Aid Programs

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility and selection criteria vary widely between each different aid program.  Programs may be merit-based, need-based, or some combination of both. 
• To apply for all federal loans and many need-based grants, applicants must also meet all of the Eligibility Requirements for federal student aid. These include U.S. Citizenship Requirements. Maryland's state aid programs also include many of these federal requirements.
• Most need-based programs rely on a standard financial need formula.

Available Aid Programs

• Scholarships
• Need-Based Grants
• TEACH Grants
• Federal HEERF (Coronavirus Relief) Grants
• Loans
• State Aid
• Student Employment
• Veterans Benefits

Sources of Aid

• Federal aid — The U.S. Department of Education is one of the largest sources of financial aid. They provide a variety of loans, grants, and work programs, which are all explained in the links above.  
• State aid — Maryland residents can apply for grants and scholarships from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).
• Institutional aid — TU provides a variety of need-based grants and merit-based scholarships.  Because funding is limited, selection is competitive based on either academic merit or financial need.
• Private aid — Includes many scholarships, private student loans, and employer education benefits.

Eligibility Categories

• Need-based aid — These programs require applicants to demonstrate financial need usually based on their expected Cost of Attendance (COA) and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation from their FAFSA.
• Non-need-based aid — Eligibility for these programs is not based on financial need or the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
• Merit-based aid — These programs are based on talent, or academic achievements, and they usually do not require or consider financial need.

Types of Aid

Gift aid programs do not have to be repaid.

• Grants are usually need-based.
• Scholarships are usually merit-based

Self-Help Programs

Loan programs must be repaid with interest. Students with and without need can borrow loans, but some lower interest loan programs require financial need.

Student employment — Many students get part-time jobs to assist with their education and living expenses.