Incoming Freshman

Review our Aid Calendar for the monthly steps in the admisison and aid process.

Application Steps

1. To apply for merit -based Admission's scholarships, submit a complete application for Fall 2026 admission (including transcripts) by November 1. (No additional application is required for these scholarships.) Recipients are notified by early March and are selected based on a comprehensive review of academic records without considering financial need.
2. Review the general Eligibility Requirements for federal aid.
3. To apply for loans and need-based grants, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
   
   For the 2025-2026 academic year, complete the 2025-2026 (FAFSA) now. (Many aid programs are still available, but you've missed the deadlines for others.)
   
   For the 2026-2027 academic year, complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA by February 1, 2026 (TU's Priority Deadline). 
4. Maryland residents should also apply for state aid programs from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Students and parents must be residents of Maryland. Many MHEC aid programs require a FAFSA by MHEC's FAFSA deadline, and many also require additional applications in their MDCAPS system.
5. Apply for TU Foundation Scholarships from private donors.
6. Explore TU's Departmental Scholarships.
7. Use our Scholarship Seeker to search for additional TU and MHEC scholarships.
8. Search for other Private Scholarships.
9. If applicable, apply for military benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
10. We start sending award notifications to new students in mid to late April.
11. To review and accept your awards, follow the instructions in Your Award Guide. It explains everything you need to know about accepting, receiving and retaining awards.
    
12. You must reapply for many aid programs every year except for renewable scholarships.