Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

CARES Act Student Information

Student Eligibility

Mississippi State University has received CARES Act funding through the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are to assist students who have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations as a result of COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Education has mandated certain requirements that a student must meet in order to be eligible for CARES Act funding. The requirements that a student must meet are:

  • Taking on-campus classes during the spring 2020 semester and not enrolled as a distance education student
  • Must be enrolled as of the last day of the spring 2020 semester
  • Meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards
  • Taking coursework that is eligible for Federal financial aid
  • Be fully admitted into a program of study that is eligible for Federal financial aid
  • For undeclared students, have less than 75 earned hours
  • File a Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2019-20 academic year and be eligible for Federal financial aid which includes, but is not limited to:
    • Have a valid social security number
    • If male, be registered for U.S. Selective Service
    • Not in default on a Federal student loan
    • Not owe a repayment on Federal student aid
    • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen

Students who meet the requirements will receive an email from MSU directing them to their myState portal. Once there, the students will need to complete the online CARES Act application certifying that they have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations. The Financial Aid Office will evaluate each student’s eligibility for the CARES Act grant. The deadline to complete the online application and the FAFSA is June 1, 2020.

CARES Act funds will be awarded to students that qualify. The funds will be sent to students by direct deposit (if setup) or by check to their home address. If a student has a current balance owed to Mississippi State University, they will still receive their full CARES Act grant.

CARES Act Program Overview at Mississippi State University

The U. S. Department of Education (DOE) has provided CARES Act funding to Mississippi State University (MSU) to assist eligible students with expenses related to the disruption in campus operations. MSU signed and returned the certification agreement to the DOE, whereby the institution will use 50% of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. Therefore, MSU will disburse $8,928,054 in CARES Act funding directly to students who meet the qualifications set by the DOE. As of Sunday, July 5, 2020, MSU had disbursed $8,928,073 in CARES Act funding to 11,572 students who met the qualifications.

There were an estimated 13,686 MSU students who attended classes during the spring 2020 semester that are or could have been eligible for CARES Act funding. These students have met or will need to meet the requirements for federal aid under Section 484 in the Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

MSU is using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which is calculated for each student who completes the 2019-20 FAFSA and meets all the other CARES Act requirements, to determine an award amount. For those students that qualify for CARES Act funding, the award ranges between $736.91 and $836.91 based on the student’s EFC and when the FAFSA was completed.

We hope this financial assistance will help students during these uncertain times. Mississippi State University is committed to supporting students who need our assistance. The following website provides students with updates and information about other resources:

https://www.msstate.edu/coronavirus.

The Financial Aid Office
Mississippi State University

CRRSAA Student Information

Student Eligibility:

Mississippi State University has received Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) funding through the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are to assist students who have expenses related to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Students who did not meet the following criteria were not eligible for CRRSAA funding:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Students must be in a degree seeking program of study
  • Students must have been currently enrolled at the university at the point of determination for the spring 2021 term

Students who meet the requirements will receive an email from MSU directing them to their myState porta. Once there, the students will need to complete the online CRRSAA application certifying that they have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations. The Financial Aid Office will evaluate each student's eligibility for the CRRSAA grant. The deadline to complete the online application is March 28, 2021.

CRRSAA funds will be awarded to students that qualify. The funds will be sent to students by direct deposit (if setup) or by check to their home address. If a student has a current balance owed to Mississippi State University, they will still receive their full CRRSAA grant unless they request to funds be applied directly to their account.

CRRSAA Program Overview at Mississippi State University:

The U. S. Department of Education (DOE) has provided CRRSAA funding to Mississippi State University (MSU) to assist eligible students with expenses related to the ongoing pandemic. MSU signed and returned the certification agreement to the DOE, whereby the institution will use 50% of the funds received from CRRSAA to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. Therefore, MSU will disburse $8,928,054 in CRRSAA funding directly to students who meet the qualifications set by Mississippi State University and the Department of Education. As of Tuesday, April 13, 2021, MSU had disbursed $8,928,058 in CRRSAA funding to 14,005 students who met the qualifications.

