Scholarships are there for a reason. Hardworking and talented students are good for society, but many deserving students can’t get the education they deserve without the opportunity to earn a scholarship. What’s more, in many of the more prestigious schools across the country, it can be difficult for talented and determined Mississippi students to get the respect they deserve. While it is unfair, it is a reality that Mississippi is a “flyover” state and that means you’re going to have to fight for every advantage you can get – and a scholarship is an excellent example of the kind of force Mississippi students can really make use of.
Local scholarships in Mississippi have been made available because of the increasing costs of education and the increasing costs of living in general. At the same time, the interest rates for student loans are increasing as well. The effect of inflation and the increasing costs of basic living are always on the increase. Scholarships in the state of Mississippi make it possible for you to obtain the degree of your choice. It gives students the financial leverage they need to pursue their dreams and their talents and to contribute to society at their full potential.
College Consensus wants to help Mississippi students start the ball rolling with our list of 5 scholarships for Mississippi. Programs are listed in alphabetical order.
See Also: Best Scholarships for Online Students
1
Gear Up Mississippi
Gear Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Mississippi is offered by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. Gear Up Mississippi is one of the college scholarships in Mississippi that has been created to help fund educational opportunities for students from low-income families. The application deadline for the Gear UP Mississippi is April 30th and an award value that ranges between $2,500 through $4,000. Students join a cohort of students early in their high school career and follow a group through the beginning of their first year of college-level studies.
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid operates out of Jackson, MS, and is tasked with offering both discretionary state grants and competitive grants. For the calendar year 2018, the Gear Up program has awarded these grants/scholarships (state and partnership) to 160+ students.
2
Luckyday Citizenship Scholarship
The Luckyday Citizenship Scholarship is offered by the University of Southern Mississippi to Mississippi state residents who have applied (and been accepted). Eligible applicants must submit the following information before the application deadline of January – three essays, an academic reference and a letter of recommendation from a supervisor of a service-related activity. The Luckyday Citizenship Scholarship is renewable (for three years if the recipient still qualifies) and valued at $6,000 per year. The recipient, upon acceptance of this award, is obligated to volunteer a minimum of 20-hours each semester, living in the University of Southern Mississippi’s Luckyday Hall. The Luckyday college scholarships in Mississippi also include a study abroad version.
The University of Southern Mississippi (which is also known as Southern Miss) was established in 1910. Southern Miss is rich in tradition and takes great pride in its students, its vision, and operates two campuses in Hattiesburg and Gulf Park MS.
3
Mississippi Nurses Foundation Scholarships
The Mississippi Nurses Foundation (MNF) offers several Mississippi Nurses Foundation Scholarships to students and licensed Registered Nurses currently pursuing a Nursing degree. These college scholarships in Mississippi include the Mississippi Car Tag Stipend Program with a value of $5,000. There is the Mississippi Car Tag Stipend Program for a student pursuing an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, and a graduate-level degree program in a nursing-related field. Prior to the application deadline of June 12th, eligible applicants must submit documentation verifying they are a Mississippi resident, hold an RN license, write an essay (500 words, or less) and provide three reference letters.
The Mississippi Nurses Foundation (MNF), in Madison, MS, is a nonprofit professional organization established in 1982. Through its services (scholarships, continuing education opportunities, and academic support) and financial opportunities, the Mississippi Nurses Foundation has become the most impactful voice of Mississippi’s professional nursing community.
4
Rotary Club of Jackson Mentor Scholarship
The Rotary Club of Jackson Mentor Scholarship is offered by Rotary Club of Jackson to students who exhibit the characteristics the align with the Rotary Club’s motto of Service Above Self. These college scholarships in Mississippi have a total value of $16,000 (paid out over four years of studies) to students who have demonstrated exceptional potential as a leader, a financial need, and an impressive high school academic record (A GPA above 2.99). The Rotary Club of Jackson Mentor Scholarship has an application date of March 15th. Recipients must agree to give back to their community through tutoring programs for younger students.
