Updated October 2026 by Carson Flowers, from Mississippi's official program pages.
The short answer: Mississippi's top merit award, the Eminent Scholars Grant, takes a 29 ACT or 1330 SAT and a 3.5 high school GPA, both at once. It pays up to $2,500 a year. The smaller MTAG grant takes a 15 ACT and a 2.5 GPA and pays $500 to $1,000 a year.
The score and GPA for each tier
| Tier | SAT | ACT | GPA | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MESG, Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant | 1330 | 29 | 3.5 cumulative | Up to $2,500 a year, not more than tuition and required fees |
| MTAG, Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant | Not published | 15 | 2.5 cumulative, or a GED or completed homeschool program | Up to $500 a year as a freshman or sophomore, up to $1,000 a year as a junior or senior |
Beyond the score:
- MESG, Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant: National Merit Finalists and Semi-Finalists qualify regardless of score and GPA. Enroll full-time at an approved Mississippi school.
- MTAG, Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant: Your teen must be eligible for less than the maximum federal Pell Grant, based on the FAFSA.
How the test score counts
Both programs accept the ACT superscore. For MESG, an official SAT score report of 1330 can be used in place of the 29 ACT. National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist status qualifies a student for MESG without the score or GPA.
How the GPA is calculated
MESG needs a 3.5 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale together with the 29 ACT or 1330 SAT. A student who misses either one can never become eligible for MESG, even with a 3.5 in college. MTAG is more forgiving: a student who missed the 2.5 in high school can qualify after building a 2.5 cumulative college GPA.
Which class year these rules cover
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid publishes one current set of rules for both programs, adopted in May 2025, rather than separate rules by graduating class.
Deadlines
| What | When |
|---|---|
| MESG and MTAG application window | October 1 to September 15 of the following year |
| Supporting documents | October 15 |
Testing has its own clock: see every 2026-27 date in Mississippi SAT test dates.
Keeping it in college
MESG needs a 3.5 cumulative college GPA, checked every semester, and full-time enrollment of 12 or more hours every fall and spring. MTAG needs a 2.5 cumulative GPA and the same full-time enrollment. Both pay for up to 8 semesters or until the degree is done, and neither pays for summer. A student can receive only one Mississippi state grant per term, and gets whichever pays more.
Where it pays
Approved public and private nonprofit two-year and four-year colleges in Mississippi. Vocational and technical program students can also qualify if they meet the school's entrance and academic progress rules.
The misconception: a 29 ACT alone earns MESG
A strong ACT does not qualify your teen for MESG on its own, and neither does a strong GPA. Both the 29 ACT or 1330 SAT and the 3.5 GPA have to be true as a high school senior. There is no way to fix one side later in college.
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Find my teen's target scoreQuick answers
Does a 29 ACT alone qualify my teen for Mississippi's Eminent Scholars Grant?
No. MESG needs a 29 ACT or 1330 SAT and a 3.5 high school GPA at the same time. A student with a 29 and a GPA under 3.5 is never eligible, even after earning a 3.5 in college.
What is the lowest ACT score for any Mississippi state grant?
A 15 ACT, for MTAG. It also needs a 2.5 GPA and eligibility for less than the maximum Pell Grant, and it pays $500 to $1,000 a year.
Can my teen use the SAT instead of the ACT for MESG?
Yes. An official SAT score report of 1330 counts in place of the 29 ACT.
How much is MESG worth over four years?
Up to $20,000. It pays up to $2,500 a year for up to 8 semesters, never more than actual tuition and required fees.
Can my teen fix a low high school GPA after starting college?
For MTAG, yes, and for MESG, no. A student who missed the 2.5 can become MTAG eligible after reaching a 2.5 cumulative college GPA, while MESG's 3.5 and 29 must both be met in high school.
Can my teen receive MESG and MTAG together?
No. A student receives only one Mississippi state grant per term, and it is whichever one pays the larger amount.
Sources
- Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid: MESG
- Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid: MTAG
- MESG Rules and Regulations, May 2025 (PDF)
- MTAG Rules and Regulations, May 2025 (PDF)
Rules change by class year. Confirm with the program's own pages before you plan around any summary, ours included.
Turn the cutoff into a plan
Knowing the number is the easy part. In a free Strategy Session we put your teen's current score next to the MESG and MTAG line and the ranges at their Mississippi colleges, then build the six to twelve week plan to close the gap. More for Mississippi families: Mississippi SAT prep and SAT Scores for Mississippi Colleges.