Maryland Higher Education Commission
Maryland State Financial Aid!
An Overview of Maryland’s Financial Aid
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Types and Sources of Assistance
Types of Aid
Grants
 Scholarships
 Loans
 Work-Study
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Sources of Aid
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Federal
State
Institution
Private
Other
Office of Student Financial Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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
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File on-line at www.fafsa.gov
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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Maryland College Aid Processing System
(MD CAPS)
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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Educational Assistance Grant: up to
$3,000 annually
New and renewal students must file the FAFSA by March 1
Each Year
Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) will receive
FAFSA information electronically (if submitted on time)
Students must demonstrate financial need
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(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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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Legislative (Senatorial and Delegate)
Scholarships
All students may apply:
High school seniors
 Undergraduates
 Graduates
 Career or technical school students
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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)
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Office of Student Financial Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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Career-Based Programs

Charles W. Riley Fire and Emergency Medical Services Tuition Reimbursement Program
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Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians (MLARP)
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Nurse Support Program II - Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship and Living Expenses
Grant
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Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Nursing Students
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Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program
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Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP)
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Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MDC-LARP)
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John R. Justice Grant Program
Office of Student Financial Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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Tuition Waiver
 Let’s talk “Tuition Waiver” for Foster Care Recipients
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You are eligible for the tuition and mandatory fee waiver to attend a
Maryland public institution of higher education 
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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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 Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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The Maryland Higher Education Commission
QUESTIONS?
Office of Student Financial Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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The Maryland Higher Education Commission
Office of Outreach and Grants Management
and
Office of Student Financial Assistance
 Telephone number:
 Toll free number:
 E-mail:
410-767-3300
1-800-974-0203
[email protected]
Office of Student Financial Assistance
www.mhec.state.md.us
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