From Mississippi Today: Mississippi financial aid officials say almost 27,000 college students could receive less state financial aid for the spring semester in 2027, and a student loan repayment program for teachers will not make awards this fiscal year, because of a budget shortfall. The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid needs $7.3 million more to account for growing demand for its college aid programs. The funding gap could force the financial aid office to cut programs that help low-income students, as well as hundreds of foster youths and future teachers pay, for college.
In 2025, Mississippi financial aid officials expanded eligibility for state aid programs, reducing the number of credit hours required for students to be considered full time from 15 to 12. As a result, 4,520 more students qualified for state-funded grants. State lawmakers also raised the income eligibility for the Higher Education Legislative Plan, or HELP, the state’s only need-based grant that covers up to four years of college, from $39,500 to $42,500. Demand for state aid has risen faster than anticipated, said Jennifer Rogers, executive director of the state aid office...
Full story at https://mississippitoday.org/2026/06/29/mississippi-state-aid-shortfall/.
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