Transfer Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Guide
This guide takes you step by step, from the admission process to receiving your financial aid as a transfer student. It also includes key details about scholarships and answers to frequently asked questions.
Financial Aid Checklist
Step 1: Apply for Admission to Mississippi State
Before financial aid can be awarded, you must:
- Submit your application for admission to Mississippi State University - Apply for Admission
- Send official transcripts from all previously attended colleges
- Be admitted as a degree-seeking student
For admission requirements and deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.
Step 2: Complete or Update your FAFSA
To be considered for federal, state, and some institutional need-based aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Mississippi State University School Code: 002423
Important for Transfer Students:
- If you already completed a FAFSA for the current academic year at another institution, do not complete a new FAFSA.
- Log into your existing FAFSA and add Mississippi State's school code (002423)
- Ensure all required contributors (student and parent/spouse, if applicable) complete their section
- Monitor your myState portal and email for any additional documentation requests
Financial aid cannot be offered until your FAFSA is processed and all required documents are submitted. These can be submitted through Dawg Documents.
Step 3: Review and Accept Your Awards in myState
Once you are admitted and your FAFSA is processed:
- Log into your myState portal
- Click 'Banner', then click 'Student'
- Click 'Financial Aid Dashboard' under the Financial Aid and Scholarships column
- Answer any required questions
- Review your financial aid offer
- Accept or decline each award
- Complete any outstanding requirements listed
Step 4: Complete Federal Loan Requirements (If Accepting Loans)
If you accept Federal Direct Loans, you must complete the following at studentaid.gov
Entrance Counseling
Required for first-time borrowers at Mississippi State. Explains your rights and responsibilities.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Your legal agreement to repay your loan.
Loans will not disburse until these requirements are complete. You typically only need to complete the Entrance Counseling and the MPN once per loan type unless they have expired or if you are a new transfer student.
Step 5: Confirm Enrollment and Monitor Your Student Account
Federal Direct Loans require at least half-time enrollment. If you enroll less than full-time, your loan amount may be adjusted to reflect your actual enrollment level. Federal regulations may also require proration of your annual loan eligibility in certain situations. Be sure to:
- Check your student account for charges and anticipated financial aid.
- Set up direct deposit for refunds.
- Review the university's disbursement schedule.
Aid will apply directly to your university charges. Once university charges are paid, any credit balance remaining will be refunded to the student.
Important Financial Aid Information for Transfer Students
- Financial aid does not automatically transfer from another institution. You must add Mississippi State University (002423) to your FAFSA to be considered for aid at MSU.
- If you received financial aid at another institution during the same academic year, your remaining eligibility may need to be reviewed and adjusted before aid can be awarded at MSU.
- If you are a mid-year transfer student, you must cancel any pending or future disbursements at your previous institution. Failure to do so may delay the awarding and disbursement of your financial aid at MSU.
- Previous federal student loan borrowing impacts your remaining annual and aggregate loan eligibility.
- Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) limits still apply and may affect your remaining Pell eligibility.
- Your prior academic history will be evaluated under Mississippi State University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy to determine continued financial aid eligibility.
State of Mississippi Financial Aid Information for Transfer Students
State aid if financial aid provided by the State of Mississippi to qualifying Mississippi residents who are enrolled at MSU and are pursuing a first bachelor's degree.
As a transfer student, you must complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP). If you’ve already submitted it, log in to your MAAPP portal and update your selected institution to Mississippi State University.
Scholarship Opportunities for Transfer Students
Mississippi State University offers several scholarship opportunities for transfer students. These awards help recognize academic achievement and support your success at MSU.
Transfer Academic Scholarship
- Awarded based on your overall transferable GPA as calculated by the MSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions. You must have an overall transferable GPA of 3.25 to qualify.
- Renewable for up to five semesters if you maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at MSU) and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.
- Available only to Mississippi residents.
- Awarded at $1,000 per semester (up to $5,000 over 5 semesters).
- This scholarship may be stacked with the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
- Available to entering transfer students who are verified members of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
- Awarded based on your overall transferable GPA as calculated by the MSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- Renewable for up to five semesters if you maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at MSU) and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.
