Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant

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 MESG is to provide educational opportunities for high-achieving high school students who wish to pursue post-secondary education in the state.

Important Dates:

• Application Dates: October 1 - September 15
• Supporting Documents Deadline: October 15 (following the September 15 application deadline)

Eligibility Requirements for Entering Freshmen:

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to high school or Home School completion.
• Earn a high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. (Home School applicants must submit a signed transcript of 9th through 12th grades.)
• Score a minimum of a 29 on the National ACT (1350 on the SAT), or be named a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist. ACT Superscores are accepted.
• 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.

Eligibility Requirements for Students Currently Enrolled in College:

• Meet all the eligibility requirements of the entering freshman and apply within three years of high school graduation.
• Have a minimum 3.5 cumulative college GPA on at least 12 completed college hours but no more than 18 completed college 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.

Award Amount:

MESG awards up to $2,500 per academic year, but awards may not exceed tuition and required fees.

Maximum Length of Eligibility:

A recipient may receive MESG 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.