Senior Information

MTAG – Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant

Program Overview:

Created by the Mississippi Legislature, this program is designed to provide financial assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and private not-for-profit two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities. The primary objective of MTAG is to provide educational opportunities for students who wish to pursue postsecondary education in the state and do not already benefit from federal need-based aid.

Rules and Regulations:

MTAG Rules and Regulations

Important Dates:

Application Dates: October 1 – September 15
Supporting Documents Deadline: October 15 (following September 15 application deadline)

Eligibility Requirements for Entering Freshman:

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application
• Graduate from high school with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or earn a high school equivalency diploma (submit a copy of GED or equivalent test scores and GED or equivalent certificate) or complete a Home School program (submit a signed transcript of 9th through 12th grades)
• Score a minimum of a 15 on the National ACT
• Enroll full-time at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to a first certificate, first associate’s, or first bachelor’s degree
• Be eligible for less than the maximum Federal Pell Grant as determined by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid uses the most recent FAFSA transaction to determine an applicant’s Pell Grant eligibility

Eligibility Requirements for Students Currently Enrolled in College:

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application
• Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative college GPA on at least 12 completed hours
• Attend an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to a first certificate, first associate’s, or first bachelor’s degree
• Enroll full-time and maintain full-time enrollment (complete with passing grades) each semester. Full-time enrollment is 15 hours per semester or 9 hours per trimester.
• Be eligible for less than the maximum Federal Pell Grant as determined by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid uses the most recent FAFSA transaction to determine an applicant’s Pell Grant eligibility.

Award Amount:

MTAG awards up to $500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores and $1,000 per academic year for juniors and seniors.

Maximum Length of Eligibility:

A recipient may receive MTAG for up to 8 semesters (12 trimesters) or degree completion, whichever comes first.

(Note: No student may receive undergraduate grant aid through more than one state-supported undergraduate grant program in the same term of enrollment. If a student is eligible for aid through multiple grant programs, the student shall be awarded from the program that awards the larger sum.  No student shall receive undergraduate grant aid from any program or any combination of programs for more than eight semesters or twelve trimesters.)

To Apply:

1. Complete the online application. The online application must be completed each and every academic year for which the applicant seeks aid.
2. Submit required supporting documents. New applicants and some renewal applicants with a break in enrollment will be required to submit two forms of residency documentation:

Preferred Residency Documents:

• FAFSA
• Mississippi driver’s license (can be submitted electronically during the online application)

Alternate Residency Documents Accepted:

• State Tax Return (NOT Federal) for the current tax filing year. Dependent students would provide a signed copy of the first two pages of the parent’s return. Independent students would provide a signed copy of the student’s return. Am I dependent or independent?
• Homestead Exemption
• Voter Registration
• Vehicle Registration

Note: Our office receives FAFSA results electronically for all Mississippi residents. When possible, the state tax return or Mississippi driver’s license pending document will be replaced by the FAFSA.