This section provides vital information related to student aid eligibility, including additional requirements to receive a federal aid offer, satisfactory academic progress, and alternative aid options for international students. Discover UMB's Institutional Policy and Appeals process for maintaining satisfactory academic progress as it relates to financial aid eligibility. From minimum GPA requirements to the appeal process for extenuating circumstances, this section provides vital information to navigate your financial aid journey effectively and ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Once a student has submitted a FAFSA, the application is processed through various federal agencies to verify a student’s eligibility for federal aid. Based on these checks, a student may be required to make a correction to their FAFSA or submit additional documentation to the University Student Financial Assistance Office for review before receiving an aid offer. Below are some common FAFSA flags that require additional review and/or documentation before an aid offer can be made:

• Citizenship: if the Social Security Administration (SSA) is not able to confirm a student’s U.S. citizenship, the student is required to bring in original documentation confirming their status.
• Permanent Residency: if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not able to confirm a student’s eligible non-citizenship status, the student may be required to bring in original documentation confirming their status.
• Loan Limit: The National Student Loan Data System has determined that the student is close to or has reached their aggregate federal loan limit. This flag must be reviewed by a financial aid counselor to determine the student’s loan eligibility. There is no action required on the part of the student for this review. Students can view the
• Default: The National Student Loan Data System has determined that one or more of the loans borrowed by the student is in a default status. Students should follow the instructions provided on their FAFSA Submission Summary to resolve this flag.
• Rejected FAFSA: A FAFSA is rejected when one or more required fields has not been completed or contains incorrect information. The most common reason for a rejected FAFSA is it is missing the student signature, or parent signature (for dependent students). Students should review the reject reason on their FAFSA Submission Summary and follow the instructions to resolve the issue.

The University Student Financial Assistance office is obligated by federal regulation to ensure that students are not receiving aid that exceeds their total cost of attendance. Financial aid previously disbursed may be adjusted due to changes in the student’s enrollment load, residency reclassification, or a receipt of additional funding.

Aid offers are based on each student's cost of attendance, which is determined by the residency and enrollment status. Students who have been awarded based on full-time enrollment (as determined by their program), but are only enrolled part-time will have their aid adjusted to prevent them from receiving aid that exceeds the amount they are eligible for. School specific enrollment requirements can be found on the Cost of Attendance pages. 

Federal Aid

All students must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits to be eligible for federal student loans. 

For undergraduate students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, the grant amount will change depending on if a student is full-time, half-time, or less than half-time (if applicable). 

Students must be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) credits to be eligible for Federal Work Study. Exception: no enrollment is required for students who wish to apply for Federal Work Study during a designated summer term.

Institutional Aid

Students who have been awarded a University Grant must be enrolled full-time (as designated by their program) to be eligible for the full award amount. Adjustments will be made for those enrolled less than full-time. Those enrolled less than half-time are not eligible to receive University Grant funds. 

Students should contact their program for the enrollment requirements for school-awarded scholarships. 

State Aid

Scholarships and grants awarded through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), such as Senatorial/Delegate Scholarships, Educational Assistance Grants, Guaranteed Access Grants, and Workforce Shortage Grants, are typically based on full-time enrollment. Award amounts may change for students enrolled less than full-time.