- If your overall transferable GPA is 3.25-3.49, you may receive $1,000 per semester (up to $5,000 over 5 semesters)
- If your overall transferable GPA is 3.5+, you may receive $2,000 per semester (up to $10,000 over 5 semesters)
- Verification of membership is required, either through admission or through the scholarship portal.
Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship
For transfer students who are non-residents
- Awarded based on your overall transferable GPA as calculated by the MSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- Renewable for up to five semesters if you maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at MSU) and maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.
- If your overall transferable GPA is 3.25-3.74, you may receive $6,000 per semester (up to $30,000 over 5 semesters)
- If your overall transferable GPA is 3.75+, you may receive $7,000 per semester (up to $35,000 over 5 semesters)
- Must be assessed non-resident tuition to qualify.
- Cannot be stacked with any non-resident tuition fee waivers.
- Not available to Online Education students.
Transfer Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship
For transfer students who are non-residents whose parent or guardian is a verified MSU alumnus
- Awarded based on your overall transferable GPA as calculated by the MSU Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
- Must have an overall transferable GPA of 2.5+ to qualify.
- Awarded up to $5,000 per year provided you maintain continuous full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester at MSU) and maintain an overall GPA of 2.5.
- Stackable with the Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship. However, the combination of the Transfer Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship and the Alumni Non-Resident Tuition Scholarship cannot exceed the non-resident portion of tuition.
- Must be assessed non-resident tuition to qualify.
- Cannot be stacked with any non-resident tuition fee waivers.
- Not available to Online Education students.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
General Scholarship Application
Once you have been admitted to MSU, you can complete the General Scholarship Application in your myState portal to be considered for additional departmental, college, and privately-funded scholarships. This application can be completed each academic year while you are at MSU. The General Scholarship Application will open on October 1 of each year. The priority submission date for entering transfer students and current MSU students is March 1.
Departmental and College-Level Scholarships
Many colleges and departments at MSU offer scholarships that are open to transfer students. These may require separate applications and may have varying deadlines. You will find your academic college scholarship application in your scholarship portal. The priority submission date is March 1.
External Scholarships
Transfer students are encouraged to pursue external scholarships from community organizations, employers, and national scholarship providers. Notify the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships when you receive an external scholarship so it can be credited to your account appropriately.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You must add Mississippi State’s school code (002423) to your FAFSA. Aid must be awarded by Mississippi State before it can disburse here.
If you received financial aid at another institution during the same academic year, Mississippi State must review the amount that was offered and/or disbursed before determining your remaining eligibility. Federal regulations limit the total amount of aid you can receive within an academic year, and adjustments to your awards may be required before aid can be finalized at MSU.
If you are transferring mid-year, you must also cancel any pending or future disbursements at your previous institution. Failure to cancel pending aid may delay the awarding and disbursement of your financial aid at Mississippi State University.
First-time borrowers at Mississippi State must complete a new one.
First-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers at Mississippi State University must complete Entrance Counseling. If you previously completed Entrance Counseling for Federal Direct Loans, selected Mississippi State University to receive the results, and it remains valid, you typically do not need to complete it again.
First-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers at Mississippi State University must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). If you previously completed an MPN for Federal Direct Loans and it remains valid, you typically do not need to complete a new one unless it has expired, was not completed for the loan type you are accepting, or is not available for use at Mississippi State University.
Each institution has different costs of attendance, scholarship opportunities, and institutional funding. Your eligibility may change based on these factors.
Your Pell Grant eligibility is determined by your FAFSA and remaining Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). If eligible, it can be awarded at Mississippi State once we receive your FAFSA information.
Processing time depends on:
- Admission status
- FAFSA completion
- Submission of required documents
- Loan requirement completion (if applicable)
You can monitor your status in the myState portal.
There is nothing that you need to do as an entering transfer student. Our office will upload your e-grade verification automatically.
Some transfer merit scholarships (like the Transfer Academic Scholarship and Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship) are automatically considered once you submit your transcripts and are admitted. We must also receive verification of your membership in Phi Theta Kappa. Additional scholarships may require the General Scholarship Application.
While not required for automatic merit based scholarships to renew, we do encourage that all students complete the General Scholarship Application each academic year to be considered for additional private or departmental scholarship awards. The priority submission date for current students is March 1.
External awards should be reported to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Aid may be adjusted to ensure total aid does not exceed your cost of attendance.