Maryland State Financial Aid!

1. Maryland Higher Education Commission Maryland State Financial Aid! An Overview of Maryland’s Financial Aid

2. Types and Sources of Assistance • Types of Aid • Grants • Scholarships • Loans • Work-Study • Sources of Aid • Federal • State • Institution • Private • Other Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

3. For Maryland State Aid - File the FAFSA… • File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA -each year, as soon as possible after January 1 • File on-line at www.fafsa.gov • Complete all items. • Parents and students must apply for a P.I.N. to sign electronically • List all schools including at least one Maryland Institution • Submit by MARCH 1 each year! Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

4. Maryland College Aid Processing System (MD CAPS) • MD CAPS is the State of Maryland financial aid system • You must create a Student Login Profile and then click the activation link in the message sent to your email account, which was provided when you created your account in MD CAPS • To create a profile, log onto https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us. • The MD CAPS account can be created at any time Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

5. Understanding the Types of Maryland State Aid • Need-Based Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant • Legislative • Senatorial Scholarships • Delegate Scholarships Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

6. Educational Assistance Grant: up to $3,000 annually • New and renewal students must file the FAFSA by March 1Each Year • Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) will receive FAFSA information electronically (if submitted on time) • Students must demonstrate financial need • (Students with the greatest need and lowest EFC are awarded first) • Students must enroll as full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates at a 2-year or 4-year college or university in Maryland • Parents and students must be Maryland residents Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

7. Guaranteed Access Grant:up to $16,100 annually • Apply as a high school senior – once out of high school you may not apply • Must submit a Guaranteed Access Grant application and FAFSA • Suggested by March 1 • Minimum 2.5 cumulative, unweighted high school GPA (calculation) • Must complete a college preparatory program • Students must have a high-school diploma • Students must enroll as full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates at a 2-year or 4-year college or university in Maryland • Parents and students must be Maryland residents • Conditions of Award guidelines • Verification Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

8. Legislative (Senatorial and Delegate) Scholarships • All students may apply: • High school seniors • Undergraduates • Graduates • Career or technical school students • May be used for: • Full-time or part-time enrollment • Maryland residents only • Maryland institutions (may be used out of state in rare circumstances– unique majors) Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

9. Senatorial Scholarship:$400 and up annually • File FAFSA by March 1 • Demonstrate financial need • Awards are renewable for an additional 3 years • Students are required to take the ACT/SAT. A student is only exempt if attending an eligible institution: • completed one year of postsecondary education in good academic standing, accepted for admissions at an eligible private school, or planning to attend or attending a Maryland Community College. • Contact Senator for application procedures Note: Senators have the option to award; some do not select recipients but put their funds into other programs administered by OSFA Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

10. Delegate Scholarship:$200 and up annually • Contact Delegates for application procedures • Must apply each year for an award; awards are not renewable • FAFSA may not be required. Note: Delegates have the option to award; some do not select recipients but put their funds into other programs administered by OSFA Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

11. Career-Based Programs • Charles W. Riley Fire and Emergency Medical Services Tuition Reimbursement Program • Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians (MLARP) • Nurse Support Program II - Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship and Living Expenses Grant • Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Nursing Students • Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program • Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP) • Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP) • John R. Justice Grant Program Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

12. Unique Population Aid • Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Student Grant Program • Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship • Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship • Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients • Tuition Waiver for Maryland National Guard • Tuition Waiver for Students with Disabilities Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

13. Tuition Waiver • Let’s talk “Tuition Waiver” for Foster Care Recipients • You must enroll in an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree or vocational certificate program before the age of 25. • There is a five-year time limit on the tuition waiver when enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program. • You must complete the FAFSA annually by March 1, each year, to apply for federal and state financial aid. • Your scholarships and grants should not be applied to tuition and mandatory fees. Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

14. Tuition Waiver • Let’s talk “Tuition Waiver” for Foster Care Recipients • You are eligible for the tuition and mandatory fee waiver to attend a Maryland public institution of higher education- • If you reside in an out-of-home placement when graduating high school or successfully complete the general equivalency development (GED) exam. • If you are adopted from an out-of-home placement after your 13th birthday. • Your younger siblings are eligible if he/she is adopted by the same family from an out-of-home placement. • When you are placed into guardianship or adopted out of an out-of-home placement by a guardianship family. Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

15. Tuition Waiver • Let’s talk “Tuition Waiver” for Student with Disabilities • Students receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are eligible. Students must provide proof from the Social Security Administration (SSA) of receiving SSI or SSDI benefits. • Students are exempt from paying tuition at community colleges in Maryland for up to 12 credit hours per semester if a student is taking classes as part of a degree or a certificate program designed to lead to employment (The waiver is limited to 6 credit hour credit hours if a student is enrolled for any other reason). • A course must have at least 10 enrolled students for the waiver to apply. Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

16. Tuition Waiver • Let’s talk “Tuition Waiver” for Student with Disabilities • The tuition waiver applies to any balance on tuition after any grants and scholarships received have been applied to the tuition and fees. • The waiver must be requested each time the student enrolls and file a FAFSA. • Helpful websites - Transitioning Youth (http://mdtransition.org/). Information and resources on transition planning, postsecondary education, employment services, and more and Maryland Department of Disabilities – Education (http://www.mdod.maryland.gov/Education%20Home.aspx) Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

17. Final Recommendations • Apply early for Maryland State Aid – Complete and submit the FAFSA each, year prior to the March 1 deadline • Know deadlines at the colleges and universities to which you are applying • Remember, parents and students must be Maryland residents for State of Maryland awards • Seek advice from financial aid professionals Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

19. The Maryland Higher Education Commission QUESTIONS? Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us

20. The Maryland Higher Education Commission Office of Outreach and Grants Management and Office of Student Financial Assistance • Telephone number: 410-767-3300 • Toll free number: 1-800-974-0203 • E-mail: osfamail@mhec.state.md.us Office of Student Financial Assistancewww.mhec.state.md.us