Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
Offered by Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid · Free to apply
Mississippi residents who enroll full time at an in-state public or private nonprofit college can pick up a small but easy state grant: $500 a year as a freshman or sophomore and $1,000 a year as a junior or senior. The academic bar is low, a 2.5 high school GPA and a 15 ACT with superscores accepted, and equivalency and homeschool graduates qualify. The catch runs opposite to most need-based aid: students eligible for the maximum federal Pell Grant are excluded, so this one is aimed at families in the middle. Applications go through the state aid portal between October 1 and September 15 of the award year, with supporting documents due October 15. Full-time enrollment, a 2.5 college GPA, and a fresh application each year keep it flowing, for up to eight semesters.
How hard is the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) 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 rivalsRequires at least a 2.5 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 Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)?
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
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- GPA of 2.5 or higher (unweighted)
- ACT score of 15 or higher
- Open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card)
- Must be eligible for LESS than the maximum federal Pell Grant based on the FAFSA; students at full Pell are excluded
- Apply through the MS Aid portal during the annual window (opens in the fall, closes mid-September); supporting documents due about a month later
- Must be a legal Mississippi resident for at least 1 year before applying
- GED and homeschool graduates can qualify (equivalency diploma or homeschool transcript accepted in place of the high school GPA)
- ACT superscores are accepted
- Full-time enrollment (12+ hours) with continuous enrollment and passing grades each semester
- Continuing students need a 2.5 cumulative college GPA on at least 12 completed hours
- Limited to 8 semesters or degree completion, whichever comes first; must be pursuing a first certificate, associate, or bachelor's degree
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is September 15, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around September 15 each year. Applications open October 1. Apply in the fall of senior year even though the window stays open to September 15, since the grant can pay from the first semester.
- State aid application opens
- October 1, 2025
- Supporting documents due
- October 15, 2025
- Application due
- September 15, 2026
Does your student actually qualify?
See if your student qualifies in 30 seconds. Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
Common questions about the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
How much is the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) worth?
The Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) awards $500/yr (freshman/sophomore) to $1,000/yr (junior/senior) and is renewable in later years.
When is the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) deadline?
The current deadline is September 15, 2026. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around September 15 each year. Applications open October 1. Apply in the fall of senior year even though the window stays open to September 15, since the grant can pay from the first semester.
When do Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) applications open?
Applications open October 1, and close September 15, 2026. Apply in the fall of senior year even though the window stays open to September 15, since the grant can pay from the first semester.
Who is eligible for the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Mississippi; Open to high school seniors and current college students; GPA of 2.5 or higher (unweighted); ACT score of 15 or higher. 1 more criteria are listed on this page.
Does the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 2 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)?
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 formula-based, meaning qualifying students generally receive it. Plan on about 2 hrs of paperwork.
Is the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) free to apply?
Yes. The Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More state grants & programs
- 802 Opportunity GrantFull tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
- Access Missouri Financial Assistance ProgramVaries by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
- Alabama Student Grant ProgramUp to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
- Alaska Education Grant$500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
- Alaska Performance Scholarship$3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
- Arizona Promise ProgramFull tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.