Grants & Scholarships
Holmes strives to provide every student with the resources available for financial aid. Students will need to meet certain requirements to be eligible for grants and scholarships. For specific requirements, you can just click one of the buttons to jump to that section.
Students interested in scholarships offered through outside agencies should contact those agencies. These scholarships are not a part of Holmes Community College and are sent directly to the Business Office.
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STATE GRANTS
Mississippi Resident Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) Program
The MTAG is a State-sponsored grant available to undergraduate students. Eligibility requirements include:
1. The student must be a current legal resident of Mississippi for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding application for the MTAG.
2. The student must be receiving less than a full Federal Pell Grant.
3. The student must enroll in and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours to remain eligible.
4. As an entering freshman, the student must have a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum ACT of 15. (EXCEPTION: Students enrolled in a program leading to a certificate are only required to meet the admission criteria for their specific program of study.)
5. The student must be accepted on a full-time basis at an eligible institution.
6. The student must maintain progress towards a degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
7. The student must not currently be in default on a federal or state loan or owe a refund on a federal or state grant.
8. The student must reapply annually.
9. The student must meet other criteria as set by the eligible institution.
10. Must be pursuing first certificate, first associate or first bachelors degree.
Award Amount: Up to $500 annually for freshman and sophomores; Up to $1,000 annually for juniors and seniors.
Other: The student must remain continuously enrolled on an annual basis, unless granted an exception, or the amount received will have to be repaid.
Application Dates: October 1 – September 15
Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) Program
The MESG is a State-sponsored grant available to “first-time-in-college” students and renewal applicants only. Eligibility requirements include:
1. The student must be a current legal resident of Mississippi for the four (4) years immediately preceding application for the MESG.
2. The student must be recognized as a semifinalist or finalist by the National Merit or National Achievement Scholarship Programs and have a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; OR have a minimum score of 29 on the ACT or its equivalent 1280 on the SAT and have a minimum of cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
3. The student must be accepted on a full-time basis at an eligible institution.
4. The student must maintain progress toward a degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
5. The student must enroll in and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours to remain eligible.
6. The student must not currently be in default on a federal or state loan or owe a refund on a federal or state grant.
7. The student must reapply annually.
8. The student must meet other criteria as set by the eligible institution.
Amount of Award: Up to $2,500 annually, not to exceed the tuition and mandatory fees.
Other: The student must remain continuously enrolled on an annual basis unless granted an exception, or the amount received will have to be repaid.
Application Dates: October 1 – September 15
Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP) Grant
The HELP Grant is a State-sponsored grant designed to provide tuition assistance to qualified students whose financial need, as demonstrated by federal student aid eligibility, will not be met with gift aid from other sources. The program provides full tuition to qualified students for up to four years. Eligibility requirements include:
1. The student must be a current legal resident of Mississippi for one year prior to application.
2. Have a high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
3. If not a graduating high school senior be within one year of high school graduation (current college freshman).
4. Score a minimum of 20 on the National ACT.
5. Meet income limitations.
6. Demonstrate need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and qualifying for a maximum or partial federal Pell Grant.
7. Attend an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to a first certificate, first associate’s, or first bachelor’s degree.
8. Complete a specific high school curriculum. Learn about the HELP Curriculum here.
9. The student must enroll in and complete a minimum of 15 credit hours to remain eligible.
10. The student must reapply annually.
11. The student must meet other criteria as set by the eligible institution.
Amount of Award: Tuition and required fees at a public institution.
Application dates: October 1- March 31
Other: Max 8 semesters (12 trimesters) or bachelor’s degree completion, whichever comes first.
Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope Scholarship (FAITH) –
Requires an annual application and is available to undergraduate students who are current legal residents of Mississippi and who are under the age of twenty-five (25) by October 1 of the aid year scholarship is requested. Student must meet one of the following criteria as certified by the Mississippi Department of child Protection Services or the qualified residential childcare facility: a) placed in the legal custody of Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services by a youth court at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age, b) placed in a qualified residential childcare facility by a parent, legal guardian, court of competent jurisdiction, or other person and who did reside in a qualified residential childcare facility at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age, c) was adopted from the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services’ legal custody or adopted while residing at a qualified residential childcare facility at any time on or after attaining thirteen (13) years of age. Student must enroll at least part-time (minimum of 6 hours). Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Award Amount: Not to exceed student’s COA combined with other aid.
Application Deadline: September 15
Other: Apply through the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services for an Educational and Training Voucher if eligible to apply
FEDERAL GRANTS
Grants are “gift aid” made available to students based on financial need. This type of aid does not have to be repaid. In order to apply for a grant all students must complete the FAFSA, which is used to determine need.
