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Agenda for Tonight:

  • Financial aid basics

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  • What forms are required

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  • Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

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  • Other sources of financial aid

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  • Q & A session

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Financial Aid Provides Funds to Assist Students with Educational Expenses

  • Sources of Financial Aid
  • Types of Financial Aid

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Types of Colleges

  • Community College: tuition based on residency – in county, out of county, out of state

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  • Public College: in-state or out-of-state rates

- Academic Common Market

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  • Private College: more expensive, but traditionally more funding available

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Community College​

State -in state cost​

Private-Average MD​

Tuition & Fees​

$4,606

$12,008

$51,235

Housing &Meals​

$3,122

$16,436

$15,188

books​

$1,470​

$1,250

$1265

Transportation​

$2,120​

$1,514​

$1,402​

Personal​

$6,744​

$1,200​

$1,685

Total​

$18,062​

$32,408

$70,775

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SAI​

$2,500​

$2,500​

$2,500​

Need​

$15,562

$29,908​

$68,275

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Cost of Attendance – Every College Has One

Direct Costs – Billed to the Student:

    • Tuition
    • Fees

Residential Students:

    • Room
    • Meal Plan

Indirect Costs:

    • Books and Supplies
    • Transportation
    • Miscellaneous and personal expenses

Students who live off campus:

    • Housing expenses
    • Meal expenses

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How is Financial Need Calculated?

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Types of Financial Aid: Need-based and Merit-based

  • It is important to check with each college the student is interested in to find out what forms are required to determine the financial need of the student.

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    • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Financial Aid) – Foundation of the financial aid process – every school requires this form for need-based aid – must be completed on an annual basis

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    • CSS College Profile Form – this form is used primarily by private colleges – (fee to complete) $25 for first college and $16 each additional

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    • Financial aid applications created by a specific college

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https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org

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The FAFSA �(Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

  • Why should the student complete the FAFSA and how is the form completed?

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Federal Student Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant – new rules for 26-27

Federal Supplemental Educational opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

Federal Work-Study

Federal Direct Student loans (Direct Loans)

Federal Direct PLUS Loans – updates for 26-27

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Benefits of Completing the FAFSA Online

  • Built-in edits to prevent costly errors

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  • Skip-logic allows student and/or parent to skip unnecessary questions

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  • No need to manually enter federal tax information. More timely submission of original application and any necessary corrections

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  • More detailed instructions and “help” for common questions

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  • Ability to check application status online

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  • Simplified application process

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The FSA ID: Who Needs One and How to Create One

  • Used for FAFSA completion and access to certain U.S. Department of Education websites
  • Student and parent must create own FSA ID
  • May be used throughout financial aid process, including subsequent school years
  • Only the owner should create an FSA ID

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www.studentaid.gov

  • When the 2026-2027 FAFSA opens – high school seniors should select the 2026-2027 FAFSA link.

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  • FAFSA can be started by parent or student

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FAFSA – Helpful Information

Which parent should be used if the biological parents are not married or are divorced?

The parent who provides the most financial support- Use the parent wizard at studentaid.gov

Who is Included in Family Size?

Family members claimed on federal taxes and who parents will provide more than half of their support for

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  • When you invite your parent be sure to use their FSA ID information exactly as it was set up. (Apt is different than apt.)
  • If your parent of record is married and they filed their federal tax return for 2024, jointly, only one parent needs to complete the FAFSA.
  • If your parents are no longer together and they filed a joint return in 2024, the parent of record should follow the instructions on studentaid.gov on how to complete the FAFSA and break out their finances.
  • If a parent does not have an SSN, they can still apply for an FSA ID, it will just take longer to process. Do not use their tax ID #.

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Student Dependency Status

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Will you be 24 years old or older by January 1 of the school year for which you are requesting financial aid? For example, if you plan to start school in August 2026 for the 2026-27 school year, will you be 24 years old by January 1, 2026? (i.e., if you were born before January 1, 2003)?

2

Are you married or separated but not divorced?

3

Will you be working toward a master's or doctoral degree (such as an M.A., M.B.A., M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)?

4

Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?

5

Do you have dependents (other than children or spouse) living with you who receive more than 50% of their support from you?

6

Are you currently on active duty in the U.S. armed forces for purposes other than training?

7

Are you a veteran of the United States armed forces?

8

At any time since you turned 13, have your parents died, were you in foster care, or were you a guardian or dependent of the court?

9

Are you an emancipated minor or under a legal guardianship as determined by a court?

10

Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supporting and at risk of becoming homeless?

* If you do not answer "yes" to any of the above questions, you are still considered a dependent student for the purposes of applying for federal student aid, even if you do not live with your parents, your parents do not claim you on their tax returns, or you are paying your own bills and educational expenses.

