*Note: The EA Grant may be used at an out-of-state institution only if the award recipient is a deaf or hearing-impaired student and the institution makes special provisions for deaf and hearing-impaired students that are not available at Maryland institutions.
MDCAPS will automatically consider students qualified for the Educational Assistance Grant if they meet the basic eligibility requirements.
2026-2027 EA Grant Financial Need Calculation:
An EA Grant is determined by student need and is calculated using the following formula:
OSFA-Calculated Cost of Attendance (adjusts based on housing status)
+/- Regional Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
- Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Certain State Awards (if awarded)
- Federal Pell Grant
= OSFA Adjusted Financial Need
Maximum annual award amount: $3,000 | Minimum annual award amount: $400
Selection Process & Requirements:
For students to be considered for the 2026-2027 Educational Assistance Grant, they must submit a 2026-2027 FAFSA or MHEC One-App by March 1, 2026. There is no specific application for the Educational Assistance Grant.
Students may be asked to submit certain documentation if they meet one or more of the following circumstances:
- Have filed an MHEC One-App as a dependent student
- Have filed an MHEC One-App, are male, and 18 years or older
- Have filed a FAFSA, and do not have family size listed
Most students will not be asked to submit additional documentation. For students that have been asked to submit documentation, that documentation is required for continued consideration for the Educational Assistance Grant.
Dependent MHEC One-App Filer
| - MHEC One-App Parent Signature Page
|
Male MHEC One-App Filer Who is 18 Years or Older
| - Proof of registration for the Selective Service (if not previously provided to the Maryland Higher Education Commission)
- Award cannot be paid out until proof of registration received. Deadline to submit is June 1, 2027
|
FAFSA Filer Missing Family Size
| - Family Size Verification Form
|
Documentation:
Below are further details regarding specific documentation and what is permitted.
- MHEC One-App Parent Signature Page
- Accessible for download inside a student’s MDCAPS account by selecting “Check Application Status”
- Proof of registration for the Selective Service
- Students can learn more about eligibility, registration, and verification via the Selective Service System: https://www.sss.gov/
- Family Size Verification Form
- Accessible for download inside a student’s MDCAPS account by selecting “Check Application Status”
Award Amount:
The maximum annual amount of the Educational Assistance Grant is $3,000.
Students who have been awarded have their grant amounts calculated based on the cost of attendance at the institution, the student’s living situation (on campus, off campus, or with parent), and the amount of financial need they have.
The minimum award amount a student can receive is $400 per year. If a student has a calculated financial need that is below this amount, or their need has been calculated as fully met, the student will not receive funding.
All Educational Assistance Grant awarding is contingent on the availability of funds.
Renewal Requirements:
The Educational Assistance Grant can be renewed for up to 3 years, contingent on the availability of funds. For recipients to remain eligible for the EA, they must:
- Remain eligible for in-state tuition in Maryland;
- By March 1, 2026: file the 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or State financial aid application for undocumented students (formerly MSFAA) through the new MHEC One-App;
- The FAFSA is open to U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens
- The State financial aid application through the MHEC One-App is for residents of Maryland who are eligible for in-state tuition but NOT eligible to file the FAFSA (undocumented students)
- Students must have a Maryland university or college listed on their FAFSA or MHEC One-App by March 1, 2026
- Continue to demonstrate financial need (see Financial Need Calculation above)
- Enroll as a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student at an eligible two-year or four-year Maryland institution*;
- Maintain the satisfactory academic progress standards of the enrolled institution;
- Submit any required documentation (see Documentation above) by August 1, 2026;
- Students who have received the award for at least two years and thereafter must (see Credit Completion requirement information linked below):
- Annually complete 30 credits in order to have their awards renewed for the full amount or
- Annually complete 24-29 credits in order to have their awards renewed for a prorated amount
*Note: The EA Grant may be used at an out-of-state institution only if the award recipient is a deaf or hearing-impaired student and the institution makes special provisions for deaf and hearing-impaired students that are not available at Maryland institutions.
Additional Information:
