NISS – Nissan Scholarship
Program Overview
Nissan North America, Inc. provides scholarship funds for applicants that will attend a Mississippi public two-year or four-year college.
Rules and Regulations
Important Dates
Application dates: October 1 – March 1
Document deadline: March 1
Eligibility Requirements
- Be a graduating Mississippi high school student in the current year.
- Have a minimum cumulative 2.5 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale after a minimum of seven semesters.
- Score a minimum of 20 on the ACT (940 on the SAT) during a national test. Residual test scores are not acceptable. ACT Superscores are accepted.
- Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application.
- Enroll full-time at a Mississippi public community college or university in a program of study leading to a first associate’s or first bachelor’s degree.
- Demonstrate leadership abilities through participation in extracurricular activities.
- Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Write and sign a brief essay (200 words maximum) on the following topic: How do my plans for the future and my college major support the Automotive industry in Mississippi?
Selection Process
A Nissan Scholarship Selection Committee will be appointed each year. Selection of new scholarship recipients will be based on the following criteria and scoring percentages:
- Academic achievement (50%)
- Extracurricular activities/work/leadership/community involvement (15%)
- Quality of applicant’s signed 200-word essay (15%)
- Demonstrated financial need (20%)
Number of Awards and Award Amount
- Contingent upon the availability of funds, the Nissan Scholarship Selection Committee will determine the number of Nissan Scholarships to be awarded annually. In most years, one or two applicants will be awarded.
- Each scholarship will be an amount that pays full tuition, required fees, and a book allowance.
Length of Eligibility
- The Nissan Scholarship can be awarded for up to four years, either two years at a two-year college and two additional years at a four-year university, or up to four years at a four-year university.
(Note: No student may receive undergraduate grant aid through more than one state-supported undergraduate grant program in the same term of enrollment. If a student is eligible for aid through multiple grant programs, the student shall be awarded from the program that awards the larger sum. No student shall receive undergraduate grant aid from any program or any combination of programs for more than eight semesters or twelve trimesters.)
To Apply – New Applicants
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is required for all applicants and will serve as one of two required residency documents.
- Complete the online application. The online application must be completed each and every academic year for which the applicant seeks aid.
- Submit two forms of residency documentation.
Preferred Residency Documents:
- FAFSA
- Mississippi driver’s license (can be submitted electronically during the online application)
Alternate Residency Documents Accepted:
- State Tax Return (NOT Federal) for the current tax filing year. Dependent students would provide a signed copy of the first two pages of the parent’s return. Independent students would provide a signed copy of the student’s return. Am I dependent or independent?
- Homestead Exemption
- Voter Registration
- Vehicle Registration
How to Submit Supporting Documents
To Apply – Renewal Applicants
Renewal Applicants are applicants who have previously received an award through the program.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Complete the online application. The online application must be completed each and every academic year for which the applicant seeks aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much is the Nissan Scholarship worth?
The scholarship will pay full tuition, required fees, and a book allowance. - Can I apply after the March 1 deadline?
No. All documents must be received on or before the March 1 deadline. - Do I have to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
Yes. You do not have to send your FAFSA results to our office. We will receive the results electronically. - Is the scholarship available if I attend a college or university outside of Mississippi?
No. Recipients must attend one of Mississippi’s public two-year colleges or public four-year universities. - How do I submit supporting documents to the Office of Student Financial Aid?
How to Submit Supporting Documents
