Sep 3, 2026 - Accelerate MS
The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid and AccelerateMS, the state’s workforce development office, have announced the launch of the UPSKILL Mississippi Grant.
The grant is aimed at providing adult Mississippians greater access to state financial aid for education and training for in-demand careers.
The UPSKILL Mississippi Grant — short for Upgrading Priority Skills for Key Industry Learning and Labor — will be administered by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid. The grant will cover any remaining tuition and fees after other aid is applied and include an additional $500 annual stipend for books and other educational materials.
The grant also requires participating colleges to provide recipients with additional support designed to help them complete their programs and transition into the workforce. These supports include career planning, connections to paid apprenticeships, and identifying resources for child care and transportation.
Officials from Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid and Accelerate MS said the UPSKILL grant will make education more accessible while helping connect Mississippians with high-demand jobs.
Dr. Jennifer Rogers, executive director of the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid said UPSKILL Mississippi creates an important new opportunity for adult Mississippians who may have thought the cost of returning to school to pursue a credential or degree was out of reach.
UPSKILL Mississippi goes beyond tuition assistance by requiring participating institutions to provide recipients with additional support designed to help them complete their programs and transition into the workforce. Those supports include advising or success coaching, career planning, connections to paid practicums or apprenticeships when available, and assistance identifying resources for needs such as child care and transportation.
“Mississippi has to be strategic about how we invest in workforce development,” said Sen. Nicole Boyd. “UPSKILL gives us a way to focus state resources on the skills our economy needs most while creating a stronger connection between education, workforce development and the industries driving growth in our state.”
The program will launch with a limited pilot, followed by a full pilot during the 2027-28 academic year and full implementation beginning with the 2028-29 academic year.
“Strengthening Mississippi’s workforce is not a one-year initiative; it is a long-term investment in the future of our state,” said Rep. Donnie Bell. “By continuing to strengthen quality career training and pathways into high-demand fields, we can create opportunities that benefit Mississippi families, communities and employers for years to come.”
“Workforce development isn’t simply about creating more training programs. It’s about making sure our policies, investments and institutions are working together toward the same outcomes,” Taylor said. “UPSKILL Mississippi is another step toward building that kind of system — one that starts with where Mississippi’s economy is going and helps our people get there.”
Adults enrolling in eligible programs at a Mississippi community college may apply now by completing the 2026-27 Mississippi Aid Application (MAAPP) available online at www.msfinancialaid.org. Students who have already completed a 2026-27 MAAPP may apply by logging into their MAAPP Dashboard and updating their application.
