In the wake of Birmingham-Southern College announcing its closure after 168 years in business, some Mississippi institutions are looking to land students from the Alabama private school.
Per a release from Mississippi College, the Christian university in Clinton is offering Birmingham-Southern students a $13,500 scholarship for each eligible year of study. Additional scholarship and financial aid opportunities would also be offered to transfer students.
“Similar institutions whose primary purpose is to serve students feel the weight of your circumstances, and we want to help,” Mississippi College President Blake Thompson penned to Birmingham-Southern students. “On behalf of the Mississippi College family, I invite you to consider MC, and I encourage you to visit our campus in Clinton.”
Other schools similarly sized to Birmingham-Southern, which has an enrollment of 1,283, have also extended offers to possible transfers. Both Millsaps and the Mississippi University for Women confirmed that they have created special initiatives that include scholarship and extracurricular opportunities for BSC students.
“We understand this is a trying time for Birmingham-Southern students and want to make their transfer as stress-free as possible,” Millsaps Director of Communications Joey Lee wrote in an email, promising that BSC students can complete their degree in Jackson for the same or a lower cost of what their current tuition is.
Officials at MUW said four scholarships are available to eligible students based on the transfer’s GPA, ranging anywhere from $2,000 to $5,500 per year.
“The Office of Admissions at The W is ready to assist and meet the needs of all Birmingham-Southern College students,” Dr. David Brooking, executive director of enrollment management, said. “We understand that this is a difficult time, and we are committed to making the transition as easy as possible so that the students can continue to pursue their dreams in higher education.”
On top of the scholarship offers, all three schools will be participating in a transfer fair being held on the BSC campus on Friday, April 5.
Birmingham-Southern, which is three miles west of downtown Birmingham, is scheduled to close at the end of May after being unable to secure a financial lifeline from the state. The announcement was made last Tuesday after a bill to save the college died in the Alabama legislature.
