skip to main content
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.

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

Information on financial aid awards offered by the Graduate School is on the Graduate School website.

Graduate assistantships are offered by the PSOA as well as by other units on campus.

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

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 graduate assistants or receive PSOA financial aid awards.

PSOA Financial Aid Awards

The PSOA offers over 90 financial aid awards each year. To be considered for PSOA financial aid awards, you must complete the PSOA Financial Aid Application. You will be given access to that application once you’ve completed the admission application process.

In addition to the information provided in the PSOA Financial Aid Application, transcript, admission application, GMAT, and FAFSA information is used to determine eligibility for PSOA awards.

Current GPAs as of the time of selection are used in evaluating candidates for PSOA financial aid award eligibility. Students from other institutions who have completed undergraduate classes since admission must have a new official transcript sent to gschool@olemiss.edu by one of the priority deadlines to be considered for PSOA financial aid awards.

Priority Application Deadlines

Students who apply by one of the priority application deadlines will be considered for awards given for the 2024-25 academic year.

  • February 1, 2024 – Priority Deadline 1 to apply for a 2024 summer term, Fall Semester 2024, Winter Intersession 2025, or Spring Semester 2025 and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards
    • 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 for a 2024 summer term, Fall Semester 2024, Winter Intersession 2025, or Spring Semester 2025 and be considered for PSOA financial aid awards
    • 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 approximately 50 graduate assistantships each year for fall and spring semesters.

Graduate assistants perform 10 hours of service to the PSOA per week, with responsibilities that may include assisting faculty, tutoring, proctoring exams, and/or assisting in the PSOA office.

In exchange for their service, graduate assistants receive a partial tuition scholarship (approximately 60-65% of resident tuition), a 100% non-resident fee scholarship, and a semesterly stipend of $2,875. For the 2023-24 academic year, the partial tuition scholarship is $3,469.50. Graduate assistantships do not include winter intersession or summer terms. Tuition for classes in those terms is based on the student’s residency.

Graduate assistantships are offered to students with the highest admission scores [admission score = (200 x GPA) + GMAT]. We accept GMAT Focus scores and traditional GMAT scores. The traditional GMAT was discontinued in January 2024. Scores for both versions are valid for five years. During the 2023-24 academic year, GMAT Focus scores will be equated to traditional GMAT scores for admission score calculations. The score concordance chart provided by GMAC, the test provider, will be used to equate scores. When a GMAT Focus score is equivalent to more than one GMAT score, the highest GMAT score will be used.

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

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 a $10,000 scholarship in fall and spring semesters and a $1,200 technology stipend in fall semester, for a total award of $21,200. Remaining fall and spring semester scholarship funds can be used for classes taken outside of those semesters. 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.