Grants
GRANTS are the most attractive form of financial aid since they do not have to be repaid (unless you withdraw from school and owe a refund). All federal grants are awarded to students with financial need. The amount of your Federal Pell Grant depends on your cost of attendance, expected family contribution, enrollment status (full or part-time) and whether you attend for a full academic year or less. The amount of other grant depends on your financial need.
There are five types of federal student aid grants available to students at the university:
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Academic Competiveness Grant (ACG)
- National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher education (TEACH Grant)
Federal Pell Grant (PELL) is the foundation of federal student aid and the largest of federal grants, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added. Pell Grants are generally awarded only to undergraduate students who haven't earned a bachelor's degree.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal grant available to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need and receiving a federal pell grant. FSEOG awards range from $100 to $4,000 a year.
Awarding of FSEOG depends on the amount of funds that the school receives each year from the U.S. Department of Education. The school's financial aid office decides how to award these funds. At MVSU priority consideration is given to students with exceptional financial need. When all funds are awarded for the award year, no more FSEOG awards can be made for that academic year. It is important that you apply early to be considered for these funds. Receiving FSEOG one year does not make you eligible to receive it each awarding year.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a federal grant program that began in the 2006-07 award year. It is available for full-time undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible program, who receive Federal Pell Grants and are U.S. Citizens. Students also must have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study and be enrolled in at least a two-year academic program acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor's degree or enrolled in a graduate degree program that includes three academic years of undergraducate education.
First academic year undergraduate students must:
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree program
- Have completed a rigorous program of study in high school
- Not have been previously enrolled as a regular student in an undergraduate degree program
- Have graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2006
- This award is up to $750 for the first academic year.
Second academic year undergraduate students must:
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree program
- Have completed a rigorous program of study in high school
- Have graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2005
- Have at least a 3.0 GPA and earned 30 credit hours (not including summer terms) for the first academic year of their eligible program
- This award is up to $1300 for the second academic year.
National SMART Grant is a new grant program for full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled in the third and fourth academic year of an eligible degree program, who receive Federal Pell Grants and are U.S. citizens. Undergraduate students do not have to complete a rigorous secondary school program of student to be eligible for this grant.
Students must:
- Be pursuing an eligible major in physical, life, or computer sciences, engineering, technology, mathematics or a critical-need foreign lanquage; and
- Have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
This money does not have to be paid back. All awards are divided equally between Fall and Spring semesters and credited to the student's account.
TEACH Grant is the newest grant established by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act as of July 1, 2008. The TEACH grant provides $4,000 annually to students who plan to become teachers. In exchange for the grant, candidates must agree to serve as full-time teachers at certain schools and within certain high-need fields for at least four academic years within eight years of completing the course of study for which a grant was received. If the grant recipient does not carry out that obligation, the TEACH grant funds received converts to a Direct unsubsidized loan that must be repaid with interest.
To qualify for a TEACH Grant, a student must meet certain academic standards and must be completing (or planning to complete) the coursework necessary to begin a career in teaching. A student may qualify if s/he has a cumulative 3.25 grade point average. If s/he is in the first year of college, the GPA for his/her total high school record is used - or if s/he scores above the 75th percentile on at least one of the batteries in an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate school admissions test.
Additional requirements are not listed above, you can access information on the TEACH grant at www.studentaid.ed.gov.
State Grants: Application process and requirements vary from state to state, but residency requirements are common. Applicants who live outside of Mississippi should check with their state agencies to determine whether awards are available for students wishing to attend out-of-state colleges and universities.
OTHER GRANTS AVAILABLE AT MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
STATE GRANTS
The State of Mississippi has several grant and Scholarship/Loan Programs available to students who attend a recognized college or university in the State. Students attending the university should consider the eligibility requirements of the state funded financial aid programs.
Critical Needs Teacher Loan/Scholarship Program (CNTP)
Graduate Teacher Loan/Scholarship (GTS)
Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP)
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
William Winter Teacher Scholar/Loan Program (WWTS)
Requirements, applications and deadlines for each program can be accessed at the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid or you may call 1-800-327-2980 or 601-432-6997 in Jackson.