Southern Miss Money Matters Guide

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Helping Your Student Stay on Track

We know how important it is for families to feel informed and empowered as their students navigate college costs. Whether you're helping your student stay on top of deadlines or looking for additional funding opportunities, you play a key role in helping your student stay on top of financial responsibilities. Here's what you need to know (and what to help your student do next):

Important Deadlines: What You Need to Know

Paying on time is key to avoiding late fees, schedule drops, or holds on your student’s account. Here’s how you can stay in the loop:

What to track:

Tuition and fee due dates
Housing and meal plan deadlines
Scholarship application and acceptance deadlines
Financial aid verification or document deadlines

How to track it:

Ask your student to check their SOAR account regularly
Use the Student Calendar and Academic Calendar to stay ahead
Encourage them to sign up for deadline reminders via email or text

View Financial Calendar

Understanding the Bill: What You're Paying For

Cost sheets can be confusing. Here’s a quick breakdown of what shows up on your student's invoice:

Tuition Fees
Housing (if living on campus)
Meal Plans
Course or Lab Fees
Bookstore or Eagle Direct Textbooks (if opted in)

Paying the Bill: Options & How-To

There’s more than one way to pay, and we make it easy for families to be involved.

Payment Methods:

Financial Aid & Scholarships
Payment Plan (Installments)
Credit/Debit Card or Bank Draft
Third-Party or 529 College Savings Plan

How families can help:

Set up as an Authorized Guest in SOAR
Help students track their balance and pending aid
Connect with Financial Aid or Scholarships to discuss options early

Learn More about Payments

More Ways to Save: Explore Additional Aid

If your student is still looking for more support, there are plenty of other places to look:

iGrad Scholarship Search Tool – Our recommended hub for finding outside scholarships
Military Benefits – For dependents of service members or National Guard
Outside Scholarships – From churches, nonprofits, community groups, employers
Federal & State Aid – Your student may be eligible for aid from the federal government or their home state (like MTAG or MESG for Mississippi students).