Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program (MRPSP)
University of Mississippi Medical Center (state program authorized by the Mississippi Legislature)
Up to $35,000 a year in medical or osteopathic school for Mississippians who commit to practicing primary care in a small rural Mississippi town, plus mentoring from the sophomore year of college.
- How much
- Up to $35,000 per year in medical school
- Who qualifies
- Mississippi legal resident. Phase I: completed the sophomore year with 8 credits each of biology and general chemistry and 8 of physics or organic chemistry (all with lab) plus college math; overall GPA 3.0 on 60+ credits; science/math GPA 3.0 on 30 credits; ACT 21 or SAT 990; plan for a primary care residency; evidence of likely rural practice (rural background or experience). Phase II: admitted to or attending a Mississippi medical or osteopathic school. Service commitment: practice in a rural Mississippi town of 15,000 or fewer, one year per year funded, or repay with penalties.
- For undergrads, grad students
- For pre-medicine, medicine (primary care) students
- When to apply
- Due February 1, 2027 Annual; undergraduate (Phase I) application due February 1, interviews in March; medical school scholarship (Phase II) application due April 1
- How to apply
- Undergraduates: submit the online MRPSP undergraduate application with transcripts, an essay, three science faculty evaluations, ACT/SAT (and MCAT if taken) scores, and a letter from a hometown medical provider or community leader by February 1
- Interviews are in March
- Medical students and admitted college seniors: complete the online MRPSP scholarship application by April 1
- What you'll need
- essay + transcript + recommendation + test scores + interview
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (umc.edu), page 2, page 3 and page 4
The details
State-funded program created by the Legislature in 2007. Phase I (undergraduate): college sophomores and up apply for academic enrichment, rural physician shadowing (40 hours a year), mentoring and a path to direct admission review at the UMMC School of Medicine. Phase II (medical school): students admitted to or attending medical or osteopathic school in Mississippi (strong preference for the University of Mississippi School of Medicine) are considered for scholarships valued up to $35,000 per year, based on available funding. Phase III supports initial practice. Service: after residency in family medicine, pediatrics, med-peds, OB-GYN or general internal medicine, practice in a clinic in a community of 15,000 or fewer more than 20 miles from a medically served area, one year for each year of funding, starting within 90 days of residency. Breaching the agreement at any stage means repaying all scholarship funds plus default penalties.
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.