Financial Aid
Financial Calendar Fall 2026
Page Content
| Audience | Date | Action to Complete | Important Info Links and Who to Contact |
| New & Cont. Students | March 31 | State of MS Financial Aid: HELP application deadline | Financial Aid: Anticipated State of MS Awards: |
| New Students | July 1 | Freshman Designation Based Scholarship Deadline | Office of Scholarships & Financial Wellness: Scholarship Eligibility: |
| New & Cont. Students | July 1 | FAFSA & Verification Process Priority Date for Payment Consideration for fall | Financial Aid: FAFSA |
| New & Cont. Students | July 1 | Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver Application Priority Date for Payment Consideration for fall | Human Resources: Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver |
| New & Cont. Students | July 8 | Anticipated aid and balance due visible to students in SOAR |
Financial Aid: Anticipated Aid Business Services: Balance Information |
| New & Cont. Students | July 15 | Fall 2026 invoices available in SOAR | Business Services: Balance Information |
| New Transfer Students | August 1 | Admission & Scholarship Application deadline for incoming fall Transfer Academic and Transfer Designation-Based Scholarships |
Admissions: Admission & Transcripts Office of Scholarships & Financial Wellness: Scholarship Eligibility |
| New & Cont. Students | August 10 | Student responsibility due in full or enrollment in payment installment plan (1st installment due upon enrollment in plan). Students who do not meet this payment requirement may be subject to cancellation of their Fall 2026 classes. | Business Services: Payment Information |
| New & Cont. Students | August 10 | Fall 2026 Intersession Courses Begin | Office of the Registrar: Class Registration |
| New & Cont. Students | August 11 | Last day to drop/withdrawal from Fall 2026 Intersession classes and receive financial credit. |
Office of the Registrar: Class Registration Business Services: Withdrawals & Tuition Credits |
| New Students | August 15 | Acceptance deadline for fall Transfer Academic & Transfer/Freshman Designation-Based Scholarships | Office of Scholarships & Financial Wellness: Scholarship Eligibility |
| New & Cont. Students | August 24 | Fall 2026 Regular and Session I classes begin | Office of the Registrar: Class Registration |
| New & Cont. Students | August 26 | Last day to add/drop Fall 2026 Session I classes without academic or financial penalty |
Office of the Registrar: Class Registration Business Services: Withdrawals & Tuition Credits |
| New & Cont. Students | August 31 | Last day to add/drop Fall 2026 Regular Session classes without academic or financial penalty |
Office of the Registrar: Class Registration Business Services: Withdrawals & Tuition Credits |
| New & Cont. Students | September 4 | Begin processing Fall 2026 refunds. | Business Services: Refund Schedules |
| New & Cont. Students | September 10 | 2nd Payment plan installment due | Business Services: Payment Information |
| New & Cont. Students | September 15 | State of MS Financial Aid: MTAG & MESG application deadline | Financial Aid: Anticipated State of MS Awards |
| New & Cont. Students | October | State of Mississippi Financial Aid typically sends fall 2025 funding to The University of Southern Mississippi in October to post state awards to SOAR accounts. | Financial Aid: Anticipated State of MS Awards |
| New & Cont. Students | October 1 | GO Scholarship Application and State of Mississippi Financial Aid application is available for upcoming academic year (2027-28: fall 2027, spring 2028 and summer 2028) | Office of Scholarships & Financial Wellness: GO System |
| New & Cont. Students | October 1 | The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available for the 2027-28 academic year. | Financial Aid: FAFSA |
| New & Cont. Students | October 10 | 3rd Payment plan installment due | Business Services: Payment Information |
| New & Cont. Students | October 14 | Fall 2026 Session II classes begin | Office of the Registrar: Class Registration |
| New & Cont. Students | October 16 | Last day to add/drop Fall 2026 Session II classes without academic or financial penalty |
Office of the Registrar: Class Registration Business Services: Withdrawals & Tuition Credits |
| New & Cont. Students | November 10 | 4th Payment plan installment due | Business Services: Payment Information |
| New & Cont. Students | December 10 | 5th Payment plan installment due | Business Services: Payment Information |
| New & Cont. Students | March 15 | FAFSA Priority Date for Scholarship Consideration (Financial Aid) for the upcoming academic year (2027-28) | Financial Aid: FAFSA |