Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)

MESG is Mississippi's merit grant for its highest-achieving high school graduates. Students must have been Mississippi residents for at least a year before finishing high school or home school, earn a 3.5 cumulative high school GPA, and either score at least 29 on the ACT, or 1330 on the SAT, or be named a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist. ACT superscores are accepted. Students who start college first may still qualify with a 3.5 college GPA after completing between 12 and 18 hours. Recipients enroll full time at an approved Mississippi institution in a program leading to a first certificate, associate or bachelor's degree. The grant pays up to $2,500 per academic year, covering fall and spring, but never more than tuition and required fees. It can be received for up to eight semesters or until a degree is finished. As with other Mississippi programs, students cannot combine it with another state undergraduate grant in the same term and must file the state aid application again each year by September 15.