E-Mail: sfa@mississippi.edu

Mississippi
Office of Student Financial Aid
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453

Phone: 1-800-327-2980
(toll-free in Mississippi)
or at 601-432-6997.

The mission of the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid is to provide all qualified college and college-bound students with state-funded financial assistance, with a focus on Mississippi residents. In keeping with this mission, we have created one, easy to complete, application to enable student to apply for all state-funded scholarships, grants or loans.

Under the governance of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid is responsible for the administration of all state-funded financial aid programs, including grants, scholarships and loans. These funds provide assistance to Mississippi residents in pursuit of their educational and professional goals.

Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP). The primary objective of the program is to provide tuition assistance to qualified students whose financial need, as demonstrated by federal student aid eligibility, will not be met with gift aid from other sources.

Application Deadline: March 31^st of each year
Supporting Documents Deadline: April 30^th of each year

Must apply within one year of high school graduation

Be a resident of Mississippi for two years prior to application deadline date

Demonstrate need as determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Be accepted and enrolled full-time in undergraduate course work at an eligible Mississippi institution. Full-time enrollment is defined as the completion of twelve semesters credit hours or nine trimester credit hours of undergraduate course work. Audits are not counted as enrolled or completed hours.

Document an average family adjusted gross income of $36,500 or less over the prior two years. A higher average adjusted gross income may be applicable depending on family demographics.

Have a high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale

Have scored a minimum of 20 on the ACT. Scores resulting from the national testing of the ACT are the only accepted scores for state aid eligibility. Residual test scores are not acceptable.

Have completed the specific high school core curriculum

Complete and return household verification form (used to document additional siblings under the age of 21)

Have completed the online web application, a valid student aid report (SAR) by completing the FAFSA and all supporting documents on file by April 30^th. Award notifications will be mailed by August 1^st.

Must apply within one year of high school graduation

Be a resident of Mississippi for two years prior to application deadline date of March 31^st

Document an average family adjusted gross income of $36,500 or less over the prior two years. A higher average adjusted gross income may be applicable depending on family demographics.

Demonstrate need as determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Have minimum cumulative college grade point average of 2.5

Attend full-time in undergraduate course work at an eligible Mississippi institution. Full-time enrollment is defined as the completion of twelve semesters credit hours or nine trimester credit hours of undergraduate course work. Audits are not counted as enrolled or completed hours.

Be in good standing on any prior educational loans

Have scored a minimum of 20 on the ACT. Scores resulting from the national testing of the ACT are the only accepted scores for state aid eligibility. Residual test scores are not acceptable.

Complete and return household verification form (used to document additional siblings under the age of 21)

Have completed the online web application, a valid student aid report (SAR) by completing the FAFSA and all supporting documents on file by April 30^th. Award notifications will be mailed by August 1^st.

Exhibit satisfactory academic progress as established by the institution

Be in good standing on any prior educational loans

Demonstrate need as determined by the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Document an average family adjusted gross income of $36,500 or less over the prior two years. A higher average adjusted gross income may be applicable depending on family demographics.

Continue to maintain Mississippi residency. At least one parent of a dependent student must maintain Mississippi residency for the student to continue to receive the HELP grant.

Maintain a 2.5 cumulative college grade point average (GPA) throughout the normal time required to complete a degree program curriculum. The cumulative college GPA is check annual after spring semester. For purposes of HELP, the normal time will be determined by when the student began the degree curriculum.

Renew the application each year by completing online web application, including having a valid student aid report (SAR) by completing the FAFSA and all supporting documents on file by April 30^th. Award letters will be mailed after confirmation (by attending institution) of hours earned (must be full-time in undergraduate course work) and college grade point average at the end of the spring semester. Full-time enrollment is defined as the completion of twelve semesters credit hours or nine trimester credit hours of undergraduate course work. Audits are not counted as enrolled or completed hours.