Main Campus Financial Aid

Financial Aid Application Procedures

Below are the recommended procedures to apply for financial aid at Mount St. Mary’s University. Please pay close attention to the corresponding dates for each step in order to meet all of the University’s deadlines. The Mount’s priority deadline for receipt of financial aid applications is February 15.

1. Recommended time: Fall
   If you plan on submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online, you must register for a FSA User ID for both yourself and your contributor. Go to http://studentaid.gov and select the ‘FSA ID’ link at the top of the page. Each student and one contributor must have their own unique FSA IDs.
2. Recommended time: October-February 15
   The FAFSA becomes available in October at http://studentaid.gov. Mount St. Mary’s Title IV School Code is 002086. The FAFSA will request income from the prior-prior year. The U.S. Department of Education requires each contributor to provide consent to share Federal Tax Information (FTI).
3. Upon submitting your FAFSA, if you have special circumstances you wish to call to the attention of the Financial Aid Office, download the appropriate appeal form from www.msmary.edu/financialaidforms; complete it to the best of your ability and return it to the Financial Aid Office.
4. Within several days of submitting your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report. This report will be sent to your email address provided on the FAFSA. Please share it with your parents and review it for accuracy. If any corrections need to be made, please make them online at studentaid.gov.

Financial Aid and Financing Options

Because most financial aid is offered on the basis of merit and demonstrated financial need, the Mount highly recommends that all first-year students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Forms should be completed so as not to miss the priority February 1st institutional deadline. Returning students must file the FAFSA each year to be considered for need-based aid. For students who are Maryland residents, March 1 is the deadline for the FAFSA for state scholarships.

When determining a student’s need for aid, the financial aid office subtracts the Student Aid Index number from the total cost of attendance. In addition to the cost of tuition, fees, room and board, standard allowances are made for books, supplies, travel, personal expenses, and loan fees.

Federal Aid Programs

Mount St. Mary’s University participates in all of the Title IV financial aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work Study and the Federal Direct Loan Program. Eligibility for all federal programs is determined from the FAFSA.

Grants

Federal Pell Grants

This program provides students with extremely high need with grants. The amount is determined by the federal government and should be the same at all colleges/universities for a student.

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

Designed to assist exceptionally needy students who are eligible for Pell Grants, these grants typically range from $500 to $1,500 per year.

TEACH Grant

This $4,000/year non-need-based grant is for students who intend to teach in high-need subject areas at low-income (Title I) schools. At Mount St. Mary’s, the high-need subject areas include reading specialist, mathematics education, and foreign study education. A recipient is obligated to be a highly-qualified, full-time teacher at a low income school for each year for which a scholarship is received. Failure to meet this obligation converts the grant to an interest-bearing loan. This grant is available to both graduate and undergraduate students who are admitted into the education program (i.e, at least junior class standing).

Work Study

Federal Work Study

Students selected for this program are eligible to apply for a wide variety of on-campus jobs. On average, students work 8 hours per week. Students who have work study as part of the financial package have the opportunity to apply for jobs, but there is no guarantee of being hired for a position. Completion of the FAFSA is required each year.

Other College Employment

College employment other than the federal work study is available. Contact the Mount’s Human Resources Department for more information.  All open positions are posted online on the Mount St. Mary’s employment opportunities website page.

Loans

Federal Subsidized Direct Student Loans

Eligible undergraduate students may borrow up to $3,500 for the first year of study, up to $4,500 for the second year, and up to $5,500 for each remaining year. During periods of enrollment, interest payments are subsidized by the government. After graduation or termination of studies, and following a six-month grace period, students begin to repay their loans.

Federal Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans

Students who are not eligible or only partially eligible for a subsidized Direct Loan may borrow funds via this program at annual limits equivalent to those of the subsidized program. Students will be responsible for interest charges during periods of enrollment. In addition, all students may borrow up to $2,000 each year, and independent students may borrow up to $4,000 for each of the first two years of undergraduate work and up to $5,000 for each remaining year.

Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

This program enables parents of dependent students to borrow the entire annual cost of attendance less financial aid awarded. The parent must be credit worthy to obtain the loan.

ROTC Scholarships

Mount students receive scholarships from the Army ROTC program to cover full tuition, and are eligible for additional aid from the University. ROTC scholarships are awarded through the Army Cadet Command which allocates funds nationwide, so it is important for applicants to apply as early as possible. To apply, visit www.goarmy.com/rotc/college_four_year_scholarship.jsp. Contact the Mount ROTC Department at 301-447-5350 for additional information on these scholarships.

Mount students who are receiving Army ROTC scholarships for tuition and fees will receive Mount scholarships that will cover charges for room and board that are posted to the student account. if the student does not live on campus or elects not to have a meal plan, Mount scholarships will be adjusted.  Institutional aid cannot exceed charges for tuition, fees, room, and meals.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Mount St. Mary’s policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress can be found here:

https://inside.msmary.edu/financial-aid-office/satisfactory-academic-progress-policy.html

Students Receiving Title IV Funding

Students Receiving Title IV Funding are awarded Title IV financial aid funds, they must earn their aid by attending classes. When students completely withdraw from classes or stop attending during a semester and/or term, the University must follow rules established by the federal government to determine the amount of financial aid earned. The amount of Title IV aid that must be returned to the federal programs is determined  by the federal formula for Return of Title IV funds as specified in the Higher Education Act of 1998 (34 CFR§668.22).

