SLPL-Speech-Language Pathologist

Funding was not sufficient to offer new SLPL awards for Aid Year 2023-2024.  Only renewal awards were funded.

SLPL – Speech-Language Pathologist Forgivable Loan

Program Overview:

Speech-Language Pathologist Forgivable Loans (SLPL) are available to students seeking a first master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, Communicative Disorders, or Communication Sciences and Disorders. For full-time students, awards will be made in the amount of tuition and required fees at a public institution. For part-time students, awards will be based on hours enrolled, but will not exceed the highest tuition and required fees for part-time students attending a public institution of higher learning. The loan will be forgiven for recipients who serve as licensed speech-language pathologists in a Mississippi public or charter school for one year for each year of funding received. Loan recipients who choose not to fulfill the service obligation will be required to repay the loan in full with a penalty of 5% and interest.

Rules and Regulations:

SLPL Rules and Regulations

Important Dates:

Application dates: October 1 – March 31
Document deadline: June 30

NOTE: About four (4) awards per cohort (two cohorts) will be made each aid year. Awards are made to students with COMPLETE applications on a first-come, first-served basis, as funding is available. However, priority is given to eligible renewal applicants. Applications are considered to be complete only after all supporting documents have been received.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi for one year prior to application.
• Be fully admitted as a regular student in a first master’s degree program in Speech-Language Pathology, Communicative Disorders, or Communication Sciences and Disorders. (Currently, the approved programs of study are offered at Jackson State University, Mississippi University for Women, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi.)
• Enroll full-time or part-time. Enrollment intensity is determined by the attending institution.
• Have and maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Award Amount and Length of Eligibility:

• SLPL awards are available to students during the summer term (when summer is required).
• Students enrolling on a full-time basis may receive a maximum of two (2) annual awards. The maximum award will not exceed the highest tuition and required fees at a state institution of higher learning.
• Students enrolling on a part-time basis may receive a maximum of three (3) annual awards. Awards for part-time students will be based on hours enrolled, but will not exceed the highest tuition and required fees for part-time students attending a state institution of higher learning.
• SLPL recipients are not eligible for any other state aid but may apply for federal or institutional aid.

Service Obligation:

• SLPL is first and foremost a loan. However, an SLPL loan will be forgiven (discharged) for recipients who complete the program of study, obtain the required license, and serve as speech-language pathologists in a public or charter school/district in Mississippi for one year for each year of funding received.
• LIABILITY: Forgivable Loan recipients who choose not to fulfill the service obligation will be required to repay the loan in full with 5% penalty and interest.

To Apply:

1. Complete the online application. The online application must be completed each and every academic year for which the applicant seeks aid.
2. New applicants must submit a copy of the applicant’s official letter of acceptance into the graduate program, stating the applicant has been fully admitted or has regular admission.
3. New applicants and some renewal applicants with a break in enrollment must 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.
• Homestead Exemption
• Voter Registration
• Vehicle Registration

Note: Our office receives FAFSA results electronically for all Mississippi residents. When possible, the state tax return or Mississippi driver’s license pending document will be replaced by the FAFSA.

Documents must be RECEIVED, not postmarked, by the published document deadline date of June 30.

How to Submit Supporting Documents

After the Application – the SLPL Award Process:

1. If funding is available, the Office will make award offers as soon as possible after receiving an appropriation, but no later than mid-June.
2. To accept an award, new applicants must sign a Master Contract and Note, which includes the program Rules and Regulations. The contract will be signed electronically.
3. New and renewal applicants must sign a Private Loan Self-Certification Form every year for which the applicant receives funds. The self-certification form will be signed electronically.
4. When the Contract and Self-certification form have been received, the Office will notify the student’s attending institution that the student has been awarded.

How to Submit Supporting Documents