FINANCIAL AID
CALL FEDERAL STUDENT AID: 800-433-3243
CALL MDCAPS: 410-767-3300
DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR THE 2024-25 FAFSA
Your Social Security Number
Your A-Number (if you're not a U.S. citizen)
Federal income tax returns, records of child support received; and your current balance of cash, savings, and checking accounts (Note: You must provide consent and approval to disclose your federal tax information to be eligible for federal student aid.)
Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable), net worth of investments, businesses, and farms
Records of untaxed income (if applicable)
An FSA ID (account username and password) to log in to StudentAid.gov and start the FAFSA form electronically
If you're a dependent student, then you will also need most of the above information for your parent(s).
Applying for financial aid
There are several ways to apply for financial aid. There's the FAFSA application which is for all US citizens to apply for federal financial aid. The Maryland State Department of Education has the MDCAPS and MSFAA are programs for all eligible Maryland residents. Lastly, some colleges require applicants to complete the CSS Profile for financial aid specific to their programs.
These applications will determine you and your family's eligibility for financial scholarships, grants, loans and/or work-study.
Resources for understanding financial aid award letters
Financial aid offer examples that meet the standards and principals of the College Cost Transparency (CCT) Initiative
Washington Post article regarding college financial aid transparency
The College Scorecard project is designed to increase transparency, putting the power in the hands of students and families to compare how well individual postsecondary institutions are preparing their students to be successful.
UNDERSTANDING FAFSA® UPDATES FOR 2024
FAFSA® Changes Overview fact sheet:* Highlights key information you need to know to help prepare for the changes to the FAFSA form and process.
Summary of Early Changes for 2023–24 fact sheet:* Details the phased implementation of the FAFSA changes, including changes that were implemented for the 2023–24 award year.
Students With Unusual Circumstances fact sheet: Explains what unusual circumstances are, what changed on the FAFSA form, and what happens after the student applies for aid.
*Note: The Department of Education strives to make all content accessible to everyone. While this document does not currently meet the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Federal Student Aid is working to create an accessible version. If you need access to this content before the accessible version is available, please contact the Information Technology Accessibility Program Help Desk at ITAPSupport@ed.gov to help facilitate.
WEBINARS
FAFSA® Changes: An Overview webinar: Provides an overview of the FAFSA changes, including the contributor role, the StudentAid.gov account requirement, the SAI, the requirement for consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred, and the changes to special and unusual circumstances.
Special Student Populations and Circumstances for the 2024-25 FAFSA® Form webinar: Helps college access professionals guide students with special and unusual circumstances, and students who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness, through the FAFSA process. This webinar covers key terminology, how to navigate the professional judgment process, and what documentation students may need to provide.
Resources to Effectively Engage Families for Upcoming FAFSA® Changes webinar: Explores how tools and resources can help students and families complete the FAFSA form and navigate the financial aid process. This webinar also covers the 2024-25 FAFSA changes and general application timelines.
2024-25 FAFSA® Demonstration webinar: Shares a tour of the new features in the FAFSA form and discusses important updates to the FAFSA experience, including the new roles page, how to invite contributors, the new question order, the student demographic questions, the parent wizard, and other features. This demonstration shows a scenario of a dependent student with married parents who file a joint tax return.