The calculation is based on the documented withdrawal date or last date of attendance of the student. For students who unofficially withdraw from a semester and/or term and earn all “F” grades, faculty provide the last date of attendance that is used in the calculation. When students receive more Title IV funds than they have earned, the unearned portion must be returned to the Federal program. When students have not received all of their earned Title IV funds, they may still receive disbursements of this aid. Funds must be returned to the Title IV Programs in the following order: 1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans 2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loans 3. Federal PLUS Loans 4. Federal Pell Grants 5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant 6. Iraq/Afghanistan Service Grant Students may obtain a sample copy of the Return of Title IV Funds worksheet with sample calculations from Financial Aid Office.

Maryland State Aid Programs

Maryland residents may be eligible for state-sponsored, need-based grants or scholarships. Many of the programs require the FAFSA to be filed before March 1 of each year, and the scholarships typically require a separate application. More detailed information is available on the Mount’s financial aid web page at www.msmary.edu/financialaid or at www.mhec.state.md.us. Students are required to create a MDCAPS account.

Maryland residents who are not eligible to file a FAFSA can complete the Maryland One Application.  Eligibility criteria can be found online at www.mhec.state.md.us.

Institutional Aid and Scholarships

The Mount offers scholarships and aid to students in three categories.

Academic Scholarships

Additional University Scholarships

Need Based Financial Aid

Guaranteed Academic Scholarships

All first-year applicants accepted to the University are guaranteed academic scholarships based on several criteria, including course achievement, SAT and/or ACT results, and involvement in extracurricular activities. Financial need is not a factor in merit-based award decisions. The following are descriptions of the attributes of academic scholarship recipients entering in the Fall of 2024:

Additional University Scholarships

Founder’s Scholarships

One full-tuition Founder’s Scholarship and 10, $4,000 scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen who perform superbly during an on-campus written exam in late January and a personal interview for finalists in early March. Students must be accepted into our Honors Program and meet certain academic criteria to participate. The requirement for participation is a 3.5 GPA combined with either an SAT score of 1150 or higher (reading and math only), or an ACT score of 25 or higher. Invitations will be sent in November, December, and early January to those students who qualify.

This award is given through the Admissions Office of the University. Incoming freshmen or transfer students who had a qualifying relative graduate from the Mount will be awarded $1,000 per year, which can be renewed for up to four years. Legacy Grants are awarded to students who indicate their status on the admissions application. Financial need is not considered.

Visit Grant

For fall 2024 freshmen, the Visit Grant is a four-year grant that will be awarded to seniors who attend a qualifying admissions event and applied by May 1, 2024. This award is contingent upon residential status.

Catholic High School Scholarship

Starting for the fall 2022 enrollment, the $1,000 Catholic High School Scholarship is available to high school seniors who graduate from a Catholic High School or complete a Catholic-based home school curriculum and apply by the December 1 Early Action I deadline. This four-year recurring scholarship is available for both residential and commuter students.

Each incoming student with a brother or sister enrolled at the Mount as an undergraduate full-time student on the Emmitsburg campus will receive a $2,000 Family Discount Grant. This grant is renewable as long as the siblings are concurrently enrolled. Financial need is not considered.

Athletic Scholarships

Mount St. Mary’s competes at the NCAA Division I level in 19 men’s and women’s sports. All varsity teams offer athletic scholarships. Contact the athletic director or head coach at 301-447-5296 for additional information on these scholarships.  Some institutional grants and scholarships cannot be combined with athletic scholarships.

Need Based Financial Aid

Students who have remaining financial need after their merit-based aid is awarded are candidates for the Grant-in-Aid. The Grant-in-Aid is renewable provided the student files the FAFSA and demonstrates similar need in future years. Student residency will be used in determination of eligibility and award amount.

Commuter Grants

Up to 50% of tuition is awarded to transfer students based on financial need to students who live at home and commute to the Mount. When combined with an academic scholarship, total money from the Mount cannot exceed 50% of tuition. The grant is not available for summer school.

Maryland Programs

Access the Maryland Higher Education Commission website at www.mhec.state.md.us for current information on these and other state programs. Students should create a MDCAPS account. Some programs require the student to submit additional documentation using the MDCAPS portal. Students must also accept state awards using the MDCAPS account.  If awards are not accepted by established deadlines, award is forfeited.

Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grants

The EA Grant is awarded to Maryland students from families with low to moderate income. The average grant for Mount students has been $3,000. For eligibility, you must submit the FAFSA or Maryland One app to the federal processor no later than March 1 of each year.

Senatorial Scholarships

The average Senatorial Scholarship for Mount students has been $1,500. Additional information can be found online at www.mhec.state.md.us.

Delegate Scholarships

Write to each of your Maryland delegates for instructions on how to apply. Awards vary, with the average Mount student receiving over $1,000.

Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant

The Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant is a grant for families with significant financial need. Both the parent(s) and student must be Maryland residents. This grant provides post-secondary financial assistance to eligible in-state students currently enrolled as high school seniors who will complete a college preparatory program or a student who has obtained a General Educational Development Diploma (GED), and is under the age of 26. A student may receive a GA Grant award for up to $20,700 (2023-2024 award amount, subject to change).

Veterans Benefits

Veterans who are eligible to receive educational benefits should contact the University Registrar, who serves as the veterans certifying official. For more information, call 301-447-5215.

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) Return of Funds Policy

Military tuition assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws (officially or unofficially) on or before 60 percent of the course(s) meeting period has been completed, Mount St. Mary’s University will comply with the Department of Defense policy to return unearned TA funds to the federal government on a proportional basis through the 60 percent portion of the period for which the TA funds were provided. After a student completes 60 percent of the term, all TA funds are considered fully earned. 

The return of funds schedule is as follows: