If you’re a high-achieving high-school senior thinking about college in the United States, the Millsaps College Premier Scholarship is one of those rare offers that can change the trajectory of your education and your life. For the 2025–2026 cycle, Millsaps is again promoting this flagship award that covers full tuition and fees for top incoming students, pairs recipients with enriched academic programming, and guarantees funded experiential learning opportunities across their four years. This article walks you through everything you need to know: what the Premier Scholarship is, who’s eligible, what the award covers, how to apply, important dates, and tactical tips to strengthen your application.
What Is the Millsaps Premier Scholarship?
The Premier Scholarship is Millsaps College’s top-tier merit award, aimed at students with outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential. But it’s not just about money. This is as much a leadership and enrichment program as a scholarship.
Over the course of four years, Premier Scholars become part of a tightly knit cohort, sharing an honors-level curriculum, living-learning communities, faculty mentorship, and guaranteed support for meaningful experiential learning. The aim of the Premier Scholarship is to provide “major support for major scholars”: students who not only excel academically but also aspire to “focused achievements in scholarship or service.”
Who Is Eligible for the Premier Scholarship?
The Premier Scholarship is explicitly designed for high-achieving students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and community engagement. Here are the eligibility criteria:
- GPA requirement: Minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Standardized test scores: Minimum ACT score of 28 or SAT score of 1300.
- Application components:
- You must first complete the standard Millsaps application (via the Millsaps portal or the Common Application).
- Submit a Premier Scholarship application, which includes:
- A short essay (500–700 words) responding to prompts provided by Millsaps.
- Two letters of recommendation: one from a teacher, counselor, or principal; one from a coach, employer, or mentor. Relatives are not acceptable.
- (Optional) A portfolio of work that demonstrates excellence in academics, leadership, arts, performance, or other relevant areas.
Note that the application is not automatic: you need to proactively apply for the Premier Scholarship in addition to your admission application.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
1. Tuition & Fees
- The Premier Scholarship fully covers tuition and fees for all four years at Millsaps.
- For the 2025–2026 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition is $42,580 per year, and comprehensive fees are $2,990 per year.
- By eliminating tuition and fee burden, the Premier Scholarship significantly reduces one of the largest components of the total cost of attendance for students.
2. Experiential Learning Support
One of the most distinguishing features of the Premier Scholarship is its guarantee that every Premier Scholar will receive support for at least one experiential learning opportunity. These opportunities may include:
- Study abroad programs
- Paid internships
- Paid research assistantships
- A summer fellowship stipend
This support ensures that students not only learn in the classroom but also gain real-world, resume-building experiences that align with their academic interests and professional goals.
3. Honors-Level Academic Experience
As part of the Premier cohort, students engage in a range of structured, academically rigorous, and purpose-driven experiences, including:
- A shared first-year curriculum tailored for Premier Scholars
- A sophomore experience designed to prepare students for Millsaps’ Honors Program
- A Vocation, Ethics, and Society capstone project, where students integrate their academic learning with ethical and civic questions across disciplines
- Focused preparation for prestigious postgraduate fellowships (e.g., Fulbright, Rhodes, other competitive grants)
4. Community & Mentorship
- Premier Scholars are placed in living/learning communities on campus, where they live and learn with other high-achieving students.
- Each Scholar receives a faculty or staff mentor, fostering consistent support, guidance, and intellectual growth.
- The cohort model encourages peer collaboration, leadership development, and mutual support.
How to apply
Millsaps streamlines scholarship consideration by making many merit awards automatic upon admission, but Premier Scholarships require an additional application. Here’s a typical roadmap:
- Apply and get admitted to Millsaps College: You can apply via Millsaps’ own portal or the Common App. Scholarship consideration begins once you’re an admitted student.
- Register for the Premier Scholarship application: Register for the scholarship on the Premier Scholarship page.
- Prepare Premier Scholarship Materials
- Write your 500–700 word essay: Reflect deeply on the prompt, your intellectual passions, leadership experience, and your future goals.
