Freshman Scholarships
PRESIDENTIAL NATIONAL MERIT© SCHOLARSHIP
Deadline is based on National Merit progression.
A limited number of students recognized as National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists will qualify for the University-sponsored Presidential National Merit Scholarship, which is designed to cover the cost of attendance for four years. This includes tuition, out-of-state fees (if applicable), room, board, and a book stipend (approximately $43,000 for in-state students). Consideration is based on Finalists having listed The University of Southern Mississippi as their first choice institution with the National Merit Corporation as well has having been admitted to the University and to the Honors College. Students who progress to Finalist status will further receive a $4,000 study abroad scholarship to participate in the University study abroad program of their choice, with the potential to also receive a new laptop computer. These scholarship recipients are automatically members of the Presidential Scholar class, which is the highest designation a student can receive at the University. (This scholarship precludes any other University scholarship.)
Presidential Scholarship
Application deadline is January 5.****DEADLINE PASSED****
Presidential Scholarships are designed to cover the cost of attendance for four years. This includes tuition, out-of-state fees (if applicable), room, board, and a book stipend (approximately $43,000 for in-state students). Typically, students scoring at least 30 composite ACT/combined SAT score of 1320*, National Merit Commended Students, and National Achievement Semifinalists are invited to participate in the Presidential Scholarship interview competition held in February. Presidential Scholars must also enroll in the Honors College; the Honors College application for admission serves as the application for the Presidential Scholarship. Students must have a completed Honors College application and an application for admission to the University on file by January 5 in order to be considered for this scholarship. (This scholarship precludes any other University scholarship.)
Honors College Scholarship
Application priority deadline is March 15.
Students enrolling in the Honors College will receive a $1,200 scholarship over four years, payable at the rate of $300 per year. (This scholarship can be stacked with any other scholarship except the Presidential/Presidential National Merit Scholarship.)
Click below for the printable version of this scholarship application:
Honors College General Application
Academic Excellence Award
Freshmen admitted by March 15 will be given priority consideration.**
Students with a 24 composite ACT/combined SAT score of 1090* will be automatically considered for these awards upon admission, which range from $3,000 to $10,000 (payable over four years). Non-residents of Mississippi who are recipients of the Academic Excellence Award will also receive a full waiver of out-of-state fees.
Leadership Award
Application deadline is January 5.****DEADLINE PASSED****
This unique program has quickly gained a reputation as one of the most sought-after and competitive leadership scholarship programs in the region. Based on exceptional involvement and abilities inside and outside of the classroom, students are invited to compete for scholarships worth $10,000 over four years, payable at a rate of $2,500 annually. To be considered for this scholarship, students must have submitted a Freshman Scholarship Programs application and have been admitted to the University by the deadline of January 5. (This scholarship can be stacked with any other scholarship except Presidential/Presidential National Merit Scholarship or Luckyday Scholarship.)
Click below for the printable version of this scholarship application:
2008 Freshman Scholarship Programs Application ****DEADLINE PASSED****
iPDF and PDF documents require the Acrobat Reader 5.0x.
Luckyday Scholarship
Application deadline is January 5.****DEADLINE PASSED****
Mississippi residents only
The Luckyday Scholarship program at The University of Southern Mississippi is for exemplary students who are outstanding citizens and who are committed to continued involvement in community service and need financial assistance for college. This prestigious scholarship program provides Mississippi high school seniors the opportunity to compete for scholarships worth $10,000, payable at the rate of $2,500 annually, with an opportunity to apply for study abroad scholarships for the study abroad program of the student's choice once enrolled in the program. To be considered for this scholarship, students must have submitted a Freshman Scholarship programs application and have been admitted to the University by the deadline of January 5. For additional information about the Luckyday Scholarship program, please call 601.266.5981 or e-mail Luckyday@usm.edu. (This scholarship can be stacked with any other scholarship except a Presidential/Presidential National Merit Scholarship or Leadership Award.)
Click below to be linked to a printable version this scholarship application:
2008 Freshman Scholarship Programs Application ****DEADLINE PASSED****
iPDF and PDF documents require the Acrobat Reader 5.0x.
