The FAFSA Simplification Act was enacted by the federal government to simplify the financial aid application process and encourage more students and families to apply for federal grants and loans. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for financial aid determination. While the application is open and available to students now, technical issues caused significant delays for families trying to complete the FAFSA (some of which are still unresolved). The U.S. Department of Education has not yet processed completed applications, so colleges and universities cannot determine financial aid packages for students.
At UMBC, we have been preparing for these anticipated delays, and are working diligently to make sure we can deliver aid packages as soon as possible. We know how important it is for you to have the full picture of your college costs to be able to make decisions about this investment in your future. We understand your frustrations and appreciate your patience, and we invite you to use the resources below to learn more. We also encourage you to reach out with any questions you might have.
Complete your 2024-25 FAFSA Form
Updates
March 5, 2024: For parents without a Social Security Number (SSN), the Department of Education has updated steps 2 and 3 of the account creation instructions to reflect the new process that automatically assigns and provides case numbers by email to those individuals who fail the TransUnion® process. Read more about StudentAid.gov Account Creation Instructions (step-by-step) for Individuals Without a Social Security Number (SSN) here.
February 15, 2024: The University System of Maryland has announced that system schools, including UMBC, will move decision day from May 1 to May 15 to accommodate FAFSA-related delays. Read the news release here.
Important Dates
- May 15: Decision Day
- June 1: Priority filing date for Maryland residents to apply for state grants (The previous deadline was March 1; students who filed by then will receive information by April 15 via the MDCaps portal.)
Additional Resources
- Check out the new FAFSA tips page at studentaid.gov for more information on successful submission of the FAFSA.
- Check out UMBC’s 2024-2025 FAFSA FAQ page for commonly asked questions.
- Learn more about the FAFSA Simplification Act.
- Our new Net Price Calculator is live. This will allow you to estimate aid before FAFSA information is available.