Funding Guide
How to Fund Your Education at Southern Miss
Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to understanding costs, finding aid, and covering your bottom line.
Step 1: Understand the Full Cost of College
At The University of Southern Mississippi, your Cost of Attendance (COA) includes both direct and indirect expenses. Your COA is an estimate—it can vary depending on your lifestyle, major, housing choice, and course load. Use it to begin mapping out your funding plan, it can vary depending on your lifestyle, major, housing choice, and course load.
Here's a breakdown of common college cost categories:
| Category | What it Covers |
|---|---|
| Tuition & Fees | Standard charges based on credit hours |
| Housing & Meals | On-campus room and meal plans—or an estimate for off-campus |
| Books & Supplies | Textbooks, materials, and course-specific equipment |
| Transportation | Commuting costs, gas, car maintenance, or public transit |
| Personal Expenses | Laundry, toiletries, phone bill, basic necessities |
The expected amount to be paid by a student when he or she attends Southern Miss. Calculate your bottom line: (Expenses) minus (Gift-Aid plus Self-Help Aid) equals your bottom line. Students should be aware of indirect costs that may occur while in school.
Students can login to SOAR with student ID (wXXXXXXXX) and password. View financial opportunities offered for each academic year by selecting the Financial Aid tile. Pay attention to acceptance deadlines. Once you have a list of all financial opportunities that have been offered, you can use this total to help calculate your bottom line.
View More Financial Definitions
Step 2: Apply for Southern Miss Scholarships (GO System)
Once you’re admitted, log into the Golden Opportunities (GO) Scholarship Application System.
- Submit the General Application
- Review additional recommended scholarships under "My Applications"
- Use the search bar to filter by academic program, student org, or service
Many campus programs and orgs offer their own scholarships
Step 3: Complete Your FAFSA (Federal Aid) Application
Southern Miss requires a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for all undergraduate scholarships. Why? We want to help our students maximize their opportunities for all types of financial assistance.
A student’s eligibility for federal aid is determined by the information provided on the FAFSA.
FINANCIAL AID FAQS
Step 4: Apply for Mississippi State Aid
Mississippi residents can apply for gift-aid through the state of Mississippi. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will now link you directly to the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, or you can apply separately for state of MS aid.
Step 5: Explore External Scholarships through Credible Search Engines
Private scholarships are typically awarded by sources not associated with Southern Miss. Examples include, but are not limited to, community organizations (Rotary, Lion’s Club, etc.) or companies. Students should submit these scholarships to Business Services.
View External Scholarships in iGrad
Step 6: Research Alternative Loans
If you’ve used all scholarship and grant options, alternative loans may be considered as a last step.
Be sure to:
- Compare interest rates and repayment options
- Understand borrower responsibilities
- Use only what you truly need
Step 7: Cover Your Remaining Balance
After all aid is applied, any remaining balance is your responsibility.
Prepare to:
- Enroll in a payment plan
- Use personal savings
- Avoid late fees by paying by the deadline