Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG): Real Odds

The Eminent Scholars Grant is Mississippi's merit award for students at the top of the academic distribution, run by the state's Office of State Financial Aid as an incentive for the strongest graduates to stay in state. It rewards a high school record and a test score, nothing else, and asks for no essay. MESG was created by the Mississippi Legislature, and its reach is broader than many merit awards: recipients can use it at state-approved public and private nonprofit colleges, both two-year and four-year, anywhere in Mississippi. High scorers who stay in Mississippi can add $2,500 a year to their aid package through this state grant, paid at any approved in-state public or private nonprofit college. Entry takes a 3.5 high school GPA plus a 29 ACT or 1350 SAT, and National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist standing counts in place of the test score; entering freshmen must also have been Mississippi residents for the year before finishing high school. It is an entitlement rather than a contest, so every qualified applicant is funded, though amounts can be prorated if the program is underfunded and the grant can never exceed tuition and required fees. Applications run through the state aid portal from October 1 to September 15 of the award year, with supporting documents due October 15. Keeping it takes a 3.5 college GPA and an annual renewal filing, for up to eight semesters.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

Estimated odds: qualifying students generally receive it
Paperwork: ~2 hrs to file

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

Fewer rivalsOpen only to Mississippi residents
Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3.5 GPA
Fewer rivalsRequires a minimum test score

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Must be a resident of Mississippi
Must attend a college in Mississippi (the award does not travel out of state)
Open to high school seniors and current college students
GPA of 3.5 or higher (unweighted)
SAT score of 1350 or higher
ACT score of 29 or higher
Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)

Good to know

National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist standing qualifies as an alternative to the 29 ACT / 1350 SAT
Must be a Mississippi resident for one year prior to high school completion
Supporting documents due October 15, one month after the September 15 application deadline

What the application takes

Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The next projected deadline is September 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual September 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open October 1. The window is long but the September 15 close is firm, so apply in the fall of senior year and leave room for document collection.

State aid application opens: October 1, 2026
Supporting documents due: October 15, 2026
Application due: September 15, 2027 (estimated)

Track the next deadline Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)

How much is the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) worth?

The Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) awards up to $2,500/yr (cannot exceed tuition and required fees) and is renewable in later years.

When is the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) deadline?

The next projected deadline is September 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual September 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open October 1. The window is long but the September 15 close is firm, so apply in the fall of senior year and leave room for document collection.

When do Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) applications open?

Applications open October 1, and close September 15, 2027 (estimated). The window is long but the September 15 close is firm, so apply in the fall of senior year and leave room for document collection.

Who is eligible for the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)?

Key requirements: Must be a resident of Mississippi; Must attend a college in Mississippi (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors and current college students; GPA of 3.5 or higher (unweighted). 3 more criteria are listed on this page.

Does the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) require an essay?

No essay is required. The application does ask for a transcript. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives. Solyo classifies this award as qualify and receive, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 2 hrs of paperwork.

Is the Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) free to apply?

Yes. The Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)