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Patterson School of Accountancy
University of Mississippi

Financial Aid for Master’s Students

Financial aid for master’s students includes graduate assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and loans.

Recipients of graduate assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships must be enrolled full-time in fall and spring semesters (9-12 hours) and must remain in good academic standing in order to maintain eligibility to receive those awards. To be in good academic standing, students must earn a GPA of 3.0 or above (with no rounding up) in every semester and term enrolled and also maintain an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 or above. This includes any terms enrolled in master’s classes prior to aid disbursement.

Financial aid opportunities are limited for students who are admitted in categories other than full standing.

Information on graduate student loans is available on the Office of Financial Aid website.

PSOA Financial Aid Awards

To be considered for graduate assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships awarded by the PSOA, you must complete the PSOA Financial Aid Application, which is separate from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and graduate student loan applications.

You will be given access to the PSOA Financial Aid Application when you’ve completed the admission application process.

Priority Application Deadlines

Students who apply by one of the priority deadlines will be considered for awards given for the upcoming academic year.

  • February 1, 2024 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for admission and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards for 2024-25
    • PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with an admission score of 1350 or above (admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT)
    • Scholarships and fellowships will be offered to applicants who meet specified award criteria
  • April 1, 2024 – Priority Deadline 2 to apply and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards for 2024-25
    • Any remaining PSOA graduate assistantships will be offered to applicants with the highest admission scores
    • Any remaining PSOA scholarships and fellowships will be offered to applicants who meet specified award criteria

PSOA Graduate Assistantship

The PSOA awards graduate assistantships for fall and spring semesters to students with the highest admission scores (admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT). Graduate assistants perform 10 hours of service per week to the school and receive a partial tuition scholarship (75% of regular graduate tuition, which differs from accountancy master’s tuition), a non-resident fee scholarship (if a non-resident), and a semesterly stipend of $2,750. For the 2022-23 academic year, the partial tuition scholarship for fall and spring semesters is $3,402.

Graduate assistant responsibilities may include assisting faculty, tutoring, proctoring exams, working in the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) library, and/or assisting in the PSOA office.

Graduate assistantships do not include winter intersession or summer terms. Tuition for classes in those terms is based on the student’s residency.

PSOA graduate assistants are not permitted to serve in additional graduate assistantship positions while serving in the PSOA.

Students who are participating in the concurrent Juris Doctor/Master of Accountancy and Juris Doctor/Master of Taxation programs are not eligible to serve as PSOA graduate assistants.

Hearin Foundation Graduate Fellowship

With the goal of improving the economic status of Mississippi, the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation has generously provided funding for fellowships awarded to students in our Master of Accountancy & Data Analytics (MADA) and Master of Taxation & Data Analytics (MTDA) programs. Hearin Fellows receive a scholarship of $7,500 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $15,000. Remaining fall and spring semester scholarship funds can be used for classes taken outside of those semesters. Hearin Fellows fulfill a minimal service obligation, which generally consists of proctoring exams periodically during the semester. Eligible candidates are Mississippi residents who are admitted to the MADA or MTDA program and plan to work in Mississippi upon graduation from the master’s program.

KPMG MADA Scholarship

The Patterson School of Accountancy proudly partners with KPMG to create pathways for underrepresented future leaders to build thriving careers in the professional services industry. Our Master of Accountancy & Data Analytics (MADA) program was established in 2018 in collaboration with KPMG, and we are committed to preparing students for the highly complex business landscape by combining the practical use of data and analytics technologies with a focused accounting curriculum. KPMG MADA Scholars receive a scholarship of $7,500 in fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $15,000. Remaining fall and spring semester scholarship funds can be used for classes taken outside of those semesters. Eligible candidates are students who are admitted to the MADA program, are members of an underrepresented population, and have either accepted a post-master’s job offer with KPMG or have not accepted a job offer at the time of selection. Funding for these scholarships is generously provided by KPMG.

Minority & First-Generation Educational Initiative Scholarship

To provide educational opportunities in accountancy and data analytics to Mississippi residents who are first-generation college students and/or members of underrepresented populations, the U.S. Department of Education has generously provided funding for the Minority & First-Generation Educational Initiative Scholarship program. The award includes an $8,000 scholarship in fall and spring semesters, a $4,000 scholarship in the summer, and a $1,200 technology stipend, for a total award of $21,200. Eligible candidates are Mississippi residents who are admitted to the Master of Accountancy & Data Analytics (MADA) or Master of Taxation & Data Analytics (MTDA) program and who are members of an underrepresented population and/or are first-generation students by this definition: an individual, neither of whose parents completed a baccalaureate degree; or an individual who, prior to the age of 18, regularly resided with and received support from only one parent and whose supporting parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree; or an individual who, prior to the age of 18, did not regularly reside with or receive support from a natural or adoptive parent.

PSOA Scholarship

PSOA scholarships (generally $1,000-$1,500 in fall and spring semesters) are awarded to students who meet varying criteria as funding is available.

Other Financial Aid Awards

Graduate Assistantship Outside of the PSOA

Graduate assistantships are offered by other offices on campus. Students should contact individual offices to inquire about availability. Scholarship amounts, stipend amounts, and number of required hours of service vary by position. Scholarship amounts are based on regular graduate tuition, which differs from accountancy master’s tuition.

Graduate assistantships do not include winter intersession or summer terms. Tuition for classes in those terms is based on the student’s residency.

Academic Excellence Fellowship

The Academic Excellence Fellowship, which recognizes superior academic achievement, is awarded annually by the graduate school to a student nominated by the PSOA. The fellowship amount is $1,000 for fall and spring semesters, for a total award of $2,000. The Academic Excellence Fellow is required to participate in professional development and networking events hosted by the graduate school. Additional information is available on the graduate school website.

Excellence in Inclusivity Fellowship & Scholarship

The graduate school awards Excellence in Inclusivity Fellowships & Scholarships to students who will add diversity to the classroom, school, or the campus. Interested students can request to be nominated by the PSOA. Recipients are required to participate in professional development and networking events hosted by the graduate school.

The award for full-time students who are not working full-time and do not have a graduate assistantship includes a fellowship of $1,000 for fall and spring semesters as well as a partial tuition scholarship (75% of regular graduate tuition, which differs from accountancy master’s tuition) and a partial non-resident fee scholarship (44% of the non-resident fee) for fall semester, spring semester, and summer. Full-time enrollment in fall and spring semesters is 9-12 hours; full-time enrollment in the summer requires 9 total hours in first summer term, second summer term, and/or full summer term (intersessions are excluded).

Students who have a graduate assistantship receive a fellowship of $1,000 in fall and spring semesters. Eligible candidates are US citizens or permanent residents. Additional information, including information on award amounts for part-time students and/or those who are employed full-time, is available on the graduate school website.