Out-of-State Freshman Scholarships

Out-of-State Freshman Scholarships
for Fall 2027 & Spring 2028

Mississippi State University offers scholarships to help out-of-state residents pay for college. If you are entering Mississippi State as a first-time student, explore available scholarship opportunities, review eligibility requirements, and find important application information all in one place.

Academic Scholarships

Mississippi State University automatically awards academic scholarships to eligible out-of-state freshmen based on the following criteria:

Minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.30+
*9th-11th grade GPA will include the GPA as listed on the official 6-semester high school transcript or the core GPA as calculated by the Mississippi State University Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The higher of the two will be used for scholarship purposes.

Entering freshmen academic scholarships are generally renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) based on overall college GPA and continuous full-time enrollment at Mississippi State University.

Students must enroll full-time (12 credit hours each semester at MSU) to receive their scholarship(s). Scholarship renewal is based on maintaining continuous full-time enrollment and maintaining the required overall college GPA as listed in the student's official scholarship offer letter. Enrollment and overall college GPA are checked at the end of each spring semester to determine scholarship renewal eligibility for the next academic year. Academic scholarships will be deferred during the work phase for co-op students provided the student is enrolled in the co-op placeholder course.

Competitive and Leadership & Service Scholarships

Mississippi State University offers a variety of competitive scholarships, including private, departmental, leadership, and service scholarships. To be considered, you must complete the General Scholarship Application.

For scholarships requiring a minimum ACT or SAT score, eligibility is based on test scores on file by December 1. You must earn the minimum required ACT or SAT score by the deadline to be eligible for these awards.

Important Dates

Review the important dates below to stay on track with scholarship applications and deadlines.

Date	Details
October 1	General Scholarship Application opens
December 1	Priority submission date for incoming freshmen

Need additional deadlines? Visit our full Financial Aid Calendar for a complete list of deadlines, processing timelines, and important dates.

Financial Aid Calendar

How to Apply for Scholarships

Follow these steps to apply for scholarships at Mississippi State University:

Step 1: Apply for Admission

Complete your application for admission to Mississippi State University. You must be admitted to complete the General Scholarship Application.

Apply for Admission

Step 2: Complete the General Scholarship Application

Log in to your myState account using your NetID and NetPassword.
Under Apps & Services, select Banner.
Select Student.
In the Financial Aid and Scholarships column, select Submit/Revise General Scholarship Application.
A new tab will open. Select Sign In in the top-right corner, then select Sign in With Your Institution.
Complete the General Scholarship Application if you are logging in for the first time.
Select Save to save your information. When you return to the application, your previously saved information will be available.

Step 3: Explore Additional Scholarship Opportunities

After you complete and submit the General Scholarship Application, you may receive recommendations for additional scholarship opportunities based on information such as your test scores, GPA, leadership and service activities, and applicant record.

New scholarship opportunities may become available over time. Log in regularly to review your account and check for new recommended opportunities.

Step 4: Monitor Your Email

Check your email regularly for scholarship notifications, requests for additional information, and other important communications.

Explore Available Scholarships

Use the filters below to explore available scholarships and find opportunities that match your student status, academic interests, and eligibility criteria. Select the filters that apply to you to narrow your search and view scholarships you may be eligible for.

Automatic Scholarships

Freshman Non-Resident Academic Scholarship

Automatically awarded upon admission to MSU. Award amount is based on 9th -11th grade high school GPA. Renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) provided student maintains a minimum overall college GPA of 3.0 and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at Mississippi State University).

You must be assessed non-resident tuition in order to receive the Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship. The Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship may not be combined with any programs that waive the non-resident charges, such as: Academic Common Market; Veteran, Service-Member, Dependent or Spouse Non-Resident Tuition Waiver; etc.

These automatic scholarship awards may not be combined with the National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package, National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package, or the Presidential Endowed Scholarship Package.

The amounts and the requirements listed below are for first-time freshman entering Mississippi State University during the 2027-2028 academic year.