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FAFSA Contributors

  • If independent student is married, spouse information is required as well
  • Consent to transfer FTI from the IRS is required for ALL contributors
    • Including student, student’s spouse (if applicable), parent, and other parent (if applicable)
  • Students, parents, or preparers may start, complete, and submit a FAFSA

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FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange – FA-DDX

Allows for an individual’s federal tax information (FTI) to be directly transferred from the IRS to the FAFSA

Consent is required by all contributors on FAFSA

IRS transfers information to populate FAFSA income questions for most tax filers

Eliminates manual entry of tax and income information

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Student Information

  • Identity and contact information
  • Consent for FTI transfer from IRS
  • Marital status
  • Dependency Status
  • College plans
  • Personal and unusual circumstances
  • Demographic information
  • Citizenship status
  • Parents’ education status
  • Parent killed in line of duty
  • High school information
  • Tax return information
    • Minimal questions if FTI transferred from IRS
  • Asset information

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Parent Invitation & Information

  • Student provides an email for the parent
  • Email invitation is sent with a code for the parent to use to complete their part of the FAFSA
  • Parents must use FSA ID
  • If the student is not sure which parent provided the most financial support – use the parent wizard at studentaid.gov
  • Parent information is similar to the student.

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Student Section Completion

  • College Selection
  • Review of Information
  • Signature

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Parent Section Completion

  • Review of Information

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  • Signature & Submission of FAFSA

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FAFSA Processing & Submission Summary

  • Four Sections:
    • Eligibility Overview
    • FAFSA Form Answers
    • School Information
    • Next Steps
  • Ability to Print Summary

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Student

FPS

College

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Making Corrections

If necessary, corrections to FAFSA data may be made by:

  • Using online FAFSA;
  • Updating paper FAFSA Submission Summary; or
  • Submitting documentation to college’s financial aid office

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Special & Unusual Circumstances

  • Unique conditions exist that cannot be documented with the FAFSA, or circumstances have changed since filing
  • Student should contact institution’s financial aid office for more information
  • Decisions are final and cannot be appealed to U.S. Department of Education
  • Conditions that justify an institution making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status
  • Student does not provide parental data on FAFSA
      • Considered provisionally independent
  • Student follows institution’s process for dependency override determination

Unusual Circumstances

Special Circumstances

Contact the Financial Aid Office at the institution your student wants to attend for additional information.

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Maryland Higher Education - MDCAPS

  • ALL students should create an MDCAPS account - this is how the state offers you financial aid
    • Required to receive MD State scholarships
  • Students only have six weeks to accept state aid
  • Documents usually requested from students in April of senior year
  • Add donotreply@maryland.gov to your email contacts

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Maryland One App

New financial aid tool that streamlines the process when applying for State scholarships and grants. It provides one application for students to review and apply for the 27 scholarships available to them through the Maryland Higher Education Commission. This Application replaces the MSFAA.

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  • Opens November 1, 2025
  • Determines eligibility for state financial aid
  • Available to undocumented students who meet certain eligibility criteria.
  • There may be additional steps after One App is completed make sure monitor you MDCAPS account.

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Maryland Higher Education Commission

Need-Based Grants/Scholarships

Need-based grants/scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated financial need and do not have to be repaid

Name of Award Program

Description of Program

The Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant is a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at postsecondary institutions. 2025-2026 Value $18,000.

The Educational Assistance​ (EA) Grant is a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at postsecondary institutions. If funding is available, the value is $3,000.

The 2+2 Transfer Scholarship is designed to assist and encourage transfer students from Maryland community colleges to attend a 4-year institution within the state. Students must be enrolled in an eligible accredited Maryland postsecondary education institution.

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is a last dollar scholarship that is available to students who enroll at Maryland community colleges. Value up to $5,000 per academic year. GPA requirements and Income requirements. Must list at least one community college on your FAFSA or MHEC One APP.

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Maryland Higher Education Commission

​​​​Legislative Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded by Maryland Senators and Delegates

All Maryla​nd residents may apply for the Legislative Scholarships.  

The Delegate Scholarship is offered to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a postsecondary credential full-time or part-time at a two-year or a four-year Maryland college, university or private career school.

The Senatorial Scholarship is offered to current high school seniors and full-time and part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students, as well as students attending a private career school.

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Maryland Higher Education Commission

There are also several Career/Occupational as well as Unique Population grants and scholarships offered. Some fields include:

  • Cybersecurity
  • Firefighter, Ambulance, and Rescue Squad
  • Teaching
  • Human Services

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For a complete list please visit the MHEC website at: mhec.Maryland.gov

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Free Financial Literacy Resources

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides guides on all thing's money including the topics below:

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  • Auto Loans
  • Credit Cards
  • Credit Reports & Credit Scores
  • Debt Collection
  • Housing
  • Money Management

…and even how to help your kids build their money skills!

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Future Events for Frederick County Schools

 

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Important Websites for Financial Aid

Federal

FSA ID: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

FSA Help Center: https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/landing

https://studentaid.gov/aid-estimator

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State of Maryland

Legislative districts (who is my representative?): https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Members/District

State programs: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/descriptions.aspx

Maryland one App: https://mhec.maryland.gov/Pages/MHEC%20One%20App%20FAQs.aspx

MD CAPS login/account creation: https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/MDCAPS/login.aspx?c=-8585372154414369498&ReturnUrl=/MDCAPS/int/FinAid/index.aspx

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Other Sources for Financial Aid

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Presentation Survey https://forms.gle/hUjLdH78pJk77FEM9

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Thank you for coming!

Any Questions?

Resources: