Academic Excellence Scholarships
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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 2024-2025 rates. These rates are subject to change due to state regulations.
Scholarship Amount Breakdown by Test Scores
| ACT Test Score | SAT Test Score | Annual Scholarship Amount | Out of Pocket Annual Tuition Expense |
| 20 | 1030-1050 | $1,500 | $8,498 |
| 21 | 1060-1090 | $2,500 | $7,498 |
| 22 | 1100-1120 | $3,000 | $6,998 |
| 23-24 | 1130-1190 | $4,500 | $5,498 |
| 25-26 | 1200-1250 | $5,250 | $4,748 |
| 27-29 | 1260-1350 | $7,000 | $2,998 |
| 30-36 | 1360-1600 | Full Tuition | $0 |
- Students must have a high school cumulative gpa of 3.25 or higher
- 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.
Freshman Academic Housing Scholarship
*** This scholarship does stack with Academic Excellence Scholarship
| ACT/SAT Equivalent | One-Time Amount | Housing Requirements |
|
33-36 ACT or 1450+ SAT |
Full value of the cost for a double occupancy room only (estimated cost for freshman housing is $8,030 per year/$4,015 per semester) | 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.