Financial Aid Assistance

Student Financial Assistance and Education's goal is to provide assistance to any UMB student who seeks assistance in obtaining funding to finance their educational cost.  

The UMB financial aid programs have been developed to help students who have academic potential and limited financial resources. The programs are specifically directed at helping those students who would not be able to complete their education without support.  Approximately 80% of UMB students receive assistance through our office.

Annually approximately $130 million in financial assistance is processed for eligible students, from a variety of sources including but not limited to institutional grants/scholarships and loans, Maryland Higher Education Commission's Office of Student Financial Assistance, and Federal Student Aid Programs (Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Federal Loan programs).

Students are awarded an aid package based on their financial need as determined by the FAFSA data and the cost of attendance for their program.  Students are considered for federal loans, institutional grants/scholarships, and federal work study.  Students are strongly encouraged to complete and have their FAFSA processed no later than February 28th annually for priority consideration for institutional aid.  The school code for all UMB programs is 002104.

If you do not have a log in, you can create one here.  This is the site to complete a FAFSA and any loan entrance and exit counseling, master promissory note(s) for federal loans and to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Using the PSLF help tool will allow you to see if you meet the criteria.  Also included here is the employer certification.  If you are working a minimum of 35 hours per week, your employment can be certified. 

Adding additional credits to get to six for federal aid

The credits a student registers for must count towards the degree to be eligible for federal financial aid.  If the number of dissertation credits are increased, the fees will increase as stated in the chat, however, those new credits must be required for the degree.  If they are not required, they will not count towards the required 6 credits needed

If you are planning to apply for Federal Student Aid, please note, post-baccalaureate certificates may not have the same financial aid designation as master's and doctoral level programs. Prospective certificate students should contact UMB Financial Aid (aidtalk@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7347) to understand their individual eligibility and financing options for certificate programs and how to complete the FAFSA for post-baccalaureate certificate programs.

UMB students have been successful in receiving scholarships using this website:  www.fastweb.com       

It may be wise to use an email account not used much as many emails will come as the students are linked to possible scholarship opportunities.  When creating the profile, please be as specific as possible.

 

For Maryland Residents (those who meet the USM definition of a Maryland resident)

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