CREATE FSA ID

The FSA ID is an account username and password combination that allows students and parents to log in to StudentAid.gov and to identify themselves electronically to access U.S. Department of Education systems.

While you’re not required to have an FSA ID to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, it’s the fastest way to sign your form and get it processed. It’s also the only way to access or correct your information online, or to prefill an online FAFSA form with information from your previous year’s FAFSA form.

If you don’t already have an account username and password, you can create an account.

If you have an account but don’t remember your username, select “Forgot My Username.”

If you have an account but don’t remember your password, select “Forgot My Password.”

The MSFAA is different from FAFSA because it allows undocumented students who are eligible for in-state tuition to apply for various State financial aid grants and scholarships

 FAQs for the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA): https://mhec.maryland.gov/Pages/MSFAA-FAQS.aspx

Create an MDCAPS account | https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us/

Login to MDCAPS and choose "MSFAA 2024-2025" (first link)

Always remember that every college has scholarships that you may be eligible for. Some colleges automatically will put your name in the lottery for specific scholarships based on academic achievement. But it never hurts to ask about scholarships offered from the college and if specific departments has scholarships based on your major.

Honor students, in particular, are in luck when it comes to undergraduate scholarships. Colleges want to attract the best and brightest talent and they use university scholarships to make a dent in the cost of education for these types of students. Search for honors programs at the prospective college. Most honors programs financially cover tuition costs. 

For more information: https://www.petersons.com/blog/college-scholarships-free-money-for-honors-students/

You’ve been accepted to college. Now the question is: how do you finance your education? Unless you have a very generous family or exceptional athletic talent, odds are you will be using some sort of financial aid. From loans to scholarships, here’s what you need to know about paying for college.

Website: https://www.collegechoice.net/choosing-a-college/finances/grants-loans-and-scholarships/

Have you ever heard of a Co-op educational program? Co-ops – or cooperative educational experiences – offer students the chance of payment and academic credit for an actual job experience during their undergraduate career.

This hands-on experience before you enter the workforce can have a positive domino effect when it comes to your future career by making it easier to get a job after college.

In fact, with the new federal aid rules and the high amount of income students can earn in Co-Op programs, it is possible that a student could pay for college with a combination of financial aid and Co-Op earnings. 

AIR FORCE ROTC - Pays full (100 percent) college tuition and authorized fees at any public or private institution with an Air Force ROTC detachment. Also receive a monthly living expense stipend and an annual book stipend.

LINK: https://www.afrotc.com/scholarships/high-school/types/

NAVY & MARINE ROTC- The Navy ROTC Scholarship Program is available to qualified students who graduate from high school before August 1 of the year they intend to start college.

Students selected for the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program make their own arrangements for college enrollment and room and board, and take the normal course load required by the college or university for degree completion. Additionally, scholarship midshipmen are required to follow specific academic guidelines.

Full information concerning the Navy ROTC Scholarship Program is available from any of the colleges and universities with Navy ROTC units or from Navy and Marine Corps recruiters. A list of colleges and universities is available on this website at the 

LINK: Colleges and Universities page.

ARMY ROTC- Two-, three-, and four-year scholarship options based on the time remaining to complete your degree

• Full-tuition scholarships

• The option for room and board in place of tuition, if you should qualify

• Additional allowances for books and fees

LINK:  https://www.cadetcommand.army.mil/scholarships.aspx

COAST GUARD - Under this program, college sophomores can receive enlistment level (E-3) pay, as well as scholarships for their last two years of college. Upon graduation, CSPI enlistees can attend Officer Candidacy School (OCS) and receive a commission as an ensign upon completion of OCS. To be eligible for this program, students must complete Coast Guard basic training, attend a school with at least 25 percent minority student enrollment (although they do not have to be minorities themselves), have scored at least a 1000 on their SAT or a 23 on their ACT, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and graduate within 24 months of entering the program. Students must also maintain Coast Guard physical fitness standards and adhere to requirements.

LINK: https://pocketsense.com/coast-guard-rotc-scholarships-7259234.html