State Financial Aid Grant and Scholarship Appeal Criteria

 Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) understands that students experience special circumstances that may cause them to fail to meet certain requirements for receipt of State awards. Therefore, OSFA has developed an appeal process that allows students, in certain instances, to appeal for (re)consideration of their state award.

How to appeal:

Applicants must complete and submit the online appeal request form by the applicable deadline.  All required documentation must be uploaded and submitted with the appeal request.  Once the appeal has been submitted, a decision on the appeal request will be provided by email within 45 business days. Incomplete and late appeal requests will be denied. 

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CLICK HERE FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT APPEAL REQUEST FORM

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​Appeal Name & Eligible Program(s)

​​Appeal Description

Deadline to Submit Appeal

Late FAFSA/MHEC One-App Appeal

Guaranteed Access Grant
Educational Assistance Grant
​If a student does not file the 2025-26 FAFSA or MHEC One-App (as applicable to student) due to extenuating circumstances by March 1, 2025, they may appeal for reconsideration for the GA or EA Grants.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission
APPEAL CLOSED

(Deadline:
May 1, 2025)

Special Financial

Circumstance

Appeal​


Guaranteed Access Grant
Educational Assistance Grant
2+2 Transfer Scholarship

If a student's family has experienced a significant reduction i​n income for an eligible reason, the student can appeal to have their 2025-26 financial need reevaluated based on 2024 total income or project 2025 total income.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission

Closes:

June 1, 2025



5th Year of Award Appeal

Guaranteed Access Grant
Educational Assistance Grant

Guaranteed Access Grants and Educational Assistance Grants can be received for a maximum of 8 terms, or 4 years. Under certain circumstances, students may appeal to receive an additional semester or academic year of funding.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission

Closes:

August 1, 2025

​​Program of Study Appeal

Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship

Teaching Fellows who are enrolled in a program that academically requires five years to complete may appeal for a fifth year of funding, with verifying documentation.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission

Closes:

August 1, 2025

Delayed College Entrance Appeal


 Guaranteed Access Grant

Guaranteed Access Grant applicants who did not begin college within 6 years of graduating high school or obtaining their GED, and are under the age of 26, may appeal for consideration under certain circumstances.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission​

Closes:

August 1, 2025


Credit Completion Due to Academic Program Appeal

 Guaranteed Access Grant
Educational Assistance Grant

Guaranteed Access Grant and Educational Assistance Grant recipients must complete at minimum 24 credits after the second year of receiving their award to be eligible to receive the award for a third year (and subsequent fourth year). If a student in the 2024-2025 academic year did not complete at minimum 24 credits due to the academic program structure they are enrolled in, they may appeal the credit completion requirement.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission

Department Chair Certification Form

Closes:

September 15, 2025


Credit Completion​ Due to Disability Appeal


Guaranteed Access Grant

Educational Assistance Grant

Guaranteed Access Grant and Educational Assistance Grant recipients must complete at minimum 24 credits after the second year of receiving their award to be eligible to receive the award for a third year (and subsequent fourth year). If a student in the 2024-2025 academic year did not complete at minimum 24 credits due to disability, they may appeal the credit completion requirement.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission 

Closes:

September 15, 2025


2.5 Cumulative GPA Appeal

2+2 Transfer Scholarship
Renewing 2+2 Transfer Scholarship recipients are required to maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA unless they appeal due to certain extenuating circumstances.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission
Closes:

September 15, 2025

Enrolled in Less Than 6 Credits Due to Disability Appeal


Senatorial Scholarship

Delegate Scholarship

Legislative scholarship recipients who are currently enrolled in less than 6 credits (under half-time enrollment) due to disability may submit an appeal for reconsideration of the award.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission


Fall 2025 Appeal Closes:

September 15, 2025

__________ 

Spring 2026 Appeal Opens:
November 1, 2025​

Spring 2026 Appeal Closes:
March 15, 2026

Enrolled in Less than 12 Credits Due to Academic Program Appeal


Guaranteed Access Grant

Educational Assistance Grant

2+2 Transfer Scholarship

Recipients for the listed programs are required to maintain full-time (12 credits per term) enrollment but may appeal the requirement if they are currently enrolled in less than 12 credits due to the academic program structure they are enrolled in.

Click here for eligible reasons and required documentation needed for submission

Department Chair Certification Form



Fall 2025 Appeal Closes:

September 15, 2025

________ 

Spring 2026 Appeal Opens:
November 1, 2025

Spring 2026 Appeal Closes:
March 15, 2026

Enrolled in Less Than 12 Credits Due to Disability​ Appeal

Guaranteed Access Grant
Educational Assistance Grant​
​Recipients for the listed programs are required to maintain full-time (12 credits per term) enrollment but may appeal the requirement if they are currently enrolled in less than 12 credits due to disability.

Click here for eligible reasons and documentation required for submission
Fall 2025 Appeal Closes:

September 15, 2025

_______ 

Spring 2026 Appeal Opens:
November 1, 2025​

Spring 2026
Appeal Closes:
March 15, 2026

 

For questions concerning the appeal criteria and requirements email the Office of Student Financial Assistance at osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov.

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