Application priority deadline is March 15.****DEADLINE PASSED****
These awards are available to first-time entering students who do not qualify for Academic Excellence Awards and are not residents of Mississippi. The Regional Award may represent a partial or full waiver of out-of-state fees (currently $3,014 per semester). Recipients typically have a strong academic history and have demonstrated significant student involvement and leadership.
Click below for the printable version of this scholarship application:
Regional/Out-of-State Award Application****DEADLINE PASSED****
iPDF and PDF documents require the Acrobat Reader 5.0x.
Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarship
Verification of valedictorian/salutatorian status must be received by June 15.
A one-time award of $1,000 is available for first-time entering students who are officially designated as their high school's valedictorian ($500 for salutatorians). A letter of verification from a high school principal, counselor, or other official must be received by June 15.
Alumni Scholarship
This scholarship represents a waiver of out-of-state fees and is available to students who have at least one parent who is an active, contributing alumni member. Parent(s) must be a current Life Member of the Southern Miss Alumni Association or have paid dues annually for a minimum of 10 consecutive years immediately prior to student's application for out-of-state waiver. The student must achieve a composite ACT score of 21 (SAT 980) or above to be eligible to receive this award. Applications for this out-of-state fee waiver should be obtained from and submitted to the Southern Miss Alumni Association, 118 College Drive #5013, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406-0001. Call 601.266.5013, or e-mail alumni@usm.edu.
Application priority deadline is March 15.****DEADLINE PASSED****
Scholarships may be available each year to students based upon general academic achievement, leadership, major field of study, financial need, and other stipulations that may be imposed by the donor. These scholarships are listed in the University Bulletin in the "Financial Aid" section. To be considered for any or all of these scholarships, a student must have submitted a 2007 Freshman Scholarship Programs application AND have been admitted to the University by the deadline of March 15.
Click below for the printable version of this scholarship application:
2008 Freshman Scholarship Programs Application****DEADLINE PASSED****
iPDF and PDF documents require the Acrobat Reader 5.0x.
*The written portion of the SAT is not considered in the awarding of scholarships.
** Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered on a competitive, funds-available basis.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
Army ROTC Scholarship
Early application deadline is July 15 before senior year; regular application deadline is November 15.
Two-, three-, and four-year scholarships are available to all students on a competitive basis. Southern Miss offers a limited number of room-and-board scholarships to add to the Army benefits. Scholarships pay for tuition, fees, books, laboratory expenses, and a monthly stipend of $250 for freshmen, $300 for sophomores, $350 for juniors and $400 for seniors. Students do not need to be enrolled in ROTC classes to apply but must meet eligibility requirements. For more information, contact Professor of Military Science, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5042, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; or call 601.266.4456; or visit www.usm.edu/armyrotc.
Air Force ROTC Scholarships
Application deadline is December 1.
Air Force ROTC offers three- and four-year scholarships on a competitive basis to high school seniors. Students may apply for these scholarships after their junior year has been posted to their transcripts. Applications can be completed online at www.afrotc.com or by contacting Southern Miss' Department of Aerospace Studies. The application deadline is December 1. Southern Miss offers four-year room-and-board scholarships to winners of these scholarships. Most AFROTC scholarships cover tuition, fees, books, and a tax-free monthly allowance during the academic year. For more information, contact Professor of Aerospace Studies, The University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5145, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; or call 601.266.4468 or 601.266.4474; or visit www.usm.edu/afrotc.
Art
The Department of Art is an integral part of the College of Arts and Letters and is a fully accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
The Department of Art and Design has a restricted number of service awards that are given out each year. Students who receive these awards compete for them at the Annual Open House and Scholarship Competition, usually held the first Monday in April. This is the only time these awards are given, which range from $1,000 per year for Mississippi residents to out-of-state tuition waivers for nonresidents. Service Awards require eight to 10 hours of work within the department each week. For more information, contact the Art Department at 601.266.4972.
