The University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are joining forces to ease college students’ path to earning a bachelor’s degree.
In a joint press conference, representatives from both schools unveiled the new Coastal Pathways Scholarship, a collaborative effort designed to create a clear and affordable route for graduates of the two-year junior college to earn four-year degrees at Southern Miss.
This new scholarship opportunity offers $5,000 annually to qualified transfer students from MGCCC and is renewable with continued eligibility. The initiative aims to help add to the workforce across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“We are proud to launch the Coastal Pathways Scholarship in partnership with MGCCC,” Southern Miss President Dr. Joe Paul said. “This program creates a seamless and supportive path for community college students to complete their degrees at Southern Miss. By reducing financial barriers and providing a direct connection between our institutions, we are investing in the future of our students and our coastal communities.”
According to a press release from the two higher learning institutions, to qualify for the Coastal Pathways Scholarship, students must:
- Have most recently attended MGCCC with enrollment since 2023
- Earn an associate degree from MGCCC or have completed at least 60 credit hours with a minimum transfer cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Declare one of the following majors at Southern Miss Gulf Park: Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Elementary Education, Marine Biology, Marine Science, Ocean Engineering, Organizational Leadership, Psychology, and Secondary Education
Pupils will also be required to enroll in at least 15 credit hours each semester, including a minimum of nine credit hours of face-to-face instruction on USM’s Gulf Park campus, and maintain a 2.5 GPA.
“At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, we are committed to creating opportunities that empower our students to succeed beyond graduation. With 66 percent of our students transferring to four-year universities, programs like the Coastal Pathways Scholarship are essential in supporting their continued academic journey,” Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president, said.
“We deeply value our university partners like Southern Miss, whose collaboration helps ensure that our students have affordable, seamless access to quality education and a clear path to achieving their goals.”
More information on the new scholarship can be found here.