$48,000 over four years , $12,000 per year

GPA

3.30-3.59

$64,000 over four years , $16,000 per year

GPA

3.60-4.09

$76,000 over four years , $19,000 per year

GPA

4.10+

The scholarship amounts listed above could be a combination of institutional scholarships/aid and/or private awards.

Freshman One-Year Housing Scholarship

Awarded to entering freshmen as part of their automatic scholarship award package should they meet the requirements below.

This scholarship is not renewable. It is only awarded for a student's freshman year at MSU.

ACT

34+

SAT

1490+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

The award amount of this scholarship varies as it covers the cost of an on-campus, double-occupancy residence hall space.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have an ACT score of 34+ or SAT score of 1490+

The last ACT or SAT test date accepted for the One Year Housing Scholarship is the February test date of a student's senior year. Scores earned after February will not be considered for scholarship purposes.

Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship for Freshmen

Awarded to non-resident students whose status as the child of an Mississippi State University alumni has been verified. Renewable annually provided student maintains an overall college GPA of 2.5 and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at Mississippi State University).

You must be assessed non-resident tuition in order to receive the Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship. The Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship may not be combined with any programs that waive the non-resident charges, such as: Academic Common Market; Veteran, Service-Member, Dependent or Spouse Non-Resident Tuition Waiver; etc.

The Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship may be combined with the Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship. However, the combined amount of these awards cannot exceed the amount of the non-resident portion of tuition.

$5,000 per year

GPA

2.50+

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 2.5+
Must be a non-resident student
Must be the child of an Mississippi State University alumni
- Qualifications for alumni status -received a degree from or completed a minimum of 48 hours towards a degree at Mississippi State University
- Alumni status must be verified by the Mississippi State University Office of the Registrar

The amount of the Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship may vary depending on the amount of a student's Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship if eligible.

Other Scholarships

Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition savings program allowing residents of a participating state to pursue specific academic degree programs not offered in their home states without having to pay non-resident tuition charges.

Students who meet all requirements and are approved will receive a waiver that covers 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition.

Learn More About Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market Wavier cannot be stacked with the Freshman Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, the Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, or the Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship.

Veteran, Service-Member, Dependent, Spouse, Non-Resident Tuition Waiver

Veterans, Service-members, Dependents, Survivors and Spouses will receive a waiver that covers 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition.

Learn More about the Military Non-Resident Waiver

Award Criteria

Must be a veteran, service-member or dependent/spouse of a veteran/service-member of any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. Veteran must have a "Honorable Discharge". A "General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions" DOES NOT qualify.

The Veteran, Service-Member, Dependent, Spouse, Non-Resident Tuition Waiver cannot be stacked with the Freshman Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, the Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship, or the Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship.

National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package

Awarded to entering freshmen who have been named a National Merit Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and who select Mississippi State University as their first-choice institution. Renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) provided student maintains a minimum overall college GPA of 3.0 and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at Mississippi State University).

The National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package is awarded in lieu of the Freshman Academic Scholarship Packages.

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

This award package consists of the following:

National Merit Finalist Scholarship - $48,000 over four years, $12,000 per year
Non-resident students may also receive a Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship to cover 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition
Housing Scholarship that covers the cost of an on-campus, double-occupancy residence hall space for four years (eight semesters)**

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be named as a finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation
Must select Mississippi State University as first-choice institution with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

**The amount of the Housing Scholarship varies based on the double-occupancy rate of the student's on campus housing assignment.
National Merit Finalists who are members of the Shackouls Honors College may be eligible for a $2,000 Stewart Bridgforth Honors Scholarship, which may be used for study abroad, internships, or faculty-sponsored undergraduate research support after successful completion of the student's first year at Mississippi State University. To be considered for this scholarship, students must be active participants in the Shackouls Honors College, maintain a minimum overall 3.4 GPA, and participate in the Stewart Bridgforth Honors Scholars Program.

