Maryland Higher Education Commission

January 2010 Press Release

 

 

For immediate release: January 15, 2010                                  Media Contact: Christopher Falkenhagen
                                                                                                             Communications: (410) 260-4511

                                                                                                             cfalkenh@mhec.state.md.us

 

Students seeking college financial aid need to file FAFSAs

Annapolis, MD (January 15, 2010) - Students seeking State and federal aid for postsecondary education need to start filling out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms as soon as possible in order to be eligible for financial assistance. The deadline to receive Maryland State grants and scholarships is March 1.

Much of the nearly $110 million in grants and scholarships budgeted by Governor O’Malley and allocated by the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) goes to those who file their FAFSA forms early.

Most students who are already receiving scholarships from Maryland and are seeking renewals must also file their FAFSA.

Competition for financial aid will be especially strong this year if 2009 was any indication. MHEC received 20,000 more FAFSAs last year than it did in 2008 because of the current economic recession.

“I encourage every student interested in pursuing a degree at a two-year or four-year public or independent college or private career school to make sure they file the FAFSA by the March 1 deadline,” Governor O’Malley said. “I’ve been proud during my administration to budget about $333 million to more than 174,000 students. Many of those students would not have received financial aid from the State if they had not filed the FAFSA.”

Students can access the FAFSA form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

For information regarding Maryland financial assistance programs, prospective postsecondary students can access www.mhec.state.md.us/financialAid/descriptions.asp. At that link, they will be able to find a description of each program. They may also e-mail OSFA for more information at osfamail@mhec.state.md.us.

 

The Maryland Higher Education Commission is a 12-member coordinating board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and independent colleges and universities and private career schools. It serves as an advocate for more than 350,000 college students in Maryland, for the State and its needs, and for business and industry in Maryland.

 

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