Complete to Compete is a statewide initiative sponsored by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Community College Board. Its mission is to help Mississippi adults who attended college but don't have a degree get their degree and create a brighter future.
Through the C2C initiative, Mississippi can increase the number of adults with postsecondary degrees or credentials of value which will positively impact Mississippi’s educational attainment rate and economy as well as the lives of those individuals who complete their degrees. Educational attainment improves the state’s economy and the quality of life for college graduates and their families.
Across the state of Mississippi, the workforce is changing and there are great opportunities available for those who have the training and education. Obtaining your degree results in better jobs, a strengthened workforce, and more stable families across our state.
The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning is the governing body of the eight public universities in the state of Mississippi.
The Mississippi Community College Board is the coordinating body of the 15 public community and junior colleges in the state of Mississippi.
The C2C Grant is Now Online!
The new C2C Grant application is fully online.
Now qualified returning students can qualify for $1,000 per semester!
What to Expect
The C2C Grant is just one of the many benefits available to Complete to Compete program participants. If you have been out of school for more than two years and thinking about returning to school to finish your degree, Act Now! Once enrolled, you will be assigned a C2C Coach. They will initiate your C2C Grant and help you identify the shortest path to your degree. C2C is a unique program with many tremendous benefits developed to make it easier to return and finish what you started!
To be considered for the C2C Grant, first enroll in the Complete 2 Compete Program.
Grant eligibility is simple, just visit our C2C Grant page for more details and contact your C2C Coach to let them know your intentions to apply for a C2C Grant.
To participate in C2C, click on the “Explore Your Options” or "Get Started" button on our home page or go to the C2C Pathfinder App directly at www.c2cpathfinder.org/c2c. This will connect you with a C2C Coach who will guide you the rest of the way.
C2C Pathfinder is an easy-to-use, interactive tool developed exclusively for the state for Mississippi. It can be accessed on your home computer, laptop, or smartphone. By answering a few questions, you begin the process of reviewing past credits and connecting with a C2C Coach. You may be one of more than 30,000 Mississippians who have already earned enough credits for an associate or bachelor’s degree.
The application will ask you about your college history and how you’d like to finish your degree. All this information will help guide your C2C Coach on next steps for you. If the school you are applying to doesn’t have all of the transcripts from all institutions attended, you will need to go ahead and begin that request process. Transcript requests can be processed online from the respective school’s website or in person at the Registrar’s Office of the school you’re requesting transcripts of. There may be a transcript request fee associated with this request. These fees vary per institution.
Depending on what programs are needed to satisfy your career and educational interests, the C2C website will match you to a list of schools that offer the classes you need to earn your degree. However, keep in mind that per The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) requirements, you must earn 25% of your degree from the degree-awarding institution. So, if you have most of your coursework from one institution, it is best to begin there.
You can pursue any degree you like with C2C. All degree options and learning preferences such as online or in-person classes are offered. As you work with your C2C Coach, you'll choose the best options that give you the fastest path to a degree.
You will receive a confirmation email and an opportunity to speak with a C2C representative immediately after submitting your application. They will answer any questions, explain the details of the C2C Grant, and prepare you to connect with your assigned C2C Coach.
Due to the overwhelming response to the C2C program, it could take 10-15 business days to hear from your C2C Coach once you complete your application in the C2C Pathfinder App. Most C2C Coaches reach out via email for that initial contact. Please check your spam/junk folders for those emails, as well. After the initial contact has been made, the Coach will work with you to secure and review your transcripts before creating your best pathway to a degree.
Once you submit your application, a phone number to reach a C2C representative will be provided. You are welcome to call that number anytime with any questions or concerns, or you may contact the State C2C Office here.
Submitting information through the C2C website and having a degree evaluation completed does not cost anything, and it may help you see how close you are to a degree. Tuition and fees for enrollment in courses may be assessed according to the established tuition and fees rates at each institution.
