Mississippi Administrative Code
Title 10 - Education Institutions and Agencies
Part 611 - Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)
Chapter 1 - Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) Rules and Regulations
Rule 10-611-1.1 - Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) Rules and Regulations
Universal Citation: MS Code of Rules 10-611-1.1
Current through September 24, 2024
These Rules and Regulations are subject to change by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board (Postsecondary Board). All eligible students shall receive a Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) award; however, the amount of each MTAG award depends upon the availability of funds as authorized by the State Legislature.
I. GENERAL ELIGIBILITY
A. The applicant must be a current legal
resident of Mississippi. Resident status for purposes of receiving MTAG under
this act shall be determined in the same manner as resident status for tuition
purposes as set forth in Sections
37-103-1 through
37-103-29, of Ms. Code Ann., with
the exception of Section
37-103-17.
B. The applicant must be continuously
enrolled (not less than two semesters or three trimesters in each successive
academic year) full-time (minimum 15 semester hours or 9 trimester hours) at
the undergraduate level at one (1) eligible institution in the State of
Mississippi.
C. The applicant must
meet one of the following sets of academic criteria:
1. Graduated from high school, as verified by
the institution before disbursement of awards, with a minimum cumulative grade
point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as certified by the high school
counselor or other authorized school official, and scored an ACT composite
score of 15 or higher from a national test or tests. In lieu of ACT scores,
students may submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT
concordance tables in publication at the time of the test in question;
or
2. Attended a home education
program during grade levels 9 through 12 and scored an ACT composite score of
15 or higher from a national test or tests. In lieu of ACT scores, students may
submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT concordance
tables in publication at the time of the test in question; or
3. Successfully completed the International
Baccalaureate Program, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale,
based on that school's grading system, and scored an ACT composite score of 15
or higher from a national test or tests. In lieu of ACT scores, students may
submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT concordance
tables in publication at the time of the test in question; or
4. Satisfactorily completed a high school
equivalency diploma and scored an ACT composite score of 15 or higher from a
national test or tests. In lieu of ACT scores, students may submit equivalent
SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT concordance tables in publication
at the time of the test in question; or
5. Completed at least twelve (12) college
hours and earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale on all college
work.
D. Exception: Any
student, including the entrant with a high school equivalency diploma, pursuing
a vocational or technical program of study at a community or junior college
leading to a certificate or an associate of applied science degree is not
required to take the ACT, unless required by the school.
E. The number of prior full-time semesters or
trimesters that a student has attended college will not be a factor in
determining a recipient's initial eligibility if he/she is otherwise
eligible.
F. The applicant must not
be financially eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant as evidenced either
by a Student Aid Index (SAI) greater than zero (0) on the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or by completion of a Financial Certification
Statement certifying that the family income will preclude the applicant's
eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant or other need-based Title IV
funds.
G. The applicant must
complete an application for state financial aid on or before September 15
during the fall of the aid year for which the student is seeking
assistance.
H. The applicant must
not currently be in default on a Federal or State educational loan or owe a
repayment on a Federal or State grant.
I. The applicant must meet any other general
requirements for admission and student financial aid at the student's eligible
institution of choice.
II. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
A. First-time applicants must:
1. Complete an application online at
www.mississippi.edu/financialaid
by the deadline date of September 15 during the fall of the aid year for which
the student is seeking assistance.
2. Submit two forms of documentation of
current legal residency by the document deadline of October 15. Acceptable
forms of residency documentation are listed in the General Administration Rules
and Regulations and published online at
www.mississippi.edu/financialaid.
3. If the applicant is considered to be a
first-time college student (completed fewer than twelve (12) credit hours),
submit by the document deadline of October 15:
a) Proof of graduation from high school with
a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale certified by the high school
counselor or other authorized school official and proof of an ACT composite
score of 15 or higher from a national test or tests taken prior to being
enrolled as a first-time college student. In lieu of ACT scores, students may
submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT concordance
tables in publication at the time of the test in question. If the student is
enrolling in a vocational or technical program of study at a community or
junior college, the student may submit a letter or other proof of program
enrollment from the college in lieu of the required standardized test scores;
or
b) Proof of attendance at a home
education program during grade levels 9 through 12 and proof of an ACT
composite score of 15 or higher from a national test or tests taken prior to
being enrolled as a first-time college student. In lieu of ACT scores, students
may submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT concordance
tables in publication at the time of the test in question. If the student is
enrolling in a vocational or technical program of study at a community or
junior college, the student may submit a letter or other proof of program
enrollment from the college in lieu of the required standardized test scores;
or
c) Proof of successful
completion of the International Baccalaureate Program, with a minimum
cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, based on that school's grading system and
proof of an ACT composite score of 15 or higher from a national test or tests
taken prior to being enrolled as a first-time college student. In lieu of ACT
scores, students may submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official
ACT/SAT concordance tables in publication at the time of the test in question.
