Why the MTAG Redesign Matters
We are excited to share updates about the nonpartisan recommended redesign of the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) program. This crucial financial aid initiative is poised to expand access to higher education for more students across Mississippi.
The MTAG program, with its roots in supporting Mississippi students, has remained largely unchanged for decades. Under the proposed redesign:
- Part-Time Students: Part-time students will be eligible for MTAG funding for the first time (prorated).
- Pell Grant Recipients: Students receiving max Pell Grants will no longer be excluded from MTAG eligibility.
- Tiered Awards: A three-tiered structure will base award amounts on median income, ensuring targeted support for those most need it while ensuring no student and no institution would receive less under the new program.
- Broader Access: These updates aim to drive higher postsecondary attainment rates, aligning with Mississippi’s workforce development goals.
How You Can Help
As the redesign moves through the legislative process, your voice is vital to ensuring this program gets the attention and support it deserves. Legislators need to hear from students, parents, educators, and workforce leaders about the importance of making higher education more accessible and equitable.
- Access Advocacy Materials: For a current one-pager to share with your representatives, click here: https://bit.ly/MTAGWorks
- Contact Your Legislator: To find your representative and share your thoughts, click here.
Current MTAG exclusions are negatively effecting our workforce.
We need adult learners, part-time students, and the most financially in-need students qualifying for max Pell to be supported with state financial aid, earn a college credential of value, and add to our state’s labor participation rate.
Looking Ahead
We are closely monitoring the legislative session and will provide updates as the MTAG redesign progresses. Your continued engagement will be essential to securing these transformative changes for Mississippi students and families.
Thank you for your support in ensuring that every Mississippian has the opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Together, we can make MTAG work for all.
Mississippi's workforce is suffering because of current MTAG exclusions.
The number one issue facing growth in Mississippi can be summed up easily: there are not enough qualified workers for current jobs, and even those willing to enter the workforce are not prepared for the task. The solution? Aligning Ascent to 55% - Mississippi's postsecondary attainment goal - with workforce needs.
How You Can Help
An update to the state's financial aid program is uniquely positioned to fuel Mississippi’s economy through education by supporting populations of students not currently being supported to get them skilled and into the workforce – including working-age adults ages 25-64, those most financially in need, and part-time students. Your voice is vital to ensuring this update gets the attention and support it deserves.