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is a federal program which makes funds available to eligible undergraduate students attending an approved post-secondary institution. Application is made through the FAFSA. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. Within three weeks of submitting the form, you should receive a Student Aid Report (SAR), which tells you whether or not you are eligible. Sometimes the report will need corrections. The Pell Grant is an entitlement grant, provided you are enrolled in a degree or certificate seeking program. The amount of the award will be based on your determination of eligibility, enrollment status, and the cost of attendance. Half-time students may be eligible for the Pell.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
This program is for the student who shows great need. Unlike Pell Grant, however, SEOGs are not entitlements. Schools have a set amount of funds for SEOGs and can award no more after those funds are used up. Only undergraduate students are eligible to apply, and in general they must be enrolled at least half-time in an educational institution participating in the program. Also, students must be eligible for the Pell Grant in order to receive SEOG funds. A school may choose to use up to 10% of its SEOG funds for less than half-time students. At Holmes Community College it is our policy to use this fund only on full-time/part-time students with 6 hours or more. The financial aid administrator determines the student’s financial need and will award the student an SEOG in accordance with that need. An SEOG award cannot be less than $200 an academic year. SEOG funds are awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis based on completed files of the students with the greatest needs.
REGIONAL GRANTS
Some areas of the state have grants for residents of certain counties. In this section are opportunities available to students who can verify their residence in certain counties.
Sumners Grant
For information, visit www.sumnersgrant.com.
The application is open year-round. Complete the application by clicking on the link above and selecting your academic year. Please submit only one application per academic year. The approval process may take a few weeks, but only one application is necessary.
E. H. Sumners Endowed Scholarships may be available for high school seniors, limited transfer students, and returning undergraduate students who are residents of Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Montgomery, or Webster counties in Mississippi, who desire and can benefit from a higher education. All applicants must have resided for 12 continuous months in one of the five Sumners counties prior to enrollment. All applicants must be enrolled in a course that generates credit hours.
The amount of the Sumners Grant shall not exceed the cost of attendance when combined with all other types of aid received by the student, excluding loans.
All students receiving the Sumners Grant must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA on all college work. Transfers from other institutions must have an official transcript from all schools attended prior to being awarded the Sumners Grant.
Independent students who have not established a residence in one of the Sumners counties may not establish eligibility by the address of parents who reside in one of the eligible counties.
The Sumners Foundation verifies residency in the appropriate counties for all applicants. If you have any questions, please call Stephanie Thrasher at (662) 472-9027 or email her at sthrasher@holmescc.edu.
Award Amounts Effective fall 2017 the Sumners awards are $900 per semester for students enrolled in 15 hours or more. Part time students will be allocated on a basis of $60 per credit hour taken. All amounts are contingent upon fund availability.
Example: 3 hours x $60 = $180 | 6 hours x $60 = $360 | 9 hours x $60 = $540
Amount of Grant Since the amount received by Holmes Community College from the Sumners Trust may vary each year, as will the number of students enrolled from each of the eligible counties, it is possible that grant amounts may also vary from one year to the next.
Renewal Requirements A student must maintain satisfactory academic progress with a cumulative 2.5 GPA as determined by the institution. Application must be made on an annual basis. All other criteria must be met, including continued residency in a Sumner County.
Calhoun County Tuition Assistance Grant
The Calhoun County Tuition Assistance Grant Program (CCTAGP) will pay for four consecutive semesters of higher education at Holmes Community College. Through the tuition assistance program, applicants may pursue any degree or certificate program offered at Holmes Community College. There will be no income requirement on the grant being offered. Non-tuition related expenses such as supplies, books and room and board are not covered by the tuition assistance program.
High school equivalency certificate recipients from Calhoun County are also eligible. Proof of residency may be required. Your participation in this program is contingent upon the availability of program funds. Award amounts are subject to change.
The CCTAGP amount generally is a possible maximum of the current cost of tuition per semester. Maximum award amounts are determined by Three Rivers Planning and Development District and the Calhoun County Board of Supervisors. Any other Federal, state and scholarship aid awarded will apply first, and if the balance from these sources does not exceed the maximum amount allowed, the CCTAGP will fill the unmet gap.
- Must be a resident of Calhoun County (proof may be required).
- Must take the National ACT. Register at www.ACT.org.
- Must apply for the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) at www.msfinancialaid.org by September 15.
- Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- Must begin enrollment at Holmes Community College for the semester immediately after graduating from high school or earning the GED unless entering the military upon leaving high school as a full-time student (at least 15 academic hours for all semesters). December graduates are eligible to begin in the spring semester or the fall semester immediately following graduation.
- Must complete and submit CCTAGP Application by September 15 for the fall semester and February 15 for the spring semester.
Once your CCTAGP application is complete, your award will be determined based on other aid received.
Be aware of the following:
- Applicants whose awards DO NOT exceed the maximum award amount allowed per semester will then be awarded CCTAGP funds to cover the difference.
- MPACT, Work Study, most G.I. Bill benefits and student loans are not included in the award calculation.
- CCTAGP is available for four consecutive regular semesters (summer school is not included in this program).
- To continue to receive assistance under the CCTAGP, those eligible must pass a minimum of 15 hours each semester with a 2.0 GPA (Repeated courses previously passed — D or higher — will not count.).
- Once eligibility is lost, it cannot be regained. Requirements are subject to change without advanced notice.
HOLMES CC SCHOLARSHIPS
All scholarships have minimum GPA and enrollment requirements, please see the current Bulletin for specific details.
Board of Trustees ACT Scholarship
Covers the cost of tuition, room and board, fall and spring semesters only. The recipient must have an enhanced ACT composite of 28 or higher. Students eligible for the Board of Trustees Scholarship would not be eligible for other scholarships because a student cannot receive in scholarships more than the published cost of attending school per semester.
President’s Scholarship
This scholarship covers one-half the cost of tuition, room, & board. The recipient must have an enhanced ACT composite of 24 – 27.
Dean’s Scholarship
This scholarship covers the cost of tuition. The recipient must have an enhanced ACT composite of 20-23.
Students receiving an ACT Scholarship must meet the following requirements:
- Complete all admission requirements prior to the third week of school
- Students must qualify for in-state tuition
- Be a full-time student taking 15 hours or more
- Maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA on all college course work
- Have an ACT composite of 20 or greater on the enhanced ACT
- The scholarship will be for a maximum of 5 semesters at Holmes Community College
- Transcripts from all institutions previously attended are required.
Development Foundation Scholarships
(Must have already applied to Holmes.)
The Holmes Development Foundation oversees Endowment Scholarships that can be awarded to students majoring in specific disciplines. For more information about Endowment Scholarships, contact the Development Foundation. The Development Foundation also oversees many Patronage Scholarships that can be awarded to students majoring in specific disciplines. Award criteria vary from scholarship to scholarship. For a complete list of these scholarships, see the Bulletin (catalog).
Application Deadline: May 1
Holmes Plus Scholarship
(Applications have closed for 2024-25)
A competitive scholarship that is offered only on the Goodman Campus. Students must be accepted into the Holmes Plus Program and show an aptitude in Science and Mathematics. Student must have a composite ACT of 24 or higher with a math sub-score of 23 or higher. Selection for the scholarship is by committee and students must maintain enrollment and GPA criteria, as well as follow a prescribed curriculum. The Holmes Plus Scholarship covers the remaining charges for tuition, room, and board once all other scholarships and aid have been applied.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian Scholarships
Valedictorians and Salutatorians from Mississippi High Schools are eligible for a one-time $100.00 award, provided they have Enhanced ACT composite scores of at least 20 and are enrolled as full-time students.
SkillsUSA Scholarships
Scholarships may be awarded to 1st place district and/or state SkillsUSA contest winners in specific Career/Technical areas of individual competition or in team competition that is discipline-specific (see current Holmes CC bulletin for details).
Technology Applications Scholarship
Engineering Technology majors on the Goodman campus who have participated in Technology Applications at the secondary level are eligible to apply for this merit scholarship.
Performance Scholarships
Students under these scholarships must maintain a minimum of 15 hours per semester and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
The scholarship will be for a maximum of 93 attempted hours on all college work or 6 semesters at Holmes, whichever comes first.
- Band/Dazzler
- Cheerleader
- Connection/Coachman
- Chorale
Athletic Scholarships
Grant-in-Aid scholarships are awarded in the following sports. A limited number of out-of-state scholarships are also available.
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
Music Scholarships
Students under these scholarships must maintain a minimum of 15 hours per semester and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
The scholarship will be for a maximum of 93 attempted hours on all college work or 6 semesters at Holmes, whichever comes first.
Music scholarships are available in the following areas:
- Band (instrumental)
- Choir (vocal)
- Keyboard (Piano and Organ)
Journalism Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to both the editor of the school newspaper, The Growl, and the yearbook, Horizons.
