Financial Aid and Retention Cost of Attendance Expense

Financial Aid and Retention

Cost of Attendance Expense Amount Tuition Capital Improvements Fee Housing Food Books & Supplies Personal & Travel Total for Mississippi Resident 7, 344. 00* 100. 00 5, 730. 00** 4, 398. 00 1, 200. 00 4, 600. 00 $23, 372. 00 Additional fee for Non-Residents Total for Non-Resident 13, 230. 00* $36, 602. 00 * Pharmacy/Pre-Pharm tuition is $11, 140 and non-resident fee is $15, 314 (based on 2015 -16 rates) **Double occupancy in a standard residence hall is expected to be $4, 752

Financial Aid Basics Federal Aid – All students can qualify for some form of Federal Financial Aid if they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Types of Federal Aid o Federal Pell Grant – Awards range from $626 -$5775 per year o Federal Direct Student Loans Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior Dependent $5500 $6500 $7500 Independent $9500 $10, 500 $12, 500 o Federal Direct PLUS loans (Parent loans) o Federal Perkins Loans – Program Expired September 30, 2015 o Federal Work-Study

Financial Aid Basics State Aid o Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) o Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) o Higher Education Legislative Plan Grant (HELP) Institutional Aid o Students receive most institutional aid as new freshman or new Community College Transfer Students o Once a student is on campus, scholarship opportunities are typically found through the department in which they are majoring o One time retention funds

Financial Aid Basics Students can receive financial aid up to their cost of attendance or up to their financial need. The FAFSA determines the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This is an index number that shows what the family can contribute to the students education from their personal resources and/or ability to borrow. Financial Need is calculated as: Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution

Maintaining Aid Scholarships – Every scholarship has specific terms and conditions students must meet to continue receiving their award. Typically, students must maintain a 3. 0 resident GPA and maintain continuous full-time enrollment during fall and spring semesters. Satisfactory Academic Progress for Federal Financial Aid o Must maintain a 2. 0 Resident GPA o Must pass 67% of all attempted hours o Must not have attempted more than 190 hours (Graduate, Law, and Pharmacy students have different SAP standards)

Maintaining Aid Scholarship recipients are sent a “Warning” email at the end of the fall semester if they are not meeting their terms and conditions. Grades are checked at the end of each Spring semester for both Scholarships and Federal Aid. Students can submit an appeal through myolemiss to receive a semester of probation. For Federal Aid, if students written appeal is denied students can request an in-person appeal. Students are allowed only one in-person appeal.

Retention Financial Aid Office works closely with the Center for Student Success/First Year Experience Office. Retention Tool o FAO adds notes to the retention tool o FAO reviews notes in the retention tool from Academic Advisors and others One of the main reasons students give for not registering during priority registration or not returning is financial

Retention Funds – Administration has provided funds to help with retention. o Funds are not guaranteed each year – we have to request them. o Only provided to students in the freshman cohort. Magnolia Scholarship – Fall to Spring Retention Hume Scholarship – Fall to Fall Retention One time funds to help students get registered

Awarding Magnolia Scholarship o Mid-Term Grades – cannot have more than one F and cannot o o o show excessive absences in any class If we award at the end of the semester we review the Fall semester grades with the same criteria Students must have a remaining balance on their bursar account that is not all parking tickets. Cannot be International Students – issue with taxes etc. Cannot be student athlete Must have FAFSA on file and have utilized all forms of Federal Aid available to the student Must have financial need at least equal to the amount of the scholarship

Awarding Hume Scholarship o Fall GPA and Mid-Term Grades are reviewed – mid-terms o o o cannot have more than one F and cannot show excessive absences in any class If we award at the end of the semester must be meeting SAP or have successfully appealed and is on probation. Students must have a remaining balance on their bursar account that is not all parking tickets. Cannot be International Students – issue with taxes etc. Cannot be student athlete Must have FAFSA on file and have utilized all forms of Federal Aid available to the student Must have financial need at least equal to the amount of the scholarship

Awarding Utilize all Federal Aid o Must have taken out all of their Federal Direct Loans • Completed loan entrance counseling • Signed Master Promissory Note o Dependent Students – Parents must have applied for Parent Loan • Parent loans are credit-based loans • Can borrow up to the students Cost of Attendance • If parent is denied the loan – student qualifies for additional student loan and must access those funds first.

Awarding Must have financial need at least equal to the amount of the scholarship o The FAFSA takes a snapshot of the families financial information – based on the previous years Federal Tax Return o Often families financial situation changes and students/parents can request a Professional Judgment o If we are currently working with a family and have documentation we can award a student the scholarship even if they are not currently showing financial need.

Awarding Magnolia and Hume Scholarships can be awarded up to $2, 500. If a student is awarded more than $2, 000, we require the student/family to make a payment. Scholarships are added to the upcoming semesters financial aid package. We work with the Bursar’s Office to get the students holds lifted.

Comprehensive Counseling Meet with students to determine the situation o One time crisis o Most the time it will be an ongoing problem for their entire time at Ole Miss Financial Plan o Discuss steps for the future • Can the student work while going to school? • Living arrangements – are they in the most expensive residence halls? What are their plans for future housing? • Extra-curricular activities • Parking tickets • Are there other family members that can help?

Other information Many times when students state financial problems/concerns as the reason they are not returning there is more to the story. Often students will not have any holds and still state financial as the reason for not returning. Our office is here to help and are happy to meet with students to see what options are available but we can’t always help all students.