- Secure two recommendation letters: Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your scholarship, character, and potential impact.
- (Optional) Compile a portfolio: This could include academic papers, artistic work, service projects, or leadership accomplishments.
- Submit Before the Deadline
- Make sure all materials are submitted by December 12, 2025.
- Double-check your application for completeness and alignment with Millsaps’ instructions.
- Interview / Scholars Weekend
- If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll be invited to Scholars Weekend (Feb 6–7, 2026) on Millsaps’ campus.
- Use this time to meet faculty, current Premier Scholars, and engage in interview or evaluation sessions.
- Decision & Acceptance
- By March 13, 2026, finalists will be notified and required to accept the scholarship if offered.
- Once accepted, you’ll be integrated into the Premier Scholars program, including living-learning assignments and faculty mentorship.
Click here for more information about the scholarship.
Important Dates — 2025–2026 Timeline
Being mindful of deadlines is critical. Here are the key dates for the 2025–2026 Premier Scholarship cycle according to Millsaps:
- August 1, 2025: Premier Scholarship application opens
- December 12, 2025: Final day to submit all required Premier Scholarship materials
- February 6–7, 2026: Scholars Weekend — an on-campus event for finalists (interviews, campus experience)
- March 13, 2026: Scholarship acceptance deadline for selected Premier Scholars
If you’re planning to apply, mark these dates and set reminders. Missing a deadline could mean missing out on this life-changing award.
Tips to Maximize Your Chances of Winning the Premier Scholarship
Here are some tactical recommendations to help you put together a compelling application for the Premier Scholarship:
- Aim for Strong Academics
- Make sure your GPA and standardized test scores meet or exceed the published thresholds (GPA 3.5+, ACT 28 or SAT 1300).
- Take rigorous courses in high school (AP, IB, dual-enrollment) to demonstrate your ability to succeed in challenging academic environments.
- Craft a Thoughtful, Authentic Essay
- Use the 500–700 word essay to tell a personal story: Why are you drawn to Millsaps? What experiences shaped your goals? How will becoming a Premier Scholar help you make an impact?
- Reflect deeply on values, leadership, and purpose — not just achievements.
- Choose the Right Recommenders
- Pick a teacher, counselor, or principal who can speak to your intellectual promise and character.
- For the second letter, select a coach, employer, mentor, or someone who can attest to your leadership, initiative, or community contribution — not a relative.
- Consider Submitting a Portfolio
- If you have a strong body of work (e.g., research, art, performance, community service projects), including a portfolio can significantly strengthen your application.
- Even if a portfolio is optional, it gives you a chance to stand out.
- Prepare for Scholars Weekend
- If you’re invited to Scholars Weekend (Feb 6–7), be ready to engage: attend sessions, ask questions, and show enthusiasm. This is your chance to make a personal impression on faculty, staff, and current scholars.
- Think about what you might want to discuss in interviews — your academic passions, leadership goals, or how you envision contributing to the Millsaps community.
- Budget Beyond Tuition
- Create a realistic budget that includes room, board, books, transportation, and personal expenses.
- Explore other financial aid options (work-study, loans) if needed — even after Premier, there may be gaps to cover. Use Millsaps’ financial aid office to guide you.
- Stay Organized
- Use a calendar or checklist to track key dates: application open, deadline (Dec 12), Scholars Weekend, acceptance.
- Start early so you have enough time to revise your essay, reach out to recommenders, and assemble your portfolio.
Conclusion
The Millsaps Premier Scholarship represents one of the most generous and developmentally rich merit awards available to incoming undergraduates. It combines the practical benefit of full tuition and fees with a structured honors pathway, experiential funding, and a built-in cohort — a package that prepares recipients for competitive graduate programs, meaningful careers, and leadership in their communities.
If you’re academically strong, active in leadership or service, and excited by the idea of a curated college experience that emphasizes scholarship and real-world application, the Premier Scholarship at Millsaps is worth a deliberate, well-prepared application. Start early, gather compelling recommendations, and use your essay to tell a tight, authentic story about your ambitions and impact.