Federal financial aid, state financial aid, and/or scholarship recipients may not receive funds in excess of cost of attendance. The amount of your scholarships may be adjusted or canceled if you receive funds in excess of cost of attendance, https://www.sfa.msstate.edu/cost.

National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package

Awarded to entering freshmen who have been named a National Merit Semi-Finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) provided student maintains a minimum overall college GPA of 3.0 and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at Mississippi State University).

The National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package is awarded in lieu of the Freshman Academic Scholarship Packages.

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

This award package consists of the following:

National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship - $48,000 over four years, $12,000 per year
Non-resident students may also receive a Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship to cover 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be named as a semi-finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

National Merit Semi-Finalists who are members of the Shackouls Honors College may be eligible for a $2,000 Stewart Bridgforth Honors Scholarship, which may be used for study abroad, internships, or faculty-sponsored undergraduate research support after successful completion of the student's first year at Mississippi State University. To be considered for this scholarship, students must be active participants in the Shackouls Honors College, maintain a minimum overall 3.4 GPA, and participate in the Stewart Bridgforth Honors Scholars Program.

Maroon and White Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

A competitive scholarship that is awarded to a select number of non-resident entering freshmen who submit the General Scholarship Application by December 1, 2026.

Renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) provided student maintains a minimum overall college GPA of 3.0 and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at Mississippi State University).

ACT

31+

SAT

1390+

GPA

3.30+

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.3+
Must have a minimum ACT score of 31 or SAT score of 1390
Must submit qualifying ACT/SAT scores to Mississippi State University by December 1, 2026
Must submit the General Scholarship Application by December 1, 2026

Presidential Endowed Scholarship Package

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Presidential Scholarships are the most prestigious scholarships awarded at Mississippi State University. These are awarded to a select number of the most outstanding entering freshmen on a competitive basis. Renewable for up to four years (8 semesters) provided student maintains a minimum overall college GPA of 3.4 and continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at Mississippi State University).

The package includes costs for tuition, meal plan, and **housing for four years of undergraduate study, as well as $12,000 for enrichment opportunities, such as study abroad and undergraduate research.

The Presidential Endowed Scholarship Package is awarded in lieu of the Freshman Academic Scholarship Packages, the National Recognition Program Scholarship Package, the National Merit Semi-Finalist Scholarship Package, and the National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package.

ACT

30+

SAT

1360+

GPA

3.75+

Award Information

This award package consists of the following:

Presidential Endowed Scholarship
Housing Award for Presidential Scholars**
Non-resident students may also receive a Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship to cover 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition
Educational Enrichment Scholarship - $12,000 to be used for study abroad, internships, or other qualified educational pursuits. Student's may choose the semester during which you will use the Educational Enrichment Scholarship after successfully completing their first year at Mississippi State University

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must be a member of the Mississippi State University Shackouls Honors College
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.75+
Must have a minimum ACT score of 30 or SAT score of 1360
Must submit qualifying ACT/SAT scores to Mississippi State University by December 1, 2026
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Presidential Endowed Scholarships Application within the scholarship portal by the specified deadline

**Amount varies based on the double-occupancy rate of the student's on campus housing assignment. May be awarded for up to four years (eight semesters), as long as the student maintains continuous residency in on-campus housing.

Study Abroad Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Competitive scholarship awarded to 25 entering freshmen who submit the Study Abroad Scholarship Application before the specified deadline.

Learn More About Study Abroad at MSU

$2,000 one-time award

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

This one-time scholarship award may be used to offset the cost of an affiliated undergraduate study abroad program at Mississippi State University after a student's successful completion of their first year.

Award Criteria

Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Study Abroad Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal by the specified deadline

Submission of the Study Abroad Scholarship Application does not guarantee a scholarship award.

Boys Nation/Girls Nation Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Awarded to entering freshmen who are named as governor to the state or the state delegate of the American Legion Boys Nation/Girls Nation program.

