State Representative Bill Kinkade Fostering Access and Inspiring True Hope (FAITH) Scholarship
Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid (Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning)
Covers up to the full cost of attendance (minus other grants) at a Mississippi college for current and former foster youth under 25.
- How much
- Up to the full cost of attendance, minus all other grant aid
- Who qualifies
- Current or former foster youth (Mississippi CPS custody, qualifying residential home, or adoption, at any time since age 13)
- Mississippi resident for 1 year; younger than 25 on October 1 of the aid year (extended for active-duty military service); in Mississippi CPS legal custody at any time since age 13, OR lived in Mississippi Baptist Children's Village, Sunnybrook Children's Home, or Berean Children's Home since age 13, OR adopted out of either since age 13; enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) at an approved Mississippi institution in an undergraduate certificate or degree program; renewal needs a 2.0 GPA.
- For high school seniors, students starting college, undergrads, trade school students, transfer students
- When to apply
- Open now · due September 15, 2027 No program deadline, but the MAAPP is only open October 1 - September 15 each year
- How to apply
- Complete the FAFSA and the Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) while it is open (October 1 - September 15), and apply through Mississippi Child Protection Services for an Education and Training Voucher (ETV) if eligible (CPS sends proof automatically)
- Reapply every year
- What you'll need
- FAFSA + state application
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (msfinancialaid.org) and page 2
The details
Created in 2022. The annual award equals the student's total cost of attendance minus all other grant aid (not increased for unusual costs like study abroad); at a private institution, the award is based on the average prior-year cost of attendance at the public institutions, minus other grant aid. Includes holiday housing costs when the college offers and the student uses it. Paid for up to 5 calendar years, and no more than 72 credit hours at a community college or 144 hours at a four-year college (active-duty military service can extend the age limit and the eligibility period). Part-time students (6+ hours) are eligible. Renewal: stay a Mississippi resident, reapply each year (MAAPP + FAFSA), keep a 2.0 cumulative GPA and satisfactory academic progress, not be on academic suspension, and apply for the federal Education and Training Voucher (ETV) through CPS if eligible. Only one state undergraduate grant program can pay a student per term.
More money from Mississippi
- Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG)Up to $2,500 per year (not more than tuition and required fees)
- Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG)Up to $500 per year (freshmen and sophomores); up to $1,000 per year (juniors and seniors)
- Higher Education Legislative Plan for Needy Students (HELP)Full tuition and required fees at a Mississippi public institution (private institutions: the average public four-year tuition and fees)
- Nissan Scholarship (NISS)Full tuition, required fees, and a book allowance
- UPSKILL Mississippi Grant (Upgrading Priority Skills for Key Industry Learning and Labor)Remaining tuition and required fees after other grant aid, plus a $500 annual stipend (prorated by enrollment)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.