The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships book loan process allows for the purchase of your books at the UMBC Bookstore or on the Bookstore’s website. Book loans will be available no later than two weeks prior to the start of classes. Students enrolled at Shady Grove may also apply for book loans. If you are enrolled at Shady Grove, please click here for information on book loans.
Spring 2025: Available January 2 – February 19
Students who would like to be considered for a book loan must complete the application linked at the bottom of this page. Please review the book loan eligibility criteria below before submitting your application.
How to determine if you are eligible:
If you can answer yes to all of these statements, you are eligible for a book loan:
- I have submitted all requested financial aid documents and they have been processed by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (this includes all loan applications) – I do not have any outstanding To-Do’s in my Alerts on myUMBC.
- The amount of all aid I will receive is more than the amount of my bill (I have reviewed my bill on my self-service page of myUMBC).
- I do not have a past-due balance from a prior semester and I do not have an account that is currently in collections.
How Much Is My Book Loan?
Book loans are awarded based on your enrollment status OR your refund amount, whichever is less. Use the following chart to determine the maximum amount you can receive in a book loan:
| Undergraduate Credits | Graduate Credits | Max Book Loan Amt (Fall/Spring/Summer) |
| Full-time (12+) | Full-time (9+) | $800 |
| Three Quarter-time (9-11.5) | Three Quarter-time (7-8.5) | $600 |
| Half-time (6-8.5) | Half-time (6-6.5) | $400 |
| Less than half-time (<6) | Less than half-time (<6) | $200 |
How the Book Loan Process Works:
To request a book loan, you must apply using the link below. Staff will evaluate your eligibility and will contact you with the outcome via your UMBC e-mail within two business days. If you are approved for a book loan, this e-mail will include the amount you have been approved for.
If you are approved for a book loan, please wait two business hours before using your book loan in the UMBC Bookstore, Main Campus, or on the Bookstore’s website. You have the option to ship the materials for $12.99 or to pick up in person for no additional fee. To purchase and ship your books online using a book loan, please click here for an instructional guide.
The charges (up to the approved amount) will be billed to your student account. Any charges beyond the amount of your book loan must be paid at the time of purchase. Be sure to monitor your myUMBC account to confirm that the book loan charges have posted. It is your responsibility to use your refund to pay charges incurred to your student account if you use a book loan.