Financial Aid is money that helps pay for college

Filing a FAFSA is the single most important thing you can do to get money for college. It’s the gateway to more than $150 billion in college grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans, as well as state-based aid. You should fill out a FAFSA application even if you don't think you qualify. The FAFSA isn’t just for people who want or need federal student loans, it is also used to determine aid you won't have to pay back, like college scholarships, grants, and work-study funding.

Some private scholarships require a FAFSA as part of their application process and some colleges will not offer merit scholarships if you haven't filed your FAFSA. That's why completing a FAFSA is so important!

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 2026-2027 FAFSA application opened on October 1, 2025

How do I apply for Maryland State Aid? 

Students need to create an MDCAPS account in order to submit all necessary documentation to the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). You can access the login page here to create a username and password. For more information on all types of state aid offered, you can visit the MHEC website at https://mhec.state.md.us/Pages/default.aspx.