There were an estimated 20,682 MSU students who attended classes during the spring 2021 semester that are or could have been eligible for CRRSAA funding.

MSU is using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to help determine those students with the greatest need. For those students that qualify for CRRSAA funding, the award ranges between $913 and $250 based on the student’s EFC (financial need) if they completed the FAFSA and their enrollment status during the spring 2021 term.

We hope this financial assistance will help students during these uncertain times. Mississippi State University is committed to supporting students who need our assistance. The following website provides students with updates and information about other resources. https://www.msstate.edu/coronavirus

The Financial Aid Office

Mississippi State University

ARP Student Information

Student Eligibility:

Mississippi State University has received American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding through the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are to assist students who have expenses related to the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for ARP funding: 

• Students must have been enrolled at the university at the point of determination for the fall 2021 term and/or spring 2022 term.

Students who meet the requirements will receive an email from MSU directing them to their myState portal. Once there, the students will need to complete the online ARP application certifying that they have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations. The Financial Aid Office will evaluate each student’s eligibility for the ARP grant. The deadline to complete the online application for the fall 2021 semester is September 16, 2021. The deadline to complete the online application for spring 2022 semester is February 22, 2022.   

ARP funds will be awarded to students that qualify. The funds will be sent to students by direct deposit (if setup) or by check to their home address. If a student has a current balance owed to Mississippi State University, they will still receive their full ARP grant unless they request the funds be applied directly to their account.


ARP Program Overview at Mississippi State University:

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has provided ARP funding to Mississippi State University (MSU) to assist eligible students with expenses related to the ongoing pandemic. MSU signed and returned the certification agreement to the DOE, whereby the institution will use 50% of the funds received from ARP to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. Therefore, MSU will disburse $24,430,478 in ARP funding directly to students who meet the qualifications set by Mississippi State University and the Department of Education.

Third Quarter 2021 report

As of September 30, 2021, MSU had disbursed $12,111,474 in ARP funds to 15,353 students who met the qualifications. There were an estimated 23,351 MSU Students who attended classes during the fall 2021 semester that are or could have been eligible for ARP Funding.

MSU is using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to help determine those students with the greatest need. For those students that qualify for ARP funding, the award ranges between $1,200 and $250 based on the student’s EFC (financial need) if they completed the FAFSA and their enrollment status during the fall 2021 term.

Fourth Quarter 2021 report

As of December 31, 2021, MSU had disbursed $12,128,015 in ARP funds to 15,398 students who met the qualifications. There were an estimated 23,351 MSU Students who attended classes during the fall 2021 semester that are or could have been eligible for ARP Funding.

MSU is using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to help determine those students with the greatest need. For those students that qualify for ARP funding, the award ranges between $1,200 and $250 based on the student’s EFC (financial need) if they completed the FAFSA and their enrollment status during the fall 2021 term.

First Quarter 2022 Report

As of March 31, 2022, MSU had disbursed $24,431,078 in ARP funds to 18,022 students who met the qualifications. There were an estimated 24,813 MSU Students who attended classes during the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semester that are or could have been eligible for ARP funding.

MSU is using the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to help determine those students with the greatest need. For those students that qualify for ARP funding, the award ranges between $1,200 and $250 based on the student’s EFC (financial need) if they completed the FAFSA and their enrollment status during the fall 2021 term. Furthermore, for spring 2022, the award ranges were between $1,200 and $240 based on the student’s EFC (financial need) if they completed the FAFSA and their enrollment status during the spring 2022 term.

We hope this financial assistance will help students during these uncertain times. Mississippi State University is committed to supporting students who need our assistance. The following website provides students with updates and information about other resources. https://www.msstate.edu/coronavirus

The Financial Aid Office
Mississippi State University