Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) — Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid

MTAG, the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant, may help residents who need tuition assistance but do not qualify for the maximum Pell Grant. It can be used at approved public and private nonprofit colleges for a first certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree. MTAG is different from HELP: it does not use the same need-and-Pell test as HELP, although Pell eligibility is used to screen out students who receive the maximum federal award.

Initial applicants generally need at least one year of state residency. The page lists a 2.5 high-school GPA and a national ACT score of 15; equivalency graduates and certain homeschool applicants can qualify with documentation. After a student completes at least 12 college hours, a college GPA requirement applies. Students must attend an approved in-state institution full-time—12 passed credits per semester—and not be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant. Check the official approved-school list before choosing a college outside Mississippi.

Published maximums are up to $500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores and up to $1,000 for juniors and seniors; the institution classifies the student. MTAG can be received for up to eight semesters or until degree completion, whichever comes first. Do not treat the cap as a guaranteed offer or add two state undergraduate grants for the same term: Mississippi says eligible students receive the grant program with the larger award. The college aid office needs to review Pell, MTAG, institutional scholarships and actual costs together.

The application is not FAFSA alone. Students must complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) each year between October 1 and September 15; supporting documents are due October 15. Ask the high school how it will send GPA and test records, and save the MAAPP confirmation. If you already started college, ask the institution to report your credits and GPA. Student comments online show uncertainty about which awards can appear together, but only your Pell calculation and campus notice can resolve your case.

Plan the award by year and semester, not as a total degree amount. Confirm full-time enrollment, approved campus and that the grant has posted before the tuition bill is due. If you receive partial Pell, ask whether Pell, MTAG and institutional aid exceed your cost of attendance or change packaging. The state site maintains a current requirements and deadlines page; for a specific file, it lists 800-327-2980 and 601-432-6997.