Apply for Federal and State Grants

Federal Pell Grants

The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have not yet received a bachelor’s degree and meet Satisfactory Academic Policy Standards.

Eligibility is determined by the ‘expected family contribution’ (EFC), which is calculated when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is filed. Amounts can change annually, but the maximum award amount for the 2021-2022 aid year is $6,495. The amount you are awarded depends on your financial need, your cost of attendance (determined by the institution), your status as either a full-time or part-time student, and whether you attend a full academic year or less. You may not receive the Federal Pell Grant from more than school at a time.

  • You must enroll in at least 12 hours to receive your maximum amount of funds for the Pell Grant
  • Your Pell Grant amount will reduce if you enroll in less than 12 credit hours
  • The Department of Education requires that the Financial Aid Office set a ‘freeze date’, after which your Pell Grant cannot be increased due to changes in your schedule
  • Pell Grant funds will be calculated based on hours recorded at the enrollment ‘freeze date’. For dates and deadlines, check out the disbursement schedule.
  • If you enroll in less than 12 hours in the fall or spring semester, you may receive the remainder of your Pell Grant eligibility in the summer semester, provided you are still eligible for financial aid.

Year Round Pell

Students can receive Pell Grant funding during the summer semester. Students are eligible for up to 150% of their award amount in a year. In order to receive the additional amount, students must be enrolled in 6 credit hours.

Pell Lifetime Eligibility Usage

The Department of Education has established lifetime limits for Pell Grant funding. A student is not eligible for more than 600% (approximately 6 years) of Pell Grant funding. Once this limit has been reached, you will no longer receive Pell funding. Pell Lifetime Eligibility Used (Pell LEU) can be checked online through the National Student Loan Data System.

Pell Recalculation Policy

In accordance with Department of Education regulations, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will recalculate financial aid awards based on the student’s enrollment status for the semester at the conclusion of the initial Freeze Date for the first part of term in which the student is enrolled.

Hours enrolled after the Freeze Date will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Federal Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG grant is awarded based on availability of funds to undergraduate students who are Pell Grant recipients and have exceptional financial need.


Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)

The MTAG Grant is offered by the state of Mississippi through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for students who are residents of Mississippi with a 2.5 high school GPA and ACT score of 15 or above. Students may apply after October 1. The application deadline is September 15 each year. Students must maintain 15 credit hours each semester to be eligible.

MTAG awards up to $500 per academic year for freshmen and sophomores. A recipient may receive MTAG for up to 8 semesters.

Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)

The MESG Grant is offered by the state of Mississippi through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for students who are residents of Mississippi with a 3.5 high school GPA and ACT score of 29 or above, or semifinalist/finalist of the National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship competition.

Students may apply after October 1 each year. The deadline is September 15 each year.  Students must maintain 15 credit hours each semester to be eligible.

Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP)

The HELP Grant is offered by the state of Mississippi through the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for students who are residents of Mississippi with a 2.5 high school GPA and ACT score of 20 or above. Students must demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Students may apply at Mississippi Office of Student Aid www.msfinancialaid.org after October 1 each year. The deadline for applying for the HELP grant is March 31 each year.

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