Understanding that finances can be a barrier for adult learners, Complete 2 Compete offers the C2C Grant for qualifying students. This grant can be used to assist with expenses for students enrolling through C2C at any of our Mississippi public community colleges or universities. The C2C Grant totals $1,000 and is renewable each qualifying semester. Learn more about the steps to apply for the C2C Grant here. Additionally, the C2C Grant can be used to assist with paying past debt owed to participating Mississippi institutions. All applications are processed on a first-come, first-served, basis and awards are based on funding availability at the time of applying. Your C2C Coach can help guide you through the application process if you have questions.
Students with prior debt are not restricted from participating in the C2C program. However, access to official transcripts and enrollment can be impacted by an unpaid, past due balance at a prior institution.
In an effort to remove barriers for returning students the C2C Grant does provide funds for qualified students to assist with paying past debt owed to participating Mississippi institutions. All C2C Grant applications are processed on a first-come, first-served, basis and awards are based on funding availability at the time of applying. Visit the C2C Grant page for additional details.
C2C Grants are renewable subject to fund availability. To be eligible for a continued C2C Grant, you must continue enrollment without a break in semesters (summer is excluded), be in good academic and financial standing with the institution, and reapply for the C2C grant each semester. Please make sure that your C2C Coach is aware that you want to be considered for the C2C Grant each semester you are enrolled.
This grant can be used to pay tuition and fees for returning students enrolling through C2C at any of our Mississippi community colleges and public universities. Additionally, there are funds available to assist with paying past debt owed to participating Mississippi institutions. The C2C Grant is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete details can be found on the C2C Grant page. Plus, program participants can reach out to their C2C Coach for help guiding them through the application process.
No, once you have completed them initially, there is no need to complete them again for C2C grant purposes. However, you must submit a new C2C grant application and supporting documentation each semester you would like to be considered for the grant. If you are wanting to be considered for federal and state aid each year, FAFSA and MAAPP have to be completed each academic year.
While incentives will vary by school, below is a list that many of the institutions are offering for adult learners.
The University Studies Degree Program provides adult learners with a flexible path to a bachelor’s degree and is one option for returning students to obtain degree completion through the C2C Initiative. The University Studies Degree Program is intended to serve adult learners who have earned at least 90 credit hours but have not completed a baccalaureate degree and have not attended a postsecondary institution in the past twenty-four months based on last date of attendance. The curriculum may be individualized for each adult learner based on coursework completed and career goals. This degree program includes grade forgiveness and can accept up to 30 hours of technical credits.
A student is eligible for admission to the University Studies degree program if he has earned at least 90 credit hours but has not completed a baccalaureate degree and has not attended a postsecondary institution in the past twenty-four months based on last date of attendance. Grade forgiveness and acceptance of technical credits may be available based on the institution.
The University Studies Degree Program is available at all of our public universities, including UMMC. For more details on the University Studies Degree Program at your institution, please contact your C2C Coach. This is only a degree program at the bachelor’s level.
A Reverse Transfer Associate Degree allows students who have transferred from a community college to a public four-year university, with at least 16 transferable credits, to send those earned credits back to the community college. These reverse transfer credits count toward earning an associate's degree, giving students an additional credential and improving employability.
Students interested in pursuing eligibility for a Reverse Transfer Associate Degree will just fill out the C2C application and choose the institution in which they want to get their degree from. The C2C Coach will help guide you through this process.
While all the public institutions have some degrees completely online, most degrees require in-class participation for completion. It is more likely that there are online class options rather than full degrees.
Credits earned at Mississippi community colleges and universities do not expire. Your C2C Coach is committed to helping you find the fastest path to a degree and applying all your earned credits.
The goal of C2C is to help Mississippians earn their first postsecondary degree or credential of value.
The goal of C2C is to help Mississippians earn their first postsecondary degree or credential of value.
For all inquiries and updates, there are several options for information.