In-State Applicants with DACA Status

The Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) is available to applicants who are ineligible to receive federal aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

First, create an MDCAPS account at MDCAPS.MHEC.state.md.us.

• If you do not have a social security number, enter zeroes.
• Complete the MFSAA Eligibility Wizard before being able to fill out the MFSAA. The Eligibility Wizard consists of a series of questions required to ensure that the Maryland State Financial Aid Application is the correct application for you.

The MSFAA form must be filed by March 1st to be considered for aid in the next academic year (Fall/Spring semesters).

Students should only complete one of the applications (not both), according to the requirements below:

1. You are eligible to complete the FAFSA​ if you are a:
   • U.S. Citizen
   • Permanent Resident
   • Eligible non-citizen
   • T Visa holder
2. You are eligible to complete the MSFAA if you are:
   • Undocumented
   • Meet the non-resident exemption as described under 15–106.8 of the Maryland Education Article

You must complete the MSFAA through the Maryland College Aid Processing (MDCAPS) portal, as MHEC will not be able to use the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for State financial aid.

The MDCAPS portal is found on the MHEC website. 

Students who have completed their MSFAA by the state deadline may potentially be eligible for Maryland State Legislative Scholarships: Delegate Scholarship and Senatorial Scholarship or both. We are also looking into whether professional-level students with DACA status can apply for the MD Graduate Professional Scholarship (this is pending notice from MHECC).

Graduate students are eligible for legislative scholarships; however, preference is given to undergraduate students. Students must email their district legislators and specify:

• Their full name
• Their career level
• Their district
• Request the legislative office email them an application.

Each district has its own application and document requirements (some may require a short essay, academic transcript, a recommendation contact).

For students who have completed an MSFAA, they need to attach a copy of the processed MSFAA to the legislator’s scholarship application for submission.

To find Maryland district legislators, go to the Maryland General Assembly website.

The application is available through the MDCAPS portal.

For more information, visit mhec.maryland.gov.

The National Medical Fellowship (NMF) Alliance for Inclusion in Medicine (AIM) program will serve second-year students underrepresented in medicine (MD, MD/PhD, DO, DO/PhD) and will run for two consecutive years (second and third years of medical school).

Scholar candidates must meet the following eligibility:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) approval letter
• Must be currently enrolled in an accredited medical school located in the U.S.
• Identification as an underrepresented student* in health care
• Demonstrated leadership early in career
• Interest in health care delivery to medically underserved communities

*NMF designates the following racial/ethnic groups as underrepresented students in health care: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American (Vietnamese and Cambodian only), Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

NITRO by Sallie Mae: The Scholarship for Undocumented Students section of NITRO’s website includes direct links to a wide variety of scholarships from private organizations to help students pursuing various degree programs.

The best way to search for scholarships on this website is to choose the award amount category as "amount varies" and select options through the other filters.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund applicant requirements:

• Must be of Hispanic heritage
• U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students
• Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the U.S., for the 2023-2024 academic year
• Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable); must complete the MSFAA through MHEC.
• NOTE: the deadline for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund 2022-23 school year was February 15, 2023, but students can review the current details and apply next academic year (2024/25).