Financial Aid & Scholarships at Northwest High School
Federal financial aid can come in the form of grants, federal work-study jobs, and/or student loans.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Opens October 1st annually. The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is administered by the Office of Federal Student Aid. Completing this form is absolutely critical, as it is the only way to qualify for federal financial assistance of any type, and you must have submitted it, in order to apply for many scholarships! To apply, visit fafsa.gov.
Most students receive some type of financial aid, so everyone should fill out a FAFSA application even if you don't think you qualify. The purpose of the FAFSA is also to determine aid you won't have to pay back, like college scholarships, grants, and even work-study funding.
There are some colleges will not offer merit scholarships if you have not filed your FAFSA.
Merit-based aid is money given to students with special talents, skills or academic abilities
Need-based aid is available to those students who demonstrate financial need.
The College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile)
The CSS Profile, which stands for College Scholarship Service Profile, is a form administered by the College Board, in order to facilitate applications for non-federal financial aid. This document is required by almost 300 private colleges and scholarship programs, and is used to collect wealth-related information (assets, trust funds, etc.) that is not collected by the FAFSA. To access and complete the CSS Profile, please visit the College Board website.
RESOURCES FOR COMPLETING THE CSS PROFILE:
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC):
Information regarding the State of Maryland Financial Aid process for the coming school year will be published on the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) website as it becomes available.
MHEC ONE-APP: Through the MHEC One-App, undocumented students who are eligible for in-state tuition and plan to a attend a Maryland college, university, or a career/trade school may now apply for all of the financial aid programs offered by the state using one platform. This includes the Maryland Student Financial Aid Application (MSFAA).
To apply for state scholarships and state aid, students must create an MD CAPS account. To get started, students create their account. Maryland College Aid Processing System account, known as their MDCAPS account. A current and frequently used email is required to ensure successful communication between the student and the agency - all notifications go through email! View this video for step by step instructions on creating the MDCAPS account.
NEW Follow the Maryland Higher Education Commission on social media for information on state financial aid opportunities and updates.
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