Paying for School
We understand that funding your education can be a significant concern, and we're here to support you in making informed decisions and maximizing available resources.
Whether you're exploring scholarships, financial aid options, or seeking strategies to manage your expenses, this page is designed to provide you with valuable information and practical tools to ease your financial journey through school.
Importance of Finding Financial Aid and Scholarships
Finding financial aid and scholarships is crucial for easing the financial burden of higher education. They provide opportunities to reduce or eliminate student loans and make education more affordable.
Scholarships recognize academic achievements and talents, while financial aid ensures financial stability during college. Actively seeking these resources can open doors to educational opportunities, relieve financial stress, and allow you to focus on your studies.
Explore various sources of assistance to maximize your chances of securing the support you need.
Cost of Attendance
Cost of Attendance Calculator
Discover your true cost of attendance with our free calculator! By providing valuable insights into tuition, fees, books, housing, and more, you can get a clear picture of your expected college expenses.
Steps to Find Aid
Whether you're exploring scholarships, grants, work-study programs, or other financial aid options, these steps will serve as a handy tool to keep you organized and ensure you don't miss out on any opportunities.
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State Aid
GoIf you’re a resident of Mississippi, complete the State Aid Application. If you’re not a MS resident, check with your state’s financial aid organization to see if they might offer aid if you attend school in a different state.
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MSU General Scholarship
GoComplete the MSU General Scholarship Application through your MyState portal.
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Other Scholarships
Research and apply for other scholarships offered at MSU (such as for your major department), organizations (both in and outside of MSU), and other sources, such as your parent/guardian(s) employer.
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Repeat Yearly
Repeat this process every year to ensure maximum awards. It’s also recommended to complete these applications ASAP, so mark your calendars for when they open on Oct. 1st*.
*The FAFSA is changing! For more details on the new FAFSA, visit https://www.sfa.msstate.edu/fafsachanges.
Campus Opportunities
- On-campus jobs are posted at the MSU Career Center and additional jobs may be posted in the library. Available for undergraduate and graduate students.
- If given Work-Study on your Financial Aid Award letter, you will need to obtain a work-study position to get the funds. Funds will be disbursed like a paycheck, not into your MSU account.
RAs can get a full room scholarship, a meal plan discount, and a stipend. You can look for openings and apply by contacting Housing and Residence Life.
Student payment plans are available for Annual and Semester Payment Plans.
Local and National Opportunities
- Students apply for grants, loans, and work-study jobs through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at https://studentaid.gov. Students only need to apply for the FAFSA once per school year.
- Starting October 1st* students can apply for financial aid for the following Fall/Spring school year. The earlier you apply, the earlier you can plan for the following school year.
Completing the FAFSA will allow you to apply for the following aid types:
Grants (need-based and do not have to be repaid)
- Pell Grant
- Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Loans
- Subsidized Loans – Fixed interest rate, interest is not charged until after graduation or the student drops below 6 hours (below half-time status), need-based, only for undergraduate students.
- Unsubsidized Loans – Fixed interest rate, interest is charged from the day you receive it.
- Parent Plus Loans – Fixed rate, interest is charged from the day the student receives it, in parent’s name and based on parent’s credit. To apply go to https://studentaid.gov.
- Grad Plus Loans – Fixed rate, interest begins from the day you receive it, based on student’s credit, only for graduate students.
- Mississippi residents can find need-based and merit-based grants and scholarships at www.msfinancialaid.org starting October 1 for the following Fall. Deadlines to apply are March 1 (Nissan), March 31 (HELP), and September 15 (MTAG and MESG).
- You must apply each year and be enrolled in and pass 15 hours.
- Private student loans are offered by private lenders to help students cover educational expenses. These loans are based on creditworthiness and often require a cosigner. While private loans can fill the gap in funding, it's important to compare options and understand the potential higher interest rates and repayment terms compared to federal loans.
- For private loans visit http://www.sfa.msstate.edu/loan/ to find a lender list and compare private loan options.
Scholarships
- Fill out the MSU general scholarship application Oct 1st for the following fall in your myState portal for the upcoming year. Deadlines begin Dec 1st for incoming students and March 1st for returning students.
Go to info about MSU scholarships
- Many campus organizations have scholarships through their national office and many major departments have departmental scholarships available.
- Look for scholarships outside of MSU with search engines like www.fastweb.com or the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Academic Common Market
- The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a regional tuition savings program that allows students to pursue out-of-state college programs at in-state tuition rates. It is a collaboration among Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) member states, enabling students to access specialized programs not available in their home state while benefiting from reduced tuition costs.
Military Service
Military benefits offer valuable financial assistance to service members, veterans, and their dependents for their education. Contact the MSU Center for America’s Veterans for other programs for Active Duty Military, Veterans, Reservists and their spouses, dependents and survivors.
*The FAFSA is changing! For more details about the new FAFSA, visit https://www.sfa.msstate.edu/fafsachanges.