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Eligibility Requirements for Federal, State and Institutional Aid

  • You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or an Eligible Non-citizen (see below).
  • Male students, ages 18-25, must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You must have a High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) High School Equivalency Diploma.
  • You must be working towards a degree or approved certificate.
  • You may not be in default on any federal educational loans or owe a refund on a federal grant.
  • You must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Citizen or Eligible Non-citizen | International Students | Special Non-Degree Seeking Students | Determining Dependency Status for Undergraduate Students | Determining Financial Need | Cost of Attendance (COA) | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) | Financial Need | Special Circumstances


Citizen or Eligible Non-citizen
You are considered a citizen or eligible non-citizen if you fit into one of the following categories:

  • You are a U.S. Citizen.
  • You are a U.S. National (includes natives of America, Samoa, or Swain's Island).
  • You are a U.S. Permanent resident with an Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151,I-551, or I-551C).
  • You are not a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, but have an I-94 or I-94A with one of the following designations:
    • Refugee
    • Asylum Granted
    • Indefinite Parole
    • Humanitarian Parole
    • Cuban-Haitian entrant, status pending

International Students
Link to Information for International Students


Special Non-Degree Seeking Students
Special non-degree seeking students are not eligible for federal, state and institutional aid programs; however, a non-degree seeking student may participate in the UMBC Monthly Payment Plan administered by the Bursar’s Office. 

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Determining Dependency Status for Undergraduate Students
Students are classified as dependent or independent based upon information submitted on the FAFSA. According to the U.S. Department of Education, most undergraduate students are considered dependent. Parents have the primary responsibility of providing for post-secondary education costs. Graduate students are automatically considered independent by the federal government for financial aid purposes, even if they are still claimed on their parents' taxes.

When you submit the FAFSA, your answers to multiple questions on the application will determine your dependency status. If you are considered independent you report only your own income and assets and the income of your spouse. If you are considered a dependent student, you must report your parents' income and assets along with your own. A parent must also sign the FAFSA.

The federal criteria for independent status is not based on the student physically residing with the parents or on the parents providing financial support. The philosophy behind the criteria is that parents should be the first resource to pay for their child's college education–before all other taxpayers. However, financial aid administrators are allowed to review student situations individually, and under limited circumstances with sufficient cause, may determine that a student should be considered independent for financial aid purposes. Only extreme, documented cases will warrant a change in the student's status. Your parents' refusal to assist you with educational costs, your decision to live separately from your parents, or tax filing status are not, by themselves, considered valid reasons for a dependency appeal approval.

If you think you have unusual circumstances for which you should be considered independent the process to apply for a dependency appeal may be pursued. You are encouraged to contact a financial aid counselor prior to submitting the appeal.

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Determining Financial Need
Financial aid programs were established on the premise that the primary responsibility for paying educational expenses rests with the student and his or her family. Students and families who lack the necessary resources to pay these educational expenses are encouraged to apply for financial aid by completing a FAFSA. This information is used to determine your financial aid eligibility. The following formula is used to determine whether you are eligible for need based financial aid:

Cost of Attendance minus Expected Family Contribution (EFC) equals Financial Need


Cost of Attendance (COA)
Undergraduate Costs
Graduate Costs


Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
The Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, is the amount that the student's family is expected to contribute toward the Cost of Attendance (COA). The EFC is calculated based on the information the student provides on the FAFSA.


Financial Need
The difference between the cost of attendance and the expected family contribution (based on FAFSA results) is considered financial need. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will assist students and their families in trying to meet their financial need by offering a combination of grants, scholarships, loans and employment opportunities. Students who have no financial need are eligible to be considered for non-need based scholarships, loans and employment.


Special Circumstances
Generally, financial aid eligibility is based on the previous year’s income information. If your financial situation has changed substantially during the year or since the completion of the FAFSA, you may submit a Professional Judgment Appeals Form for reconsideration of your financial need.

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