Undergraduate Scholarships
Financial Wellness
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Get Started on Your Financial Wellness Journey
It is vital to Southern Miss students to recieve adequate financial literacy education since academic success and financial stability coincide. Although we award roughly $23 million dollars in scholarship funds, there are often additional collegiate expenses or personal financial burdens that a student may encounter.
For many students, they are obtaining their first jobs, living on their own for the first time, trying to help provide for their families, buying or saving for their first automobile, and juggling various other financial obligations alongside with financing their education. Although scholarships can supplement, and in some cases fully finance, a student’s college education, personal finances will always be a factor in their long-term success.
Students, faculty, and staff can request to have financial literacy presentation for their classroom or student organization.
Your tool for Financial Wellness
iGrad is an interactive, online platform that offers a suite of tools designed to provide Southern Miss students with knowledge on financial topics including budgeting, financial aid, banking, investing, and more. There are videos, calculators, articles, recommendations, games, and other resources that can help them improve their finances. The platform is free to all currently enrolled students, faculty and staff.
With a wide range of both content and tools, iGrad’s platform has something to offer any student working toward financial wellness— whether it's paying for school, saving for a rainy day, or getting a jump start on their post-graduation financial situation.
IGrad also allows students to sync to the Department of Education to view and stay on top of their student loans. There is also an external scholarship feature that provides credible and vetted additional scholarship opportunities for our students to help them make college affordable.
Additionally, iGrad hosts monthly giveaways where the students have the chance to win $1,000.
Students will be able to access the iGrad website directly at southernmiss.igrad.com
Students can then sign in using their SOAR username (w123456) and password.
Once students activate their account, they will be asked a few questions about their goals and financial habits. iGrad will use their responses to provide financial information specific to their situation and needs.
Prospective Undergraduate Students
Choosing a degree program and understanding cost
Everything You Need to Know to Get Started With Paying for College
Undergraduate Students
Did You Think Scholarships Were Only For New Students?
Graduate Students
Breaking Down The Repayment Options
Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Do You Qualify?
International Students
5 Tips for International Students Financing a U.S. Education
Basic Credit Card Types and Terms You Need to Know
Alumni
Below is a collection of interactive, federal books and booklets that students can access or come by our office and pick up. These free, federally provided resources are administered by third parties and have been vetted through the Office of Undergraduate Scholarships.
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| The toolkit is a great workbook with 43 lessons and handouts that you can complete in whole or in conveniently split sections. There are easy-to-follow directions and recommendations on which tools to use based on your unique needs identified through the financial assessments provided within this resource. This toolkit can be accessed online with downloadable pdfs or you can come by our office and get a free paper copy. | In addition to the toolkit, we have individualized booklets that can help you learn more about a specific topic of interest. You can use these bright, interactive booklets to easily help you begin to address common financial stressors and work through strategies to reduce your financial stress. These booklets can be downloaded and physical copies are located in the Office of Undergraduate Scholarships, along with other additional resources. |