Media & Press
The Mississippi Governor’s School welcomes opportunities to share the stories of Mississippi’s talented young people and the educators, communities, organizations, and partners who support them.
MGS at a Glance
- Official Name: Mississippi Governor’s School (MGS)
- Host Institution: Mississippi University for Women (The W)
- Location: Columbus, Mississippi
- Established: 1981
- 2027 Program Dates: June 6–19, 2027
- Participants: Mississippi students completing grades 10 or 11
- Program Type: Highly selective, tuition-free residential honors program
- Academic Credit: Three hours of honors college credit from Mississippi University for Women
- Academic Scholarship: The W provides each MGS scholar a scholarship covering tuition for the three college credit hours
- Program Administration: Center for Education Support, School of Education, Mississippi University for Women
- State Support: MGS is supported by appropriations from the State of Mississippi, with additional support from The W, partners, sponsors, alumni, and friends of MGS
- Recent Selectivity: Acceptance rates have been as low as 17%
How to Describe MGS
The Mississippi Governor’s School is a highly selective, tuition-free residential honors program for academically talented high school students from across Mississippi. Established in 1981, MGS brings rising juniors and seniors together on the campus of Mississippi University for Women for an intensive academic and residential experience. Recent acceptance rates have been as low as 17%, with scholars selected through a competitive statewide application process.
MGS is more than a summer camp. Scholars live on a college campus, complete honors-level college coursework, explore academic and career interests, and participate in leadership, service, recreation, and community-building experiences.
The program is intentionally residential, immersive, and highly participatory. Scholars are challenged to think critically, take intellectual risks, encounter new ideas, build relationships with students whose experiences may differ from their own, and discover new possibilities for their futures.
Why MGS Matters
Mississippi has talented young people in every part of the state. Opportunity, access, and exposure are not always distributed as evenly.
MGS creates a statewide learning community where talented students from rural communities, small towns, suburban areas, and larger school districts learn alongside one another. Scholars are selected for their abilities and potential, not simply where they live or the opportunities already available to them.
For two weeks, scholars experience college-level learning, explore disciplines and careers, interact with faculty and professionals, develop greater independence, and form relationships with other motivated students from across Mississippi.
MGS is also an investment in Mississippi’s future. The program helps talented young people see the opportunities that exist within their home state and connects them with Mississippi’s institutions, industries, communities, and people.
Today’s MGS scholars are Mississippi’s future educators, engineers, healthcare professionals, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, researchers, community leaders, and public servants.
A Competitive Statewide Program
Admission to the Mississippi Governor’s School is highly competitive. In recent years, the program’s acceptance rate has been as low as 17%, meaning that in some years fewer than one in five applicants have been selected to attend.
Applicants are evaluated through a competitive selection process that considers academic qualifications, demonstrated advanced ability, accomplishments, recommendations, and their potential to contribute to and benefit from the MGS experience.
MGS seeks scholars from throughout Mississippi, creating a cohort that brings together academically talented students with different interests, experiences, communities, and perspectives.
Academic Credit and Tuition
MGS scholars earn three hours of honors college credit from Mississippi University for Women through successful completion of the program.
The W provides a scholarship covering the tuition for those three college credit hours for each MGS scholar.
Combined with support from the State of Mississippi, this allows scholars to participate in the residential MGS experience without paying program tuition. Scholars are responsible for personal expenses and transportation to and from campus.
About the Mississippi Governor’s School
The Mississippi Governor’s School (MGS), hosted by Mississippi University for Women, is a highly selective, tuition-free residential honors program for academically talented high school students from across Mississippi. Established in 1981, MGS brings rising juniors and seniors together for an intensive summer experience centered on advanced academics, leadership, creativity, community, and personal growth.
Scholars live and learn on The W’s campus, complete honors-level college coursework, and engage with peers, faculty, professionals, and communities while exploring their interests and future opportunities. MGS is supported by the State of Mississippi and administered through The W’s Center for Education Support. The W provides each scholar a scholarship covering tuition for the three hours of honors college credit earned through the program.
Media Resources
Members of the media and community partners may contact MGS for:
- Interviews with MGS leadership
- Scholar and alumni stories
- Program statistics and historical information
- Photographs and approved MGS images
- Information about academic programming
- Community and industry partnerships
- Sponsorship and support initiatives
- Statewide recruitment and participation information
Media & Program Contact
Mississippi Governor’s School
Center for Education Support
School of Education
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, Mississippi
For media inquiries, interviews, program information, photographs, or additional MGS resources, contact mgs@muw.edu.