$2,000 one-year award

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be named as governor to their state OR the state delegate to Boys Nation/Girls Nation
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Boys Nation/Girls Nation Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a scanned copy or image of their award certificate or a letter from their council leader verifying their status as part of the Boys Nation/Girls Nation Scholarship Application

Eagle Scout Scholarship

Priority Date

Aug 01, 2027

Awarded to entering freshman who have attained the level of Eagle Scout by the time of enrollment.

$2,000 one-year award

GPA

2.50+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University

Award Criteria

Must be a first-time entering freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 2.5+
Must have earned Eagle Scout rank by the time of enrollment
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Eagle Scout Scholarship, Entering Freshman Application in the scholarship portal
- Students must upload a scanned copy or image of their official certificate or membership card from Scouting America to verify their status as part of the Eagle Scout Scholarship, Entering Freshman Application

This award cannot be stacked with the Gold Award Scholarship

Freshman Student Body President Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Awarded to entering freshmen who have been named Student Body President at their high school.

$2,000 one-year award

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be named president of the entire student body at their high school
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Student Body President Scholarship, Entering Freshman Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must submit the name and email address of their high school counselor to verify their status as Student Body President as part of the Student Body President Scholarship, Entering Freshman Application

Gold Award Scholarship

Priority Date

Aug 01, 2027

Awarded to entering freshmen who have received the Gold Award from Girl Scouts of the USA by the time of enrollment.

$2,000 one-year award

GPA

2.50+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 2.5+
Must have earned the Gold Award by the time of enrollment
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Gold Award Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Students must upload a scanned copy or image of their official certificate or a letter from the council leader verifying their status as part of the Gold Award Scholarship Application

This award cannot be stacked with the Eagle Scout Scholarship

Key Club Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Awarded to entering freshmen who have participated in Key Club. The one-year award amount is determined by the total number of years in which the student was an active participant in Key Club.

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Students may receive $250 per year of active service, up to a maximum of $1,000. This is a one-year only award.

The awarded amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Key Club Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must submit the name and email address of their Key Club sponsor to verify their participation as part of the Key Club Scholarship Application. The letter uploaded by the sponsor must include the total years of active service

AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship

Priority Date

Oct 31, 2027

Awarded to entering freshmen who have received an AICE Cambridge Diploma from Cambridge International Education. The amount of the award is determined by the level of diploma that the student has received and their ACT or SAT score.

AICE Diploma with Pass $6,000 over four years , $1,500 per year

ACT

26+

SAT

1230+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Awarded to entering freshmen who have received an AICE Diploma with Pass.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have a minimum 26 ACT or 1230 SAT
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship-Pass Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a copy of their official AICE Diploma for verification as part of the AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship-Pass Application

AICE Diploma with Merit $8,000 over four years , $2,000 per year

ACT

28+

SAT

1300+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Awarded to entering freshmen who have received an AICE Diploma with Merit.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have a minimum 28 ACT or 1300 SAT
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship-Merit Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a copy of their official AICE Diploma for verification as part of the AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship-Merit Application

AICE Diploma with Distinction $10,000 over four years , $2,500 per year

ACT

30+

SAT

1360+

GPA

3.00+

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have a minimum 30 ACT or 1360 SAT
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship-Distinction Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a copy of their official AICE Diploma for verification as part of the AICE Cambridge Diploma Scholarship-Distinction Application

Anchor Club Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Awarded to entering freshmen who have participated in Anchor Club. The one-year award amount is determined by the total number of years in which the student was an active participant in Anchor Club.

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Anchor Club Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must submit the name and email address of their Anchor Club sponsor to verify their participation as part of the Anchor Club Scholarship Application. The letter uploaded by the sponsor must include the total years of active service

International Baccalaureate Scholarship

Priority Date

Oct 31, 2027

Awarded to entering freshmen who have received an International Baccalaureate Diploma. The amount of the award is determined by the score student receives on their International Baccalaureate Diploma and their ACT or SAT score.