If the student is enrolling in a vocational or technical program of study at a
community or junior college, the student may submit a letter or other proof of
program enrollment from the college in lieu of the required standardized test
scores; or
d) Proof of satisfactory
completion of a high school equivalency diploma and proof of an ACT composite
score of 15 or higher from a national test or tests taken prior to being
enrolled as a first-time college student. In lieu of ACT scores, students may
submit equivalent SAT scores according to the official ACT/SAT concordance
tables in publication at the time of the test in question. If the student is
enrolling in a vocational or technical program of study at a community or
junior college, the student may submit a letter or other proof of program
enrollment from the college in lieu of the required standardized test
scores.
4. If the
applicant is considered to be a continuing college student (completed more than
twelve (12) credit hours), submit by the document deadline of October 15, proof
of a cumulative college GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
5. Complete by the document deadline of
October 15 either the FAFSA to demonstrate that the applicant is not
financially eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant because the applicant
has an SAI greater than zero (0), or a Financial Certification Statement
certifying that the family income will preclude the applicant's eligibility for
the Federal Pell Grant or other need-based Title IV funds.
6. Be enrolled full-time (minimum 15 semester
hours or 9 trimester hours) at the undergraduate level at one (1) eligible
institution in the State of Mississippi. Evidence of enrollment will be
automatically provided to the Postsecondary Board by the attending
institution.
B. Renewal
applicants must:
1. Complete an application
online at www.mississippi.edu/financialaid
by the deadline date of September 15.
2. Maintain current, legal residency status
in the State of Mississippi.
3.
Complete by the document deadline of October 15 either the FAFSA to demonstrate
that the applicant is not financially eligible for the maximum Federal Pell
Grant because the applicant has an SAI greater than zero (0), or a Financial
Certification Statement certifying that the family income will preclude the
applicant's eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant or other need-based Title IV
funds.
4. Maintain continuous,
full-time enrollment at one (1) eligible institution in the State of
Mississippi for not less than two semesters or three trimesters in each
successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause.
a) Full-time enrollment consists of a minimum
15 semester hours or 9 trimester hours at the undergraduate level. Evidence of
enrollment will be automatically provided to the Postsecondary Board by the
attending institution, unless requested from the applicant.
b) If a student drops below full-time status
during a semester or trimester of the academic year and is not granted an
exception for cause by the administering agency, no refund will be required for
that term; however, that student is ineligible to receive funds during the
following semester or trimester of full-time enrollment of the regular academic
year.
5. Maintain
satisfactory academic progress toward a degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of
2.5 on a 4.0 scale, as certified by the registrar, based on that institution's
calculation, at the end of each semester, trimester, or term of the regular
academic year. In the case of students pursuing a certificate, the student must
meet that institution's satisfactory academic progress standards of his/her
program of study.
III. LENGTH AND AMOUNT OF AWARD
A. No student may receive MTAG for longer
than the equivalent semesters or trimesters required to complete one (1)
certificate, and/or one (1) associate, and/or (1) bachelor degree per
institution, not to exceed eight (8) semesters or twelve (12)
trimesters.
B. For freshman and
sophomore students, the award shall not exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00)
per academic year (to be divided equally between each semester/trimester).
Classification will be determined by the attending institution.
C. For junior and senior students, the award
shall not exceed One Thousand Dollars (1,000.00) per academic year (to be
divided equally between each semester/trimester). Classification will be
determined by the attending institution.
D. Those students eligible for less than the
maximum Federal Pell Grant award shall receive an MTAG award in an amount equal
to the difference between the maximum Federal Pell Grant award amount and the
award amount of the Federal Pell Grant for which the student is eligible based
upon the student's SAI as determined by the FAFSA. In no situation may the MTAG
award amount exceed the maximum MTAG amount allowable for students of the same
classification.
E. All awards are
dependent on the availability of funds and are subject to proration.
F. No student shall receive a combination of
student financial aid and MTAG that exceeds the cost of attendance as defined
by the institution's Federal Pell Grant Budget.
G. Undergraduate grant awards will be offered
to individual applicants through the single undergraduate grant program that
offers the applicant the largest award.
H. Payment of MTAG awards shall be disbursed
directly to the educational institutions and applied first to
tuition.
I. If a recipient
transfers from one eligible Mississippi institution to another, the award will
be transferable, provided the student applies for the grant and is otherwise
eligible.
Miss. Code Ann. § 37-106-29.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Mississippi may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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