FAITH Scholarship

FAITH Scholarship is sponsored by Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. Provides scholarships to former foster youth under age 25 for post-secondary education.

FAITH Scholarship – Mississippi Office of State Financial Aid Created by the Mississippi Legislature in 2022, the State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access & Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship awards scholarships up to the full cost of attendance for current and former foster youth to attend college in Mississippi.

FAITH Rules and Regulations Application dates: There are no deadlines for FAITH, but the Mississippi Aid Application is only open from October 1 to September 15 each year. First-Time Applicants Must Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application.

Complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) while the application is open for the appropriate academic year For state aid, the academic year refers to the Fall and Spring semesters. Summer is generally not covered by state aid unless specifically noted for a program. .

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Be younger than 25 by October 1 of the aid year for which the applicant is applying. * Meet at least one of the following criteria: Have been in legal custody of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (CPS) at any time since age 13.

Have lived in a MS-qualified residential living facility (Mississippi Baptist Children’s Village, Sunnybrook Children’s Home, or Berean Children’s Home) at any time since age 13. Have been adopted from the legal custody of MS CPS or a MS qualified residential living facility at any time since age 13.

Enroll at least part-time (minimum 6 hours) at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to an undergraduate A college student who has not yet earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. certificate or degree. Applicants should also apply through CPS for an Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible.

*If the applicant was on active-duty status in the U.S. Armed Forces for any time before the applicant reached age 25, the number of months served on active-duty status will be rounded up to the next higher year to determine the maximum extension of age eligibility allowed. Continue to be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi.

Complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) while the application is open for the appropriate academic year For state aid, the academic year refers to the Fall and Spring semesters. Summer is generally not covered by state aid unless specifically noted for a program. .

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Make satisfactory academic progress toward a certificate or degree with a minimum 2. 0 cumulative GPA.

Applicants cannot be on academic suspension. Enroll at least part-time (minimum 6 hours) at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi in a program of study leading to an undergraduate A college student who has not yet earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. certificate or degree.

Apply through CPS for an Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible to apply. The annual award equals the student’s total Cost of Attendance (COA) The total estimated price of one year of college. This includes “direct costs” (tuition and fees) and “indirect costs” (books, transportation, and food).

minus all other grant aid. However, FAITH awards will not be increased to cover unusual or unnecessary costs of attendance, such as those associated with study abroad or other programs outside the scope of a student’s usual course of study.

Participants attending a private institution will receive an award amount equal to the average of the prior year’s published undergraduate A college student who has not yet earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. COA of all public institutions, less all other grant aid.

The annual award includes any costs associated with housing during institutional holidays at the student’s institution if such accommodations are available and utilized. Institutions are not required to provide holiday housing accommodations for FAITH recipients unless such accommodations are available to other student populations.

A maximum cumulative amount is not established, but a recipient may receive FAITH for up to 5 calendar years. * FAITH Scholarships will be paid for no more than seventy-two (72) credit hours at a community college or one hundred forty-four (144) credit hours at a four-year college.

*If a recipient experiences a break in enrollment A break in enrollment would include any semester or trimester during which the student was awarded state aid and did not attend a Mississippi institution of higher learning. An exception to the break in enrollment is when the student graduates mid-year (December) from a community college and will not enroll in a four (4) year institution until the following fall semester.

to serve on active-duty status in the United States Armed Forces, the number of months served on active-duty status in the United States Armed Forces will be rounded up to the next higher year to determine the maximum length of eligibility extension allowed. (Note: No student may receive undergraduate A college student who has not yet earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent.

grant aid through more than one state-supported undergraduate A college student who has not yet earned a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. grant program in the same term of enrollment. If a student is eligible for aid through multiple grant programs, the student shall be awarded from the program that awards the larger sum.)

To Apply – New Applicants Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) . The online application must be completed each and every academic year For state aid, the academic year refers to the Fall and Spring semesters.

Summer is generally not covered by state aid unless specifically noted for a program. for which the applicant seeks aid. Apply through CPS for an Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible to apply.

Proof of this application will be automatically supplied by CPS. To Apply – Renewal Applicants Renewal Applicants are applicants who have previously received an award through the program. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .

Complete the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) . The online application must be completed each and every academic year For state aid, the academic year refers to the Fall and Spring semesters. Summer is generally not covered by state aid unless specifically noted for a program.

for which the applicant seeks aid. Apply through CPS for an Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible to apply. Proof of this application will be automatically supplied by CPS.