Level One $6,000 over four years , $1,500 per year

ACT

26+

SAT

1230+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Awarded to entering freshman who have received an International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 30.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 30
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have a minimum 26 ACT or 1230 SAT
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship ($1,500) Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a copy of their official International Baccalaureate Diploma for verification as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship ($1,500) Application

Level Two $8,000 over four years , $2,000 per year

ACT

28+

SAT

1300+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Awarded to entering freshman who have received an International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 35.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 35
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have a minimum 28 ACT or 1300 SAT
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship ($2,000) Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a copy of their official International Baccalaureate Diploma for verification as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship ($2,000) Application

Level Three $10,000 over four years , $2,500 per year

ACT

30+

SAT

1360+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Awarded to entering freshman who have received an International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 40.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 40
Must have a 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must have a minimum 30 ACT or 1360 SAT
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship ($2,500) Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must upload a copy of their official International Baccalaureate Diploma for verification as part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Scholarship ($2,500) Application

Congressional Medal Scholarship

Priority Date

Dec 01, 2026

Awarded to entering freshmen who are Congressional Medal recipients. The amount of the award is determined by the highest level of achievement in which the student has earned at the time of admission.

Learn More About Congressional Medals

Silver Medal Recipients $750 one-year award

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be a recipient of the Congressional Silver Medal
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Congressional Silver Medal Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must submit the name and email address of their Congressional Award state representative to verify their status as part of the Congressional Silver Medal Scholarship Application

Gold Medal Recipients $1,000 one-year award

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Congressional Gold Medal Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must submit the name and email address of their Congressional Award state representative to verify their status as part of the Congressional Gold Medal Scholarship Application

Bronze Medal Recipients $500 one-year award

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

The above one-year award amount will be disbursed equally over two semesters during a student's first year at Mississippi State University.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering first-time freshman
Must have a minimum 9th-11th grade GPA of 3.0+
Must be a recipient of the Congressional Bronze Medal
Must submit the General Scholarship Application
Must submit the Congressional Bronze Medal Scholarship Application in the scholarship portal
- Student must submit the name and email address of their Congressional Award state representative to verify their status as part of the Congressional Bronze Medal Scholarship Application

Miss Teen State Winner Scholarship

Awarded to the state winners of the Miss Teen USA or America programs.

Award Information

This award amount covers the cost of tuition for the winners of the Miss Teen USA or America programs. The amount of this award will be capped at the regular 12-16 hour tuition rate. No adjustments will be made for overload tuition charges.

Non-resident students may also receive a Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship to cover 100% of the non-resident portion of tuition.

Award Criteria

Must be an entering freshman
Must be the state winner of the Miss Teen USA or America programs
Must have placement verified by the Miss USA or America Corporation

Awarded only to the state winners. First and second alternates do not qualify.

The Miss Teen State Winner Scholarship is awarded in lieu of the Freshman Academic Scholarship Packages.

External Scholarship Opportunities

Helpful Tips on Finding External Scholarship Opportunities

External scholarship money is available to students of all qualifications, abilities, and interests. These external scholarships may be provided by private donors, foundations, businesses, and many other sources outside of Mississippi State University. Here are a few helpful tips for finding scholarships that are right for you:

Contact your high school guidance counselor: If you’re a high school student, speak to your high school guidance counselor about options that are specific to your interests and intended major.
Avoid paying for scholarship services: External scholarship applications should be free for students to complete. Should you have any questions, reach out to your high school guidance counselor or the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at MSU.
Think Outside the Box: Search for scholarships that may be offered by a parent or legal guardian’s employer, civic clubs, and local community. Corporations may also offer scholarships to children of their employees.
Contact the MSU Sponsored Students Office: All external scholarships should be sent to the Sponsored Students Office.
Use scholarship search and matching websites: Other scholarship resources can be found by using scholarship search and matching websites. A list of these resources is below
- Appily
- Ascent
- Big Future
- Bridging the Dream Scholarship for Graduate Students - Graduate Students Only
- Cancer for College
- Cappex
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder
- Citizens Bank
- College Board
- Dollars for Scholars
- DCTAG
- Fastweb
- Get2College
- Hagan Scholarship Foundation
- Hagan International Scholarship - International Graduate Students Only
- Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
- Niche
- Nurse Corps Scholarship Program - Nursing Students Only
- Ochsner Nurse Scholars - Nursing Students Only
- The Princeton Review
- Sallie Mae
- Scholarship America
- Scholarships.com
- ScholarshipPoints
- Scholarships for Students with Health Conditions
- Scholly
- Student Scholarships
- Study.com
- Unigo

