the first undergraduate program. Students cannot receive more than $16,000 total. Graduate students can receive up to $4,000 per year with a limit of $8,000.
Awards are also based on enrollment level (full time, ¾ time, half-time and less than half-time).
The TEACH Grant may be subject to a slight reduction of the award amount each year as a result of “Federal Sequestration”.
This award in combination with all other financial aid can not exceed a students cost of attendance.
A student applies for the TEACH grant by completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Once awarded, the student will be asked to complete an Agreement to Serve (ATS) and Entrance Counseling.
Does the TEACH Grant have to be repaid?
If the student does not teach for at least four years within eight years of completing the program under the following conditions:
- As a Highly Qualified Teacher
- In a elementary or secondary school or educational service agency that serves low-income students. The current listing of schools by state can be found at https://studentaid.gov/app/tcli.action.
- In a specified subject area (see below.)
Then the grant must be repaid as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest added to the loan calculated from the date the TEACH Grant funds were originally disbursed.
What subject areas are approved?
- Mathematics
- Science
- Foreign Language
- Bilingual Education
- Special Education
- As a reading specialist
- Another field documented as high-need by the Federal government, a State government, or a Local Education Agency, and approved by the Secretary. This field must be listed in the Department’s annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing at https://tsa.ed.gov/#/home/.
Highly-Qualified Teacher
You must perform the teaching service as a highly-qualified teacher, which is defined in federal law. The informational sheet can also be found online at: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/how-is-highly-qualified-teacher-defined-teacher-loan-forgiveness
Full-Time Teacher
You must meet the state’s definition of a full-time teacher and spend the majority (at least 51 percent) of your time teaching one of the high-need subject areas. Elementary school teachers who teach many subjects would not be able to fulfill their service agreement.
TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve
Each year you receive a TEACH Grant you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve. The Agreement is a legally binding document that defines the teaching obligations you must meet and specifies your repayment obligation if a TEACH Grant that you receive is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. When you sign the service agreement, you are agreeing to repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date that the grant funds were disbursed, if you do not complete the teaching obligation. Once the grant has been converted to a loan, it cannot be converted back to a grant.
Request the TEACH Grant Application
In order to submit an application, please follow the instructions below:
- ALL students must first create a Student Forms account.
- Once you are logged in you, start by navigating to the ‘Manage Requests’ button at the top right of the screen.
- From there click on the green plus sign next to the document and correct academic year. This will allow you to add a request as a task for you to complete.
- You can download then upload the “TEACH Grant” application once you filled it out and had the School of Education sign off on it prior to submitting to our office.
All information regarding the request is within Student Forms. If you have any questions please contact our office for assistance.
TEACH Grant Exit Counseling
TEACH recipients who cease attendance or who have applied for graduation must complete TEACH Grant Exit Counseling. TEACH Grant Exit Counseling provides information about the service agreement as well as information if your TEACH Grant is converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
For more information about the Federal TEACH Grant, please refer to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/teach#eligibility.