MSFAA for Undocumented and DACA Maryland Students

The Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) allows qualified children of undocumented immigrants who qualify for in-state tuition under 15-106.8 of the MD Education Article, to apply for various state financial aid grants and scholarships including:

The deadline to complete the MSFAA for the 2022-2023 academic year is March 1, 2022.

FAQ

As an undocumented student, am I eligible for state financial aid?

Loyola University Maryland is a private institution so you may be eligible for assistance from various Maryland state financial aid programs including:

For more information about eligibility requirements for these programs, please visit the Maryland State Financial Aid Programs page.

Who should complete the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA)?

The MSFAA is available to applicants who are ineligible to receive federal aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

When will the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) be available?

The online application for the 2022-2023 academic year is currently available through the Maryland College Aid Processing (MDCAPS) portal.

What is the difference between the FAFSA and the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA)?

Students should only complete one of the applications (not both) according to the requirements below:

You are eligible to complete the FAFSA if you are a:

U.S. citizen
Permanent resident
Eligible non-citizen
T visa holder

You are eligible to complete the MSFAA if you are:

Undocumented
Meeting the non-resident exemption as described under 15-106.8 of the MD Education Article

What should I do if I have already submitted a FAFSA before learning that I should have submitted a Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA)?

You must complete the MSFAA through the Maryland College Aid Processing (MDCAPS) portal, as the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) will not be able to use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for State financial aid.

Can I fill out the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) if I don’t have a Social Security number?

Yes. Students are not required to have a Social Security number to submit the MSFAA. However, students will need to meet the non-resident exemption requirements as described under 15-106.8 of the MD Education Article to qualify for aid.

Will any of my information on the application be shared?

The Personally Identifiable Information (PII) provided on the MSFAA is confidential and used solely to determine eligibility for state financial aid. The PII will be disclosed only as required by law.

What happens after I complete the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA)?

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) will notify applicants in late April if they are awarded an Educational Assistance Grant or a Guaranteed Access Grant for the 2022-2023 award year. Awarding for the other state grant/scholarship programs will occur in the summer and eligible applicants will be notified by e-mail if they are awarded.

Loyola's Office of Financial Aid will notify you if you have been awarded the Part-Time Grant or Campus-Based Educational Assistance Grant.

MHEC encourages students to monitor their “To Do List” in MDCAPS to verify no additional information is required for any of the grant or scholarship programs you may have applied for. If additional information is needed, be sure to submit all required documents by the deadline. Note: MHEC communicates with all applicants by email; therefore, students are encouraged to provide an e-mail address that they check frequently on any application for state financial aid.

Where can I find out more information?

Additional information about the MSFAA is available on the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) website.