Understanding Scholarships and Avoiding Scams

Read the fine print and understand all terms and conditions before accepting any award
Avoid companies or organizations that "guarantee" you a scholarship
Never provide confidential or personally identifiable information such as social security number until you have been awarded a scholarship
Talk to the Mississippi State University Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you are unsure about a scholarship
Check the privacy policy of scholarship websites to make sure your information is protected
Learn more about scholarship scams at the Federal Trade Commission website - Click Here

External Scholarship Application Tips

Start your search early and conduct as much research as you can. Apply for every scholarship that you are eligible for
Follow all directions and provide everything that is requested, but no more than is required. Pay attention to specific instructions on the application
Make note of any deadlines and mark your calendar. Missing a deadline immediately takes you out of the running for scholarships!
Be neat when applying for scholarships. Be sure to prepare your application carefully and review it thoroughly before submitting
Make a list of all activities and honors and be sure to highlight those accomplishments that are relevant to the scholarship
Never be afraid to ask for help! Unless the scholarship organization prohibits it, you should ask questions if there's something you need clarified
Make a strong impression in your essays. Tell a story and use personal examples and be sure to explain how the scholarship will help you
Select references that know you well and give them plenty of time to write a recommendation
Review your application and ask someone else to proof and edit it to catch any typos or missing words

National Service Scholarship

$1,000 ($500 per semester)

ACT

20+

SAT

1030+

GPA

3.00+

Award Information

Awarded by the MSU Army ROTC/Air Force ROTC Departments

Award Criteria

Must be a first or second year cadet and meet all criteria to be "enrolled," as defined by the Army/Air Force ROTC program and enrolled in ROTC classes.
Must have a minimum 20 ACT or a 1030 SAT
Must not currently be the recipient of an Army or Air Force Scholarship
Must be a US citizen
Must meet service age requirements
Must meet service height/weight requirements
Must pass Army/Air Force Service Physical Fitness Test by second semester
Must pass DoD medical exam by third semester

Departmental and College Scholarships

Departments and colleges within the university administer their own departmental scholarship programs. Students who have chosen a major are encouraged to contact the department in their major areas of study regarding scholarship opportunities.

The General Scholarship Application (GSA) and each departmental scholarship application will open on October 1. The priority date for entering freshmen to submit these scholarship applications is December 1. The priority date for entering transfer students and current MSU students is March 1. It is also recommended that students submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by their respective scholarship priority date.

More information regarding departmental scholarships can be found by visiting the websites below.

Performance and Service Scholarships

The Department of Art, Department of Music, Choral Activities, Famous Maroon Band, and Spirit Squads may offer scholarships to Mississippi State University students. The amounts of these awards vary and are determined by the awarding department.

An audition or portfolio showing may be required to be considered for these awards. Contact the appropriate department or program for more information.

Privately Funded Awards

The Mississippi State University Foundation oversees nearly 2,000 privately-funded scholarships housed in our various academic colleges and departments. You can maximize your consideration for these awards by completing your General Scholarship Application, as well as any applications recommended to you within our online scholarship portal which can be found by logging into your myState account.

Many of our Alumni Association's local chapters provide scholarships to students from their local communities. These chapter scholarships are awarded to select students to receive one-year awards based on outstanding leadership and academic records. For a list of alumni chapters/alumni chapter scholarships and how to apply through your myState account, please visit the Mississippi State University Alumni Association Website.

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