Military Friendly Colleges in Mississippi

Ole Miss’s place in our nation’s military history is extensive. In the Civil War, the state hosted several critical battles: Vicksburg, Jackson, and Port Gibson to name a few. Approximately 97,000 men from Mississippi fought in the Confederate and Union armies.

Featured Programs:

Mississippi State VA Military Education Benefits

The bulk of Mississippi’s education benefits are for members of the state’s Army National Guard. However, service members and veterans in other branches will be able to tap into the in-state tuition rates MS offers students attending state schools. The largest program is the State Education Assistance Program.

Mississippi State Educational Assistance Program (SEAP)

Members of the Mississippi National Guard can tap into SEAP to help pay their tuition at a state or regionally accredited institution. Members of the Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard are not eligible for the program.

SEAP is available to Guardsmen and Guardswomen who are pursuing their first undergraduate degree or vocational program. If you’re approved for SEAP, you can receive tuition assistance of up to $4,500 per academic year. The Mississippi legislature allocates the funding, so how much you get depends on what’s available.

One important thing to note: You cannot combine funding from SEAP with Federal Tuition Assistance or the GI Bill unless you’re attending one of the following schools:

SEAP Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for SEAP, you must meet the following conditions:

If you wish to apply for SEAP, fill out AGO Form 5 and email it to ng.ms.msarng.mbx.education-office@mail.mil. You must include a copy of your Voter’s Registration Card and a copy of your last semester grades. You can also mail this information to MS Military Department, Att: NGMS-PEF-E, P.O. Box 5027, Jackson, MS 39296-5027.

Mississippi In-State Tuition Rates

Whether you’re stationed in Mississippi, a veteran residing in Mississippi, or a family member of a service member within the state, you may qualify for Mississippi’s in-state tuition rates. Mississippi law mandates that schools charge the following individuals in-state tuition:

Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

Members of the Mississippi National Guard may qualify for the state’s Student Loan Repayment Program. You could receive as much as $50,000 in total payments. The maximum payment would be 15% of your tuition costs or $500 per year, whichever is greater. There are two classes of soldiers who may qualify for the SLRP: those with no prior service, and those with prior service who are current members of the Army National Guard.

Soldiers with No Prior Service

You must have an Armed Forces Qualifications Test (AFQT) score of 50 or higher to qualify for enlistment incentives. Then, you must enlist under a 6×2 or 8×0 contract. A 6×2 contract would mean that you’d be in active reserve for 6 years with drilling duty of one weekend per month followed by a two-year span of inactive reserve with no drilling duty. An 8×0 contract would entail 8 years of active reserve with drilling duty.

Once you sign your contract, you must have one or more existing, qualifying loans in order to be eligible for SLRP. Note that you cannot incur additional loans unless you plan to reenlist.

Enlisted Soldiers with Prior Service and Current ARNG Members

If you’re already a member of the Mississippi ARNG, you must have not received the SLRP as an enlistment, re-enlistment or extension option as part of a Selected Reserve. Then, your eligibility is contingent on the following conditions:

For more information on the SLRP, you can contact the Education Helpdesk at (866) 403-1289 or the SLRP manager at (601) 313-6358.

Possible Station Assignments and Military Bases in Mississippi

Your time in the service will take you all over the world, whether it’s an active theater or a peacekeeping initiative. Leaving home is no easy task, but well worth the inconvenience when you’re working to serve your country. If you’re deployed overseas, remember the reasons why you joined. Remember the families and friends you’re protecting.

All this considered, there is a chance that your duty assignment will lead you to Mississippi. Here’s where you could land if you end up serving in the Magnolia State:

Army

Comprised of 134,000 acres, the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center (CSJFTC) is one of the largest Army Reserve sites in the southern part of the country. It also serves the needs of the Army’s Active Components, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. The base supports battalion level maneuver training, and support exercises for the M1 Abrams Tank, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and M109A6 Paladin Howitzers.

CSJFTC includes the De Soto National Forest, a favorite of many hikers, campers, hunters and fishermen. If the outdoors is where you’re happiest, then you’ll find bliss in De Soto. If you want to get off base, you can visit the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, the Hattiesburg Zoo, or try some backflips in the Updown Trampoline Park.

Air Force

Home of the 14^th Flying Training Wing of Air Education and Training Command’s 19^th Air Force, Columbus Air Force Base is located in the Northeast corner of the state. It focuses on training undergraduate pilots in the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon, and T-1A Jayhawk. The base serves as one of the nation’s premier flight schools for student pilots.

When off duty, you can visit Lake Lowndes State Park for some four-wheeling and fishing. If you’re one to honor those who have served before you, visit Friendship Cemetery. You’ll not only find those who served in recent conflicts, but also the graves of those who died fighting in the Civil War.

A base that trains more than 28,000 students every year Keesler Air Force Base is home to the 2^nd Air Force and the 403^rd Wing. It contains more than 160 career field specialty training courses. It also provides instruction to active duty soldiers, sailors, marines, and Coast Guard members.

Biloxi is located on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, so anyone with a love of the sea will be happy with a duty assignment at Keesler. Visit the Davis Bayous Area Gulf Islands National Seashore for some swimming, or visit the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for a night of fun (but not too much).

Navy

Home to Air Training Wing One, Training Squadron 9, Training Squadron 7, Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One and the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, Naval Air Station Meridian comprises more than 8,000 acres. The base serves as a training center for sailors with NECs in aviation and technical disciplines. It also supports the Naval Operational Support Center and the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy.

Meridian has quite a bit to offer off base. The Mississippi State University’s Riley Center hosts a wide variety of shows – from stage drama to blues concerts. If you’re more of an outdoorsy person, Bonita Lakes Park has 1,700 acres of hiking and biking trails, as well as places to swim.

Home to the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport provides services and material support to Naval Construction Force Units. Located on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, approximately 4,400 active duty personnel and their families live on base. If your NEC is anything construction-related, you may find yourself at NCBC Gulfport.

Boating, swimming, and fishing trips are all par for the course in Gulfport, but if you’ve had enough time at sea, there’s plenty to do on land. The Island View Casino has 83,000 square feet of gaming facilities. If you’re an animal nut, the Institute for Marine Mamma Studies has some of the most compelling exhibits you’ll find on aquatic life.