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Undergraduate Scholarships

Freshman Scholarships: Academic, Competitive, Designation-Based, and National Merit

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Freshman Scholarships | FAQs

These FAQs are pertaining to receiving and applying-to freshman scholarships at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The GO System is an abbreviation for the Golden Opportunities Scholarship and Competitive Programs Application System. The GO System houses a variety of scholarship opportunities for incoming and continuing students at Southern Miss. Once admitted, students can search, review requirements, apply and accept their scholarships in one web portal! Click here to view instructions on applying for scholarships in the GO System.

Yes. The priority December 1 deadline is to ensure that students have ample time to be admitted, complete all open scholarship applications, request reference letters for competitive programs, and complete any other additional steps prior to schools closing for winter breaks. Scholarship applications begin closing as soon as January 15th. 

Please, refer back to the main page for all other scholarship deadlines to ensure you are admitted in time for all possible scholarship consideration. 

For all freshman scholarships listed below, students must be admitted with all final test scores submitted to the Office of Admissions and any additional scholarship applications submitted prior to midnight of the scholarship application deadline with all appropriate documentation attached to the online scholarship application. 

  • Academic Scholarships:  No, students will be automatically considered for the Academic Excellence Scholarship.  We strongly recommend students complete the Golden Opportunities General Application for other scholarship opportunities.
  • Competitive Scholarships:  Yes, students must apply for competitive scholarships by January 15 through the GO System.
  • National Merit Semifinalist Scholarship: No, students will automatically see these offers once the National Merit Corporation sends us their verified roster. If you do not receive a National Merit Semi-finalist offer, please email scholars@usm.ed with proof of your status. 
  • National Merit Finalist Scholarships: Yes, students must apply and submit official documentation by May 1 through the GO System for National Merit Finalist Scholarship. Documentation is verification with the National Merit-Corporation that you have registered USM as your first school choice. 
  • Designation-Based Scholarships:  Yes, students must apply and submit official documentation by June 1 through the GO System
  • Foundation, Alumni, Major & Interest Scholarships: Yes, you need to complete the general application in the GO System by February 15 for priority consideration. On your application is submitted, there may be other recommended opportunities to apply for and submit.

 Click here to view instructions on applying for scholarships in the GO System.

Scores from the December test date will be used to update student scholarship offers for competitive programs if the student was admitted by December 1st and submit their updated test scores by January 10th. Test scores must be submitted to the Office of Admissions.

Students have until March 1 to submit new scores for Academic Excellence consideration and scholarship adjustments will be sent to the student’s home address by mid March if the Academic Excellence Scholarship offer is increased. We will not accept scores after the March 1 deadline. 

Yes, the University of Southern Mississippi does accept official super scores sent directly from ACT.org for scholarship purposes. The University itself does not manually calculate a super score for students; therefore, we do not superscore SAT scores. Unfortunately, they do not provide institutions with official superscores at this time. 
Freshman Academic Scholarships are called Academic Excellence Scholarships.  Students will receive the first round of scholarship and financial aid award notifications by March 1 of the student’s senior year.  
  • Joe Paul Leadership Scholars Program, Office of Admissions | 601-266-5000
  • Luckyday Citizenship Scholars Program, Luckday | 601-266-5981
  • Honors Scholars Award, Honors College | 601-266-4533
  • McCarty Scholars Program, Office of Undergraduate Scholarships | 601-266-4540
A FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is required to receive all undergraduate scholarships. Remember, students should be admitted by December 1 as their priority deadline, and the Southern Miss FAFSA priority date for scholarship consideration December 15.
Most freshman scholarships will stack, up to cost of attendance. However, the State of Mississippi governing board, IHL, does not allow students to receive two scholarships for the same designation (ex: two tuition or housing scholarships). If you receive Discovery, Presidential, National Merit or other tuition scholarships, your Academic Excellence Tuition Scholarship will be cancelled. You can stack Academic Excellence Scholarship if selected for the Luckyday Scholars Program
No, freshman scholarships are available to students the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. If you attend summer school after your high school graduation but enroll and attend at The University of Southern Mississippi that fall semester, you will be considered for freshman scholarships.

Yes, students must accept scholarship(s) via the GO System. If you do not accept your scholarship by the stated deadline, your scholarship will be cancelled.  Click here to view instructions on accepting your scholarship in the GO System.

  • Academic and Competitive Scholarships: May 1
  • Designation-Based and National Merit Scholarships: August 15
Your scholarship tile located in the GO System will include a stipulation agreement outlining how you will maintain your scholarship(s) or you can check your Communication center in SOAR to locate your original scholarship offer letter for admission-based merit awards. Make sure you reference your stipulation agreement for each individual scholarship while you are attending The University of Southern Mississippi. Click here for more FAQs on maintaining your scholarship.

 

Contact Us

Office of Undergraduate Scholarships
Kennard-Washington (KWH) 200
118 College Drive #5011
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Hattiesburg Campus

Campus Map

Email
scholarsFREEMississippi

Phone
601.266.4540