Non-Resident Freshman Merit & Achievement Based Scholarships
Non-Resident Freshman Merit and Achievement-Based Scholarships recognize the accomplishments of incoming non-resident students and help make attending Ole Miss more affordable. This page provides important details on available scholarships, including eligibility requirements, award amounts, application instructions, and deadlines, so you can plan your scholarship applications effectively.
Recognition for All Your Hard Work
We enjoy recognizing students for their hard work and dedication during their high school years. These awards are given to students based only on their high school GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and/or the activities they participated in during these years. Select each section for additional details!
Available Scholarships
Explore the available Non-Resident Freshman Merit and Achievement-Based Scholarships. Expand each section to learn about eligibility requirements, award amounts, application instructions, and deadlines to help you plan and submit your scholarship applications successfully.
Academic Merit Scholarships
- Award Amount: Please see the following chart for award amounts. These awards are fixed amounts that are renewable for up to four years as long as all terms and conditions are met. This is a fee-specific scholarship that pays towards the non-resident fee. It does not stack with Academic Success NR.
- Eligibility: Entering Freshman with minimum 3.0 high school GPA. Subject test scores must be from the same exam type (ACT or SAT) to create a super score.
- How to Apply: Gain admission to the University of Mississippi.
- Deadline: Qualifying tests must be taken prior to enrollment as a new freshman at the University of Mississippi.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
2026-2027 Non-Resident Freshmen
| High School GPA | No Test Score | 24-25 ACT 1160-1220 SAT | 26-27 ACT 1230-1290 SAT | 28-29 ACT 1300-1350 SAT | 30-31 ACT 1360-1410 SAT | 32+ ACT 1420+ SAT |
| 3.0-3.49 | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| 3.5-3.74 | $5,000 | $7,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,160 |
| 3.75-4.0 | $8,000 | $9,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 | $18,000 | $20,160 |
ACT: writing section not included SAT: combined reading and math scores only Superscores accepted for both ACT and SAT | Yearly total listed renewable for up to four years | |||||
Academic Excellence National Merit Finalist/Semifinalist Scholarship
- Award Amount: Includes full tuition scholarship and the standard cost of a double occupancy room in a campus residence hall. Also covers full non-resident fee, if applicable. Please be advised that these awards are renewable for up to four years as long as all terms and conditions are met. These cannot be stacked with the Academic Merit awards.
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen with National Merit Semifinalist/Finalist status and a 3.0 or higher GPA.
- How to Apply: Gain admission to the University of Mississippi. Provide documentation of National Merit standing.
- Deadline: Follows National Merit announcement timeline.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
- Award Amount: $4,000 ($1,000 per year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshman with finalist status and selection of Ole Miss as first choice and who are not receiving a National Merit Corporate award
- How to Apply: Gain admission to the University of Mississippi. Select Ole Miss as first-choice school with National Merit office.
- Deadline: Follows National Merit announcement timeline.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
Barnard Scholarship
- Award Amount: $20,000 ($5,000/year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen who have achieved National Merit Finalist status and have a 3.0 or higher high school GPA.
- How to Apply: Gain admission to the University of Mississippi. Provide documentation of National Merit standing.
- Deadline: Follows National Merit announcement timeline.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
Academic Success Non-Resident
- Award Amount: $12,000 ($3,000/year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen who have a 3.75 or higher high school GPA. This cannot stack with Academic Merit.
- How to Apply: Gain admission to the University of Mississippi.
- Deadline: Award must be made within the first term of enrollment.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
J. Means Non-Resident Scholarship
- Award Amount: Ranges from $5,000 – $8,000
- Eligibility: Incoming, first-year, full-time students who are residents of Shelby, Tipton, and Fayette Counties in Tennessee, with a minimum high school GPA of 3.75 and either no test score or ACT equivalent of 23 and below – OR students with an ACT score of at least 24 and a high school GPA of at least 3.0.
- How to Apply: Gain admission to the University of Mississippi.
- Deadline: Qualifying tests must be taken prior to enrollment as a new freshman at the University of Mississippi.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
STEM Major Non-Resident Scholarship
- Award Amount: $8,000 ($2,000/year toward nonresident fee)
- Eligibility: to incoming, first-year, full-time students with at least a 3.5 high school grade point average (GPA) and a 28 ACT (or the SAT/SAT-R equivalent) who will be enrolled in any of the following STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) majors:
- B.A. in Physics
- B.S. in Physics
- B.S. in Geology
- B.S. in Forensic Chemistry
- B.A. in Chemistry
- B.S. in Chemistry
- B.A. in Mathematics
- B.S. in Mathematics
- B.A. in Biochemistry
- B.A. in Biology
- B.S. in Biology
- B.S. in Biological Science
- B.S.G.E. in Geological Engineering
- B.S.M.E. in Mechanical Engineering
- B.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering
- B.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering
- B.S.Ch.E. in Chemical Engineering
- B.E. in Engineering
- B.S. in Engineering
- B.S. in Computer Engineering
- B.A. in Computer Science
- B.S.C.S. in Computer Science
- B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
High School Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarship
- Award Amount: $8,000 ($2,000/year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen who are named Valedictorian or Salutatorian of their high school. This award is intended for 2 incoming freshmen from each school, so the HS must maintain class rankings.
- How to Apply: Notify the Office of Financial Aid; a letter from a high school official must confirm (1) they have ranked the graduating class, and (2) the student has obtained the ranking of #1 or #2. Documentation may be faxed to the Office of Financial Aid at 662-915-1164.
- Deadline: Confirmation must be received within the first term of enrollment.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
Student Body President Scholarship
- Award Amount: $6,000 ($1,500/year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen who served in the top elected position in their high school as president of the entire Student Body (or Student Council).
- How to Apply: Provide documentation of status to the Office of Financial Aid. Documentation may be faxed to 662-915-1164.
- Deadline: Confirmation must be received within the first term of enrollment.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
Eagle Scout/Gold Award Scholarship
- Award Amount: New freshmen will receive $6,000 ($1,500/year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen who have achieved the levels of Eagle Scout or Gold Award.
- How to Apply: Provide documentation of status to the Office of Financial Aid. Documentation may be faxed to 662-915-1164.
- Deadline: Confirmation must be received within the first term of enrollment.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu
Boys State/Girls State Scholarship
- Award Amount: $4,000 ($1,000/year)
- Eligibility: Entering freshmen who are named as Governor to their state OR the state delegate to Boys Nation/Girls Nation.
- How to Apply: Provide documentation of status to the Office of Financial Aid at 662-915-1164.
- Deadline: Confirmation must be received within the first term of enrollment.
- For More Information: Office of Financial Aid, 800-891-4596
- E-mail: finaid@olemiss.edu