FEDERAL FUNDS
DURATION OF PELL ELIGIBILITY: Due to the Consolidation Appropriations Act of 2012
(CAA), a student’s maximum Pell eligibility is 6 years (or its equivalent).
Federal Pell Grant
This grant is a federal student aid program designed to provide a foundation of gift
aid to students who demonstrate financial need. Generally, Pell Grants are awarded
only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
This grant is a federally sponsored program providing gift aid for those students
with exceptional financial need (students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions
(EFC).
Federal College Work Study Program (FCWS)
Part-time jobs are available on and off campus for students demonstrating financial
need to assist them in meeting their educational expenses. The amount of a student's
FWS award depends upon available funds and the student's financial need.
Federal Community Service Work Study Program (FCSWS)
This program is a component of FWS and designed to encourage students to participate
in community service activities.
Job Location and Development (JLD)
The college maintains a program to assist students in finding part-time jobs in the
local community. JLD is primarily intended to assist students who are unable to obtain
the FWS jobs. Students will be paid by the businesses hiring them.
STATE FUNDS
To request an application for any of these Mississippi state funds, call the Institutions
of Higher Learning at 1-800-327-2980 or access information at the following website:
https://www.msfinancialaid.org/
HELP (Higher Ed Legislative Plan)
Created by the Mississippi Legislature this program is designed to provide tuition
assistance to qualified students whose financial need, as demonstrated by federal
student aid eligibility, will not be met with gift aid from other sources. Important
Dates: Application Dates: January 1 – March 31; Supporting Documents Deadline: April
30. The dates are important as the number of awards and recipients are dependent
upon available funds.
MTAG (Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant)
Created by the Mississippi Legislature this program is designed to provide financial
aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and nonprofit
two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities. The primary objective of
the MTAG is to provide educational opportunities for students who wish to pursue post
secondary education in the state.
MESG (Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant)
Created by the Mississippi Legislature this program is designed to provide financial
aid assistance to Mississippi residents attending state approved public and nonprofit
two-year and four-year eligible colleges and universities. The primary objective of
the MESG is to provide educational opportunities for students who wish to pursue post
secondary education in the state.
Workforce Investment Act Funds (WIA)
Financial assistance is available for dislocated workers through the Workforce Investment
Act of 1998.
A dislocated worker is defined in three ways:
- A person who has been laid-off from his/her job for no fault of his/her own, usually
through downsizing or plant closure;
- A person who is a displaced homemaker or
- A person who was financially supported by a dislocated worker.
To be considered for WIA funds, a student must:
- be admitted to an approved program
- apply for a Pell Grant through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- register with the Mississippi State Employment Service through the student's local
WIN Job Service Center. WIN Job Service determines the eligibility for these funds.