Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP) Grant — Mississippi

HELP, or the Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students, is Mississippi’s most need-focused undergraduate grant: the state office says it can cover tuition and required fees at an eligible public institution for up to four years for students who meet all requirements. At participating private colleges, the amount is based on average tuition and fees at public four-year schools. The award is not unconditional cash: students must demonstrate need, complete FAFSA and apply for state aid every year.

For a high-school graduate, the official page requires one year of Mississippi residency, at least a 2.5 high-school GPA, a national ACT score of 20 (superscores accepted), the required core curriculum, income eligibility and at least partial Pell eligibility. Students must also enroll full-time at an approved institution in a program leading to a first certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree. HELP must be applied for and earned within one year of graduation; it is not an option to discover several years later. Students already in college should check the separate academic criteria for continuing applicants.

The administrative sequence matters. FAFSA is required, but it does not replace the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP): students must complete both. The state lists a general MAAPP window from October 1 through March 31 and a supporting-document deadline—including FAFSA and residency documents—of April 30. New applicants must prove residency with two documents and may need a household verification worksheet, GPA and ACT records. Eligibility renews annually and requires at least 12 passed credits each regular semester, a 2.5 college GPA and continuous enrollment; summer does not count for HELP.

Do not use an old income table to decide whether to apply. The official site links limits that can change by year and household size; a PDF available for 2025–26 should not be presented as the 2026–27 threshold. Check the current table linked from the HELP page and submit the application even if you are unsure where your family falls. In September 2026, students posted that the portal showed HELP as anticipated while others said theirs had appeared. That mix does not establish a general delay; it is a reason to verify MAAPP, documentation and timing with the college aid office.

Mississippi does not allow students to stack multiple state undergraduate grants in the same term: if someone qualifies for more than one, the office awards the program with the larger amount, subject to program rules. Compare HELP with MTAG and MESG before budgeting because financial need, Pell eligibility and merit point to different routes. Ask for an award letter that separates tuition, fees, confirmed aid and the remaining balance. The state office lists 800-327-2980, 601-432-6997 and sfa@mississippi.edu for file questions.