UM-Tupelo and The UM Office of Financial Aid administer a variety of financial assistance programs designed to help students and their families meet the costs of attending The University. The four basic types of student financial assistance are scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time employment.
Scholarships are gift programs that do not have to be repaid. They are typically awarded in recognition of significant achievement or academic talent. UM-Tupelo offers numerous scholarships to help you finance your education. We urge you to apply for as many scholarships as you qualify for.
Grants are gift aid that do not have to be repaid. Grants usually require a demonstration of financial need.
Loans are funds that have to be repaid with interest.
Part-time employment, on The UM-Tupelo campus, provides opportunities for students to earn money to apply toward their educational expenses.
December: Obtain a copy of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from your guidance counselor or financial aid office. If you plan to complete this application online, you will not need to mail a paper copy. This application will allow you to participate in all federal funding programs for which you are eligible.
January 1: First date to complete the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA. Do not sign or submit prior to this date. If you complete on the web, do not submit a paper application.
March 15 This is the first date to file the MTAG/MESG application with the State of Mississippi.
March 31: Students who plan to attend summer school should begin checking to see when the summer application will be available on the web. All students who desire financial aid of any type for summer school must complete a summer application. This is also the deadline for submitting William Winter Scholar Loan, Critical Needs scholarship,and Luckyday Education Scholarship applications for education majors.
June 1: Deadline for submission of UM-Tupelo transfer student scholarships.
September 15: Final deadline for MTAG/MESG applications with the State of Mississippi. Remember that continuing students must also file a renewal application each year.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship is awarded to community college transfer students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, have at least 48 transferable credit hours, and a 3.5 transfer GPA or higher.
PTK must be indicated on the official transcript or students may bring a copy of the PTK membership card to the UM Office of Financial Aid. Students must be enrolled full–time to receive this award. Departmental scholarships may also be available.
Students who have attended a four–year university or college following high school are not eligible to receive this award.
Graduate Minority Scholarship
In-state students: 75% tuition waiver
Out of state students: 40% tuition waiver (may be used with Oesterling Scholarship)
Minority student enrolled in a graduate program. Transfer GPA of 3.0 or better.
Robert D. Oesterling Out-of-state Tuition Scholarship
For graduate and undergraduate students who do not meet the requirements for Mississippi residency.
Required: 3.0 GPA for undergraduate students, 3.2 GPA for graduate students
Scholarship covers the out-of-state portion of tuition. Students should reapply each year.
Graduate Teacher Summer Loan/Scholarship Program for Summer Graduate Study (CTS) - Designed as an incentive to encourage current licensed classroom teachers in Mississippi public schools to pursue a master's degree in their field. Selected CTS participants will be eligible to receive reimbursement of $125 per graduate credit hour, not to exceed twelve (12) credit hours, of successfully completed course work leading to a first master's degree in education. Applicants must have verification of admission in to an approved program of study that leads to a first Master's degree and Class "AA" teacher educator license, must be a Mississippi resident for one year prior to the start of the applicable enrollment period, must be attending an eligible Mississippi institution, and must be a full-time teacher in an accredited public school (K-12) in the state of Mississippi. Applications and all supporting documents must be signed and on file by March 31. Contact The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid at www.ihl.state.ms.us for further information.
Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP) - Designed for students who have a minimum college GPA of 2.5, who have been a Mississippi resident for two years prior to the start of the applicable enrollment period and who have graduated from high school within the two years preceding the application. Applicants must be attending an eligible Mississippi institution, must have a minimum ACT score of 20, must document an average gross income of $36,000 or less over the prior two years, and must have the results of a processed Student Aid Report (SAR). The application and all supporting documents must be on file by March 31. The award cannot exceed tuition and required fees at a public institution. Contact The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid at www.ihl.state.ms.us for further information.
Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) - Provided for full-time students who are residents of the state of Mississippi. Applicants must have a minimum college GPA of 2.5, must be a Mississippi resident for one year prior to enrollment, must be accepted for full-time enrollment at one of the eligible Mississippi institutions, must be receiving less than the full Federal Pell Grant, and must have a complete application and a processed Student Aid Report (SAR) or as signed Certification Statement and all supporting documents signed and on file with the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid by September 15 of each year. The award is up to $500 per year for freshmen and sophomores and up to $1,000 per year for juniors and seniors. Applications can be printed from the IHL website at: www.ihl.state.ms.us /financialaid/downloads.asp
Graduate Minority Fellowship- Students who are members of under-represented ethnic groups and who have been accepted for admission to a graduate program in full standing status are eligible for consideration for this fellowship. The stipend associated with this fellowship includes a 75% tuition scholarship and a 44% non-resident scholarship. The policy regarding the length of time a student may receive this award is developed by the Division of University Outreach and Continuing Education.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships - These scholarships are awarded to Phi Theta Kappa members who have completed a minimum of 48 hours of community college work by the end of spring semester with a minimum of 3.5 GPA. UM-Tupelo students are awarded this scholarship by the Office of Financial Aid.
Robert D. Oesterling Scholarships - The University of Mississippi-Tupelo awards a number of Robert D. Oesterling Scholarships each year to entering graduate and undergraduate students who do not meet the requirements for Mississippi residency. The scholarship covers out-of-state tuition. The recipient of an Oesterling Scholarship is selected on the basis of his or her academic record (3.2 GPA for graduate level and 3.0 GPA for undergraduate). Continuing awards are contingent on satisfactory academic performance. Students receiving the Off-Campus Graduate Minority Fellowship for Out-of-State Students are not eligible for consideration.
Scholarships may be added yearly. Please check www.olemiss.edu/tupelo for updated listings.
Pell Grants of up to $4,050 per year are available to eligible students. Eligibility is determined by the federal processor based on a formula approved by Congress. The formula uses the information that is supplied by the parent and /or student on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Award amounts are prorated based on the number of hours for which you are enrolled. Only undergraduate students who have not previously received a bachelor's degree are eligible. More information about Pell Grants is available from the Federal Student Aid's Student Aid on the Web : http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
Educational loans are the largest financial resource available to students pursuing postsecondary education. Student loan programs allow students to borrow money at low interest rates, with no collateral, and generally no co-signer. Most student loans do not need to be repaid until the student graduates or drops to less-than-half-time status.
Students are reminded that borrowing money for college is a serious financial obligation. In addition to the principal borrowed, interest is generally charged for use of funds. It is important to remember that when you borrow money it must eventually be repaid. When signing a loan promissory note, you enter into a legal, ethical agreement. Legally, you will be required to sign the note promising to repay the loan. Ethically, you are responsible to future borrowers, since collections from old loans are major funding sources for new loans. Think about this commitment carefully when taking out a loan, and consider how much you reasonably can afford to repay.
At The University of Mississippi, eligibility for student loans requires that students apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once the application process is complete, the Office of Financial Aid sends each student a Financial Aid Award Notification.
Students accept the loan(s) awarded by signing and returning the Reply Copy of the Financial Aid Award Notification. For Stafford loans, the student will also indicate their lender of choice. The Office of Financial Aid maintains a list of Lender Partners recommended by the University.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is the new method for all students to apply for their Stafford Loans. The initial MPN application, which replaces the Common Stafford Application, may represent the one and only time you are required to complete a loan application.
First-time borrowers at The University of Mississippi must complete a Loan Entrance Counseling session that can be found online at http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/financial_aid/
Parent Borrowers who wish to utilize the Federal Parent Loan for a dependent undergraduate student (PLUS) are required to have the student file a FAFSA, and must complete the Ole Miss Online PLUS Loan Application .
Students wishing to apply for Alternative (Non Federal) Loans must complete the Ole Miss Online Alternative Loan Application.
For more information on student loans, please contact the financial aid office at 1-800-891-4596 or online at http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/financial_aid/. You can email your questions to: studentloans@olemiss.edu.
Part-time employment of 10-15 hours per week is available to students who demonstrate financial need. Jobs are provided in campus departments. Undergraduate students employed in regular work-study positions are paid bi-weekly at a rate of $6.00 per hour. To apply for the work-study program a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Check with the UM-Tupelo office to see if you qualify for a federal workstudy or to apply for a student worker position.
The University of Mississippi- Tupelo Campus
1918 Briar Ridge Road
Tupelo, MS 38804
662-844-5622