MS HB569

Waives tuition, required fees, and housing costs at Mississippi state universities, colleges, and public community/junior colleges for children of service members killed in the line of duty or who died from service-connected disabilities as determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, effective beginning the 2018-2019 academic year.

Eligible children must be Mississippi residents, not have reached age 23 on the first day of enrollment, and provide documentation proving the deceased service member was a Mississippi citizen and U.S. Armed Forces member; children who began college before age 23 may continue receiving waivers if their studies are interrupted.

Waivers cover actual tuition costs and may be reduced if combined with other grants and scholarships to prevent exceeding the cost of tuition; full-time students may receive maximum of 4 annual waivers (5 if degree requires 5 years) and part-time students may receive waivers for the length of time needed to complete their degree.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale and make steady academic progress to renew waivers; students with a baccalaureate degree are ineligible and those with an associate degree may only receive waivers for baccalaureate degrees.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning administers the program; if funding is insufficient, first-time eligible applicants receive waivers on a first-come, first-served basis with priority given to continuing students making satisfactory progress.