Academic Excellence Scholarships
Academic Excellence Scholarships
These awards are designated for high school seniors fully admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi and enroll during the fall semester immediately after high school graduation without attending any other college.
Official test scores must be submitted to and processed by the Office of Admissions by March 1 for scholarship consideration. Notifications regarding an updated scholarship offer will be emailed and mailed by March 31.
For a full list of eligibility requirements please click back here.
deadlines
MARCH 1: Students must be fully admitted to The University of Southern Mississippi, with final test scores, by this date to be automatically considered for the freshman Academic Excellence Scholarship. Meeting the deadline is part of the eligibility requirement.
MAY 1: Students must accept Freshman Academic Scholarships in the SOAR.
Tuition breakdown and housing rate is based on the current 2025-2026 rates. These rates are subject to change due to state regulations.
important information
- All awards are automatically renewed for a total of 4 years (8 consecutive fall/spring semesters) in accordance to the student maintaining scholarship stipulations each semester.
- Full tuition scholarships will increase as tuition rates increase. Tuition rates are subject to change without notice by the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).
- Scholarship automatically renews if the student maintains a 2.5 USM cumulative GPA and 15 USM credit hours each fall and spring semester. Failure to meet these stipulations results in immediate cancellation of the scholarship.
Find Your Award Level
Find your GPA range then match with your ACT/SAT score to find your potential scholarship offer.
3.0-3.24 GPA
| ACT Test Score | SAT Test Score | Annual Scholarship Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 23-25 | 1130-1220 | $1,500 |
| 26-29 | 1230-1350 | $2,500 |
| 30-31 | 1360-1410 | $3,000 |
| 32-36 | 1420-1600 | $4,500 |
3.25-4.0+ GPA
| ACT Test Score | SAT Test Score | Annual Scholarship Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1030-1050 | $1,500 |
| 21 | 1060-1090 | $2,500 |
| 22 | 1100-1120 | $3,000 |
| 23-24 | 1130-1190 | $4,500 |
| 25-26 | 1200-1250 | $5,250 |
| 27-29 | 1260-1290 | $6,000 |
| 30 | 1360-1380 | $9,000 |
| 31 | 1390-1410 | $10,000 |
| 32-36 | 1420-1600 | Full Tuition |
Freshman Academic Housing Scholarship
To qualify for the Academic Excellence Housing award, the student must have a high school cumulative gpa of 3.6 or higher and at least 32 ACT score.
| Award Amount | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Full value of the cost for a double occupancy room only | Must live on campus during your first year |
- Freshman housing is assigned by the Department of Housing and Residence Life.
- Students who opt out of living on campus during their first year of enrollment forfeit the Academic Excellence Housing Scholarship.
- This scholarship is only for the student's first year housing (fall/spring semesters) and cannot be renewed or refunded.
- This scholarship does not cover any resident hall fees or additional student expenses.
- Students who decide to live in a single occupancy room will have to pay the difference in costs between a double occupancy room and a single occupancy room. This scholarship only covers up to the rate for a double occupancy room.