Securing financial aid can greatly alleviate the transition from high school to college, a period that can initially be both thrilling and daunting.
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) is pleased to offer numerous scholarships specifically aimed at incoming students for the Fall 2025 semester.
These scholarships are designed to recognize outstanding academic achievement and provide you with the financial support you need to focus on your studies. Applying for scholarships at USM is a straightforward process.
While the Academic Excellence Scholarship is automatically awarded based on your test scores and admissions application, competitive and designation-based scholarships require you to apply through the GO System.
To ensure full scholarship consideration, it is essential to submit all required documents by the specified deadlines and complete your FAFSA by December 15, 2024.
Scholarship Overview :
- Supports bachelor’s studies
- The University of Southern Mississippi is the host institution
- Fully Funded
- Open to all nationalities
- The scholarship covers all subjects offered at the University of Southern Mississippi
- The deadline for application is May 1st, 2025.
About Host Institution:
The University of Southern Mississippi has a rich history dating back to its founding as a small teachers’ college in 1910.
Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive doctoral and research-focused institution, with a diverse student body of nearly 15,000 individuals from 63 different countries, all 50 states, and various regions of Mississippi.
The university takes pride in its commitment to embracing diversity in all its forms. Beyond its cultural and artistic contributions, Southern Miss has consistently excelled in both academic and athletic endeavors.
Its six degree-granting institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across more than 180 fields of study.
As a dual-campus institution, Southern Miss provides a flexible learning environment with online courses and five additional teaching and research facilities located across Mississippi, in addition to its main campuses in Hattiesburg and Long Beach.
List of Scholarships:
- Freshman Housing Scholarship
For students with a high ACT or SAT score, there is an additional one-time award called the Freshman Housing Scholarship. The scholarship pays for a double-occupancy dorm room for the first year in full for students who score 33 on the ACT or 1450+ on the SAT.
You must spend your first year living on campus to be eligible. The housing scholarship is limited to double-occupancy accommodation and has an approximate annual value of $8,030.
You will be responsible for the difference if you would like a single room.
- National Merit Scholarships
You may be eligible for additional scholarships at USM if you are a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist.
Scholarship offers are sent to semifinalists automatically, while finalists have to identify USM as their top choice and submit official documentation via the GO System by May 1, 2025.
- Academic Excellence Scholarship
One of the most coveted scholarships for incoming Southern Miss freshmen is the Academic Excellence Scholarship.
You will automatically be given it based on your ACT or SAT scores and high school GPA. This is the breakdown:
| SAT 1360-1600 or ACT score of 30-36 | Full tuition scholarship |
| SAT 1260–1350 (or an ACT score of 27–29) | $7,000 per year |
| SAT 1200–1250 or ACT 25–26 | $5,250 per year |
| SAT 1130–1190 (or ACT 23–24) | $4,500 per year |
| SAT 1100–1120 or ACT score of 22 | $3,000 per year |
NOTE: As long as you maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and complete 15 credit hours each semester, this scholarship can be renewed for up to four years.
- Designation-Based and Competitive Scholarships
Southern Miss provides several competitive, designation-based scholarships, including:
- Honors College scholarships through the Lucky day citizenship scholars’ program
- The McCarty Scholars Program
These scholarships are given out by academic excellence, leadership potential, and community service.
You must apply to the Golden Opportunities (GO) System by February 1st, 2025, to be eligible for these awards.
Essays, recommendation letters, and other supporting documentation are frequently needed for competitive scholarships.
How to Apply:
Fill out and send in your application using the Golden Opportunities (GO) System page. Use this LINK
Following the completion of your general Application, scholarships for which you are immediately eligible will be matched with you.