Millsaps Expands Access for JPS Students Through Tuition Discount Program

by Tiara Jackson • Published on June 2, 2026 • Comments

A view of Millsaps College campus in Jackson, Miss.
(Courtesy of Millsaps College)

Millsaps College and the Jackson Public School District have launched a five-year partnership that will provide JPS graduates with a 50% tuition scholarship, an effort aimed at expanding college access and reducing student debt.

The agreement comes as private colleges nationwide face enrollment challenges and families continue to grapple with rising higher education costs. Annual tuition at Millsaps exceeds $40,000 per year, and students who qualify for the scholarship may renew it for up to four years.

Tiara Jackson

Millsaps expands access to JPS students through tuition discount program

Millsaps Chief of Staff Stephanie Rolph said the college has worked to make its financial aid process more transparent and help families better understand the long-term costs of higher education.

"The adjustments that we have made as an institution to be more transparent about merit scholarships,” said Rolph. “About how to navigate and manage minimal student loan debt where appropriate, and emphasizing the investment that you're making in your future,"

In a statement, JPS Superintendent Errick Greene said the district is committed to preparing students for success both locally and globally through expanded educational opportunities.

"We're increasing the number and variety of career pathways, and we appreciate partners like Millsaps who help scholars reach their full potential," Greene said.

Filer image — Jackson Public Schools students participate in a health event at the Jackson Convention Complex in February.
(Tiara Jackson, MPB News)

The college has been partnering with other institutions to keep students in the area. They recently signed a three-year agreement with the University of Mississippi School of Law and currently working with the Mississippi College School of Law. Rolph said the institution also partners with multiple health care programs.

Students can receive their master's from the school through the programs they have. Rolph said students earn more money after they leave the institution.

“The programs we offer, the connections we have downtown and across the state. Those things very much reflect our continuing investments,” said Rolph. “Cultivating the state’s talent to stay in the state. This is where the best work can be done and Millsaps is deeply committed to staying in that work as long as we are able to.”

Millsaps currently ranks in the top 3% regionally for median earnings four years after graduation. Graduates earn a median of $70,977, nearly $24,000 more per year than the regional average.

Millsaps President, Frank Neville said in a statement, “Mississippi’s future depends on our ability to educate, retain, and empower homegrown talent. This partnership creates a clear pathway for Jackson students and families to see a future for themselves right here, earning a rigorous education, building meaningful careers and contributing to their communities across the state.”

Rolph said the partnership is already generating interest among students in the Jackson metro area. The college expects to enroll two to three times more Jackson-area students in fall 2026 than it did the previous year.

Students who graduated from JPS this spring are eligible to apply for admission and the scholarship for the fall 2026 semester.

“We are deeply invested in the city of Jackson and also the state of Mississippi,” said Rolph. “And cultivating and attracting new and up-and-coming talent. Right in our backyard. So that's very much at the center of our motivation for this.”