Cheerleading, Southern Misses, and Mascot
The Southern Miss Spirit program is a student activity with the main purpose of supporting and generating crowd enthusiasm for the university's athletic teams. In addition to receiving athletic apparel, academic advisement, sport medicine, and strength and conditioning oversight, each member of our spirit program receives a scholarship for participation. The amounts vary from year to year and for years of service to the program. Selection for the squads is done through a tryout process held in April. Information regarding the squads, tryouts or general information can be found at www.southernmiss.com.
Choral
The University of Southern Mississippi offers one of the most comprehensive vocal music programs in the Southeast. Choral service awards are available for music majors and nonmusic majors. These awards are renewable four times (up to five years) and are given to students for participating in choral ensembles at Southern Miss and are stackable with many other scholarships. Awards for music majors range between 10 to 75 percent of tuition. Awards for nonmusic majors range between 10 to 15 percent of tuition (the average award is 20 to 25 percent). Approximately 70 of these awards are given to new students annually. Auditions for these scholarships are held on specific days through the academic year. For more information, e-mail gregory.fuller@usm.edu or call 601.266.4092.
Dixie Darlings
The Dixie Darlings consists of a group of young people who perform as a precision dance team. They perform at football games with The Pride, at pep rallies, and parades. This team is made up of individuals who are well-rounded and have a strong dance and performance technique. Auditions for this select group are held in the spring of each year, with one possible audition each August. Freshmen are given a $175 scholarship for the fall semester only. Out-of-state students can either have their out-of-state fee waived or accept the $175. The Dixie Darlings alumni also offer scholarships, which vary from year to year. For more information, contact Tracy Smith at 601.266.4990 or e-mail dixiedarlingdir@aol.com.
The Legacy Fund Scholarship
Application deadline is March 15.
This scholarship is a one-time gift of $1,000 awarded to incoming freshmen based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, and community involvement. Applicants must be the children or grandchildren of Southern Miss graduates, be eligible for admissions to Southern Miss as a freshman, and enroll full-time. At least one parent or grandparent must have been an active member of the Alumni Association for the past 10 consecutive years or a Life Member. Applications must be submitted to the Southern Miss Alumni Association by March 15. For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 601.266.5013 or e-mail alumni@usm.edu.
Orchestra
The Symphony Orchestra at The University of Southern Mississippi is the oldest orchestra in Mississippi. Established in 1920, the orchestra is a well-established musical leader in the state and region. Orchestra scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and range in amount based on an audition. Students interested in auditioning for an orchestra scholarship should contact the orchestra office to set up an audition. For more information, contact Dr. Jay Dean at 601.266.4001 or e-mail jay.dean@usm.edu.
Southern Miss Bands
Become an active part of one of the finest college band programs in the nation. The Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Winds, the Concert Band, Jazz Lab Bands I and II, and a host of other performing organizations provide a wide variety of musical experiences that are second to none. Most participants in the band program are awarded scholarships on the basis of musical ability, recommendations, attitude, and current instrumentation needs. Awards range from $200 to $1,000 for the nonmusic major and can range up to $2,800 for the truly exceptional student majoring in music. Out-of-state tuition scholarships are also available. Students participating in The Pride Guard will receive a $300 award for the fall semester. Guard members electing to participate in the spring semester will be eligible for Band Scholarship awards. For more information, visit www.usm.edu/band/.
Theatre and Dance
The University of Southern Mississippi's theatre program is the only nationally accredited theatre program in Mississippi. It is housed in the College of Arts and Letters, one of only two dozen such colleges in the United States that is accredited in all four arts areas-dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. The Southern Miss dance major program was the first program in Mississippi to offer the professional Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. It is the only program in the five-state region that offers a dance education K-12 emphasis and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). The Theatre and Dance Department offers a limited number of service awards and out-of-state fee waivers. Competition for these awards is done through interview and/or auditions. For more information, contact Dr. Louis Rackoff at 601.266.4994 or email louis.rackoff@usm.edu.
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To request a scholarship application, or if you need additional information please contact:
University of Southern Mississippi Admissions
118 College Dr. #5166
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
or call (601) 266-5000
(8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday)
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Continuation of all scholarships is dependent upon satisfactory progress once students are enrolled. Specific requirements are available upon request.
