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FAQ’s and Info Frequently Asked Questions about MPACT Can I afford MPACT? With MPACT, you can lock in the price for your child’s college tuition today regardless of future tuition increases. MPACT is affordable. You can purchase an MPACT plan with a one-time payment, annual payments, monthly payments, or a partial down payment followed by monthly payments. Is MPACT guaranteed? If you’re shopping around to find the best option to save for your child’s future education, MPACT is the only prepaid tuition plan available that is guaranteed by the State of Mississippi. MPACT does not guarantee admission to college. Students must still meet the requirements for college admission. Is MPACT flexible? You can use MPACT for community college, university/senior college, or a combination, from one year up to five years. MPACT benefits may be eligible for transfer to other children in the immediate family, including first cousins as long as they meet the program’s guidelines. There’s no hurry to decide which college is best for your child. You do not have to notify MPACT of the college to be attended (this applies only to out of state and private schools) until sixty days before the student enrolls or registers for college. You can even transfer from one college to another. Who is eligible for MPACT? Any child in Mississippi age 18 or younger and not yet attending college at the beginning of an MPACT enrollment period is eligible. Either the purchaser or the beneficiary must be a Mississippi resident. MPACT plans can be purchased by family, friends, corporations, or nonprofit groups. What are the tax benefits? Contributions made to any MPACT plan are fully deductible for Mississippi income tax purposes. Earnings from MPACT are exempt from federal and state income tax. Consult your professional tax practitioner for detailed information. How do I begin using my MPACT benefits? MPACT beneficiaries become eligible upon reaching their projected enrollment year. Before contract benefits can be utilized, all outstanding balances and fees must be paid in full and a valid Social Security number must be on file for the beneficiary. It is the beneficiary’s responsibility to notify the school’s billing office of their intent to use MPACT funds. The MPACT Matriculation Card is provided for this purpose. If the school has any questions about eligibility to use MPACT benefits or the procedures to verify eligibility, please refer the school representative to MPACT at 1-800-987-4450, option 2. How will MPACT pay tuition benefits? The beneficiary listed on the MPACT contract will receive information on using MPACT benefits in the spring of his/her projected college enrollment year. When a student has been accepted at a college or university and properly identified as an MPACT student, the school will bill MPACT directly for the payment of tuition and mandatory fees. For in-state public universities and colleges, MPACT will pay 100% of the in-state tuition rates for tuition and mandatory fees; for out-of-state or private institutions, MPACT will pay a rate equivalent to the weighted-average tuition and mandatory fees at Mississippi public colleges and universities at that time. MPACT will make payment directly to the school. The MPACT contract does not cover the cost of books, lab fees, transportation, orientation fees, room and board, or other fees that are not considered mandatory. Costs not covered by the MPACT contract will be the student’s responsibility. When will the school receive payment for my MPACT benefits? Schools typically invoice MPACT for tuition and mandatory fees after the “drop and add” date, and MPACT will issue payment approximately 4-6 weeks from receipt of the school’s invoice. Does my child need to notify MPACT of his/her school choice when they plan to attend college? MPACT only requires notification of a beneficiary’s intent to enroll if beneficiary is attending an out-of-state or private institution. This notification must be received 60 days prior to the child’s enrollment at their institution. You can indicate your school of choice by one of the following methods:
For attendance at in-state public college or university, the student will need to notify the school’s billing office of their intent to use MPACT benefits. You do not need to notify MPACT if the student decides to postpone his college enrollment. The beneficiary has up to ten years from their projected college enrollment date to use MPACT benefits. What if my child wants to go to an out-of-state or private institution? If the MPACT beneficiary enrolls in any private or out-of-state institution accredited by one of the regional accreditation agencies, MPACT will pay an amount up to, but not in excess of, the average tuition and mandatory fees set at public universities or public community colleges in the State of Mississippi. In addition, a $25 administrative fee is charged the first academic term of attendance at each private or out-of-state school, per transfer. These rates are adjusted prior to the start of each school year. The most current rates are always available here on this website. For the 2012-13 academic year, the payment amounts are: Weighted Average Tuition Rate for Semester Institutions (includes mandatory fees):
Weighted Average Tuition Rate for Quarter Institutions (includes mandatory fees):
Are MPACT beneficiaries exempt from paying out-of-state tuition rates at Mississippi’s public colleges and universities? A beneficiary is considered a resident of Mississippi for purposes of tuition regardless of the beneficiary’s residence at college enrollment. However, effective with MPACT contracts opened after July 1, 2003, this provision only applies to nonresident beneficiaries if (a) the original purchaser was the parent, grandparent or legal guardian of the beneficiary, or (b) the beneficiary was a resident of Mississippi at the time the MPACT contract was purchased. What happens if I purchase a university contract but my child goes to a community college or vice versa? MPACT will pay the full community college tuition and the purchaser of the account will be entitled to a refund of the difference between the weighted-average university tuition in that year and what MPACT actually pays the community college. In cases where the student has a community college contract but attends a four-year university, MPACT will convert the community college hours into university hours based on the then current relative costs and pay the tuition. This results in fewer hours on your contract, but enables MPACT to pay your university tuition until benefits are exhausted. What if my child decides not to attend college or earns a scholarship? If your beneficiary receives a full scholarship, which covers tuition and mandatory fees, MPACT benefits can be held for future use or refunded to the purchaser. The amount of the refund is based on (1) the current cost of in-state tuition and fees at the Mississippi public institution your beneficiary is attending or (2) the weighted-average tuition and fees at Mississippi public institutions if this child is enrolled at a private or out-of-state institution. Refunds are made to the purchaser of the prepaid tuition plan. In order to process any scholarship refunds, a Scholarship Refund Form must be completed by the purchaser including proof of enrollment and proof of scholarship. Requests must be provided to MPACT on a semester-by-semester basis. Scholarship refund requests will be processed after the 100% add/drop date for the institution your beneficiary is attending. If you receive a partial scholarship for tuition and fees, MPACT benefits can be used to cover the tuition and fees not paid by the scholarship. If you decide you will not need your MPACT tuition benefits, they can be held for graduate school Otherwise, if the student receives a baccalaureate degree and has benefits remaining on the plan, the purchaser may submit a signed, written request for a refund of unused benefits (must furnish a copy of the baccalaureate degree ) or you may elect to cancel the contract. How will having an MPACT contract affect the beneficiary’s ability for financial aid? Tuition prepayment plans are treated as investments on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and as such should be reported as parental investments on FAFSA. The FAFSA requires the “refund value” be used when reporting prepaid tuition plans. This is the amount that the account owner would receive if the account were closed and a refund were issued. Parents should report the refund values of all prepaid tuition plans they own for all dependent children. To help you complete the FAFSA, your FAFSA reporting value is available through our online access at www.CollegeSavingsMississippi.com. Click on “ACCOUNT LOGIN”, then click on “Benefits Information,” and select the option to view information on completing the FAFSA. You may also request the FAFSA reporting value on your account(s) by calling customer service at 1-800-987-4450 option 2. Mississippi’s Institutions of Higher Learning: Public Four-Year Institutions:
Public Two-Year Institutions:
The MPACT program applies to these public colleges and universities. The benefits may be transferred to private in-state colleges as well as out-of state colleges and universities. |
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