Residency

Students age 20 or younger at the time of application cannot submit residency documents in their own name. Students must submit two (2) residency documents in the name of the biological parent listed on the admission application or onboarding process.

However, if the student listed an “Other” guardian instead of a biological mother or father, the student must submit the following:

1. Mississippi court-ordered legal guardianship documents; and
2. One (1) additional document from the list below in the name of the court-ordered legal guardian.

Accepted Residency Documents

• Current Mississippi Driver’s License or State-Issued ID (Persons moving into Mississippi on a permanent basis have 60 days per state law to acquire a driver’s license.)
• Current mortgage statement with a Mississippi physical address matching your current address on file. (Property deeds and home warranties are not accepted.)
• Current homestead exemption with a Mississippi physical address matching your current address on file.
• Lease agreement showing a Mississippi physical address. The lease must be signed by both the lessor and lessee and may not be from a private homeowner.
• Guardianship documents issued by a Mississippi court or the Mississippi Department of Human Services. If you listed someone other than your mother or father, this must be one of the two required documents you submit.
• Emancipation documents
• Mississippi state income tax return from the prior year or prior-prior tax year. (Federal tax returns are not accepted.)
• Current Mississippi Voter Registration Card
• Current motor vehicle registration. (Individuals moving to Mississippi on a permanent basis have 30 days under state law to register vehicles.)
• Current employment documents showing a Mississippi physical address (such as a recent pay stub or employment contract).
• Current utility bill showing a Mississippi physical address that matches the address on file. The bill must not reflect a past-due balance or disconnection notice. Acceptable utility bills include water, electricity, gas, internet, cable, landline telephone, and cellular phone bills. Other bills, such as car notes, insurance statements, credit card bills, and medical bills, are not accepted.
• Official high school transcript verifying four full years of attendance and graduation from a Mississippi high school
• Signed statement from the Mississippi Department of Human Services or a certified letter from a recognized relief agency (such as The Salvation Army) verifying that the student is receiving services as a homeless Mississippi resident.

Military

One (1) of the following military documents may be submitted as a standalone document, meaning this document is sufficient to establish Mississippi residency.

• Current signed letter or form from a Veterans Affairs School Certifying Officer.
• Current military orders for active-duty military personnel stationed in Mississippi.
• DD Form 214
• Current Mississippi driver’s license with veteran designation.

Additional Notes

• If you wish to establish residency through a parent not previously listed on your application, contact the Office of Admissions. You will be provided instructions on how to resubmit your parent information.
• Or, if you wish to establish residency through a biological parent not listed on your application, you may submit a birth certificate establishing parentage along with two (2) approved residency documents.
• Married students may submit residency documents in the name of their spouse after providing a copy of their marriage license.

Submit two (2) of the following documents in the name of the student:

• Current Mississippi driver’s license or state-issued ID. (Individuals moving to Mississippi on a permanent basis have 60 days under state law to obtain a Mississippi driver’s license.)
• Current mortgage statement showing a Mississippi physical address that matches the address on file. (Property deeds and home warranties are not accepted.)
• Current homestead exemption showing a Mississippi physical address that matches the address on file.
• Lease agreement showing a Mississippi physical address. The lease must be signed by both the lessor and lessee and may not be from a private homeowner.
• Emancipation documents
• Mississippi state income tax return from the prior year or prior-prior tax year. (Federal tax returns are not accepted.)
• Current Mississippi voter registration card.
• Current motor vehicle registration. (Individuals moving to Mississippi on a permanent basis have 30 days under state law to register vehicles.)
• Current employment documents showing a Mississippi physical address (such as a recent pay stub or employment contract).
• Current utility bill showing a Mississippi physical address that matches the address on file. The bill must not reflect a past-due balance or disconnection notice. Acceptable utility bills include water, electricity, gas, internet, cable, landline telephone, and cellular phone bills. Other bills, such as car notes, insurance statements, credit card bills, and medical bills, are not accepted.
• Signed statement from the Mississippi Department of Human Services or a certified letter from a recognized relief agency (such as The Salvation Army) verifying that the student is receiving services as a homeless Mississippi resident.

Military

One (1) of the following military documents may be submitted as a standalone document, meaning this document is sufficient to establish Mississippi residency:

• Current signed letter or form from a Veterans Affairs School Certifying Officer.
• Current military orders for active-duty military personnel stationed in Mississippi.
• DD Form 214.
• Current Mississippi driver’s license with veteran designation.

Additional Notes

• Married students may submit residency documents in the name of their spouse after providing a copy of their marriage license.

If you were born outside of the United States of America or indicated a residency status on your application other than U.S. citizen, you will be coded as Out-of-Country and Out-of-State until you establish both U.S. residency and MS residency.

Please note: If you are age 20 or younger, U.S. citizenship must be established in both the student’s name and the biological parent or Mississippi court-ordered legal guardian. If you are 21 or older, U.S citizenship is established only in the name of the student.

1. Submit one (1) of the following documents:

• Certificate of Citizenship
• Green card (permanent resident card)
• Naturalization Certificate
• US Birth Certificate
• Current U.S. Passport

2. Next, submit two (2) forms of Mississippi residency. See the appropriate “Establishing Mississippi Residency” sections above for a list of approved documents according to your age.