The Rotary Club of Jackson (the largest Rotary Club in Mississippi) is a member organization of Rotary International (which began in 1905). It holds the distinction of being the state of Mississippi’s most prominent service organization. The Rotary Club of Jackson has awarded more than 150 scholarships to Mississippi resident students since the scholarship program began in 1990.
5
Young Farmer Scholarship Foundation
The Young Farmer Scholarship is offered by the Farm Bureau of Mississippi to eight eligible recipients each year. These college scholarships in Mississippi require qualified candidates to submit the appropriate documentation before the June 1st deadline – an acceptance letter from a Mississippi school of higher learning in the field of agriculture, two reference letters, and two essays on specific topics provided by the scholarship administrators. Eligible candidates must be a child of a Farm Bureau of Mississippi member. Each of the Young Farmer Scholarships has an award value of $3,000.
The Farm Bureau of Mississippi was established in 1922 with a mission to promote the betterment of the agriculture community of Mississippi. The Farm Bureau of Mississippi, which operated out of Jackson, MS, holds the distinction of advocating for the agriculture industry in the state of Mississippi. The Farm Bureau of Mississippi’s influence is broad-reaching as there are more than 175,000 across the state.
Does the State of Mississippi Offer Scholarships and Grants?
The state of Mississippi offers a wide range of grants and scholarships for college students at universities and colleges in the state. Mississippi grants for college students and scholarship programs offer assistance to students who might otherwise have no practical way to obtain their college educations.
Many state of Mississippi scholarships, grants, and loan and loan forgiveness programs have been designed and are administrated by the Mississippi Board of Trustees. They are available on the state website entitled, “Rise Up.”
They are obtained by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or “FAFSA.” When you fill out the FAFSA, you will be prompted to provide everything the state board needs to decide if you are qualified to receive aid.
In most cases, it is advised that you obtain counseling for the type of aid you need so that you can fill out your application in a way that ensures you get the right kind of aid in the shortest amount of time.
The Available Grants and Scholarships include:
- Mississippi Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP)
- Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant
- Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)
- Nissan Scholarship
- Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen Scholarship
Can I Get a Scholarship in Mississippi with Low High School Grades?
Having poor or low grades in high school will limit the choices available to you when it comes to starting college. Scholarships for high school seniors in Mississippi can be limited if your grades are low. If you are still in high school and have time to turn your grades around- here are a few things you can do:
Take electives with teachers that you like: Taking classes you enjoy with teachers who “get you” is a good way to help ensure you get a better grade. Attitude matters and your enjoyment of the class will affect your attitude.
Take an online class to boost your grades: There are lots of options and online schools that can accommodate you. Plus, doing more than the minimum always looks good on your record.
Look for colleges that take your whole story into account: While it’s true that many colleges only look at GPA, others are willing to take your whole story into consideration. If you had difficulties or extra responsibilities that made high grades too much to ask- these schools might be right for you.
Some available programs for scholarships in Mississippi for high school seniors might also take your whole story into account. In the worst-case scenario, you may need to take some courses at a local junior college for another chance to improve your academic record.
Are there Scholarships for Nurses in Mississippi?
One thing we’ve noticed about nursing students is they have a strong tendency to be the kind of people who will work and go to school at the same time. That’s great! A lot of employers love that, and that kind of “get-it-done” work ethic will serve you well in life.
If you’re looking for nursing scholarships in Mississippi, we have great news! You have lots of options. There are scholarship and grant programs available through the Mississippi state government and certain nursing schools. But that’s not all!
Many hospitals have grant and scholarship programs of their own. That’s because good nurses are always in high demand, and they want to make sure that they get the most hardworking, talented, and dedicated nursing students to work for them. That means you!
To learn more about the available programs, here’s a list of contacts that will serve you well.
- Mississippi Institutions for Higher Learning
- ENA Foundation
- Mississippi Nurses Association
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