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FINANCIAL AID

STEP 3 - APPLY FOR STATE AID

Nursing Teacher Stipend (NTSP-Ph.D.)

Program Overview
The primary objectives of this program are to provide education opportunities to students who wish to continue their nursing education and address Mississippi’s nursing/teacher shortage by providing a constant source of qualified nurses/teachers. NTSP-Ph.D. awards will be made available, to the extent of appropriated funds, to persons seeking a PHD degree in nursing at one Mississippi institution of higher learning in exchange for employment in professional nursing or teaching in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi.

Important Dates
Application dates: January 1 – March 31
Document deadline: March 31, except for the Letter of Acceptance, which may be submitted through July 31. 
The dates are important as the number of awards and recipients are dependent upon available funds.

Eligibility
You are eligible if all the following apply:  

  • You are a resident of Mississippi
  • You hold a current Mississippi nursing license 
  • You are enrolled full-time 
  • Has achieved a 3.0 GPA on all graduate level work previously taken
  • You have been fully admitted to either the University of Mississippi Medical Center or the University of Southern Mississippi
  • Agrees to teach in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi upon completion of degree
  • Must also participate in the Nursing Education Loan/Scholarship Program (NELP) while pursuing the PHD
  • Must not have received or currently be receiving funds from the Rural Health Program  
  • Must not presently be in default or previously defaulted on an educational loan

Click here for a complete listing of eligibility requirements

Award Amount

  • The NTSP participant pursing a PHD degree is eligible to receive $1,000 per month, not to exceed two (2) calendar years or $24,000.
  • All recipients must maintain full-time status and a 3.0/4.0 or higher grade point average each semester/trimester in order to continue to receive funds under the renewal process.

Service Obligation
The loan to service obligation can be discharged on the basis of two(2) consecutive academic year's service as a full-time teacher in an accredited school of nursing in the State of Mississippi for one year of loan received. There are no exceptions to this teaching commitment

Awarding Priorities
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid will make awards on a first-come first-served based upon our level of funding. However, priority is given to renewal applicants who complete the renewal process by the deadlines.

To Apply

  1. Complete the online application. This online application must be completed each academic year whether you are a prior recipient or a first-time applicant.
  2. Submit the following supporting documents:
  • Signed copy of the first two pages of student’s State Tax Return for the current year.  
  • Copy of valid Mississippi driver license, unless you elected to submit it electronically during the online application
  • Copy of current Mississippi nursing license
  • Provide a Letter of Recommendation from the dean/director of a Mississippi nursing program with an accompanying letter of stated intended employment upon completion of program of study
  • An official letter of acceptance from an accredited nursing school, showing full admission, date admitted and entering classification.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. THE NTSP PROGRAM REQUIRES A COPY OF MY LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE TO A MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF NURSING AND WHILE I HAVE APPLIED TO A SCHOOL OF NURSING, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE SCHOOL THAT NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE WILL NOT BE FORWARDED TO ME UNTIL AFTER YOUR MARCH 31st DEADLINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
    The only exception to the submission of documents is the letter of acceptance which may be submitted after the deadline but must be submitted by July 31st. 
  2. IS NTSP AVAILABLE TO ME FOR SUMMER SCHOOL?
    Yes. NTSP is available during the summer semester. 
  3. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY NTSP AWARD IF I DROP CLASSES DURING THE SEMESTER?
    Each semester your NTSP award is calculated based on your full-time enrollment.  If you drop below full-time during the semester, your award will be cancelled.
  4. WHAT IF MY SEMESTER GRADE POINT AVERAGE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT?
    If your semester/trimester gpa is less than 3.0 at the end of a semester/trimester, you will lose the NTSP for the next semester/trimester of enrollment during a normal academic year. In order to regain eligibility your semester/trimester gpa must meet the minimum 3.0 gpa requirement.  
  5. WHAT IF I AM CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE MSN NURSING PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, WILL MY GRADES BE CHECKED BEFORE I AM ELIGIBLE FOR AN AWARD?
    Yes, if your semester/trimester gpa is less than 3.0 at the end of the semester/trimester, you will not be eligible for the NTSP Program.
  6. I KNOW THAT AS A RECIPIENT UNDER THE NTSP PROGRAM I HAVE A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF TEACHING IN AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL OF NURSING IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. WHAT IF I AM UNABLE TO FIND A JOB IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETING MY DEGREE?
    Upon completion of the degree program and at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, all recipients are eligible for a one year grace period while seeking employment.