Need-Based Grants

Towson University offers the following need-based grants.  All of these programs require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Pell Grant

Application Process  

You must reapply every year by completing the FAFSA process.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must meet the Federal Eligibility Requirements.
• Does this aid program require Financial Need? Yes.
• You must be pursuing your first bachelor's degree and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your FAFSA must be in the Pell Grant EFC Range. For 2018-19 Pell Grants, the EFC range was $0 to $5,486, with higher EFC students receiving smaller grants.
• Your Lifetime Pell Grant Eligibility is limited to the equivalent of 6 years (12 semesters) of full-time enrollment.

Award Amounts

Grants range from $652 to $6,095 per year depending on your EFC.

Enrollment Requirements

Awards are pro-rated based on full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, or less than 1/2 time enrollment.  See Minimum Credit requirements. 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Application Process

You must reapply every year by completing the FAFSA Process by our Priority Deadline.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must meet the Federal General Federal Eligibility Requirements.
• Does this aid program require Financial Need? Yes.
• You must be pursuing your first bachelor's degree, must be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, must meet TU's Priority Deadline, and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from your FAFSA must be $0. 
• TU selects the recipients based on an annual evaluation of financial need and FAFSA, aid documentation, and admisison application dates. Because funds are limited, we can only offer funds to a small portion of all eligible students. 
• If students are living  on-campus or with their parents, they cannot receive this grant in combination with a Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).  If this occurs, the SEOG grant will be canceled.  This restriction does not apply to students who are living off-campus not with parents.

Typical Award Amounts

Awards range from $200 to $4,000. Annual grant maximums are subject to change.

Enrollment Requirements

Awards are pro-rated based on full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, or less than 1/2 time enrollment. See Minimum Credit requirements.

Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Grants 

Maryland residents may apply for the following need-based grants from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. If you are required to provide parent data on your FAFSA, then your parent(s) must also be Maryland residents. To apply, every year you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 and must demonstrate financial need. The GA and 2+2 program also require an additional MHEC application. 

The first three awards require at least 12 credits per semester. All four of these MHEC awards may only be received for fall and spring classes. They can never be received for summer or winter minimester enrollment.   MHEC's Howard P. Rawlings Program of Educational Excellence Awards include the Guaranteed Access Grant​​ and the Educational Assistance Grant​.  For more information, follow the links below.

MHEC's Educational Assistance (EA) Grant

To apply for MHEC's Educational Assistance (EA) Grant, you must file a FAFSA every year by March 1.  It does not require an additional MHEC application. Funds are limited, and MHEC selects recipients based on financial need. Award amounts range from $400 to $3,000 per year.  You must enroll full-time.

MHEC's Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant

To apply for MHEC's Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant, you must file a FAFSA every year by March 1 and must submit an additional GA application to MHEC during your senior year of high school. Applicants must show exceptionally high financial need. Award amounts range from $400 to $17,500 per year. You must enroll full-time.

MHEC's 2+2 Transfer Scholarship

To apply for MHEC's 2+2 Transfer Scholarship, you must file a FAFSA every year by March 1 and must submit an additional 2+2 application to MHEC. Awards may be renewed based on MHEC's criteria. Eligible applicants must be transferring from a Maryland community college. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,000 per year depending on your major. After you transfer to TU, you must enroll full-time to receive the award.

Campus-Based Part-time Grant

To apply for MHEC's Campus-Based Part-time Grant, you must reapply every year by completing the FAFSA process by March 1. MHEC allocates a portion of their funds to TU, and we award the funds based on MHEC's financial need selection formula. Awards range from $400 to $2,000 per year. You must enroll for 6-11 credits per semester.

The TU “Institutional Grant”

Application Process

You must reapply every year by completing the FAFSA Process by our Priority Deadline.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must meet the Federal General Eligibility Requirements.
• Does this aid program require Financial Need? Yes.
• You must be pursuing your first Bachelor's Degree. 
• Funding is limited, and TU selects recipients based on an annual evaluation of financial need and FAFSA, aid documentation, and admisison application dates.  Prior recipients do not receive preference for awards in subsequent years, and eligibility formulas may change.
• If students are living  on-campus or with their parents, they cannot receive this grant in combination with a Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).  If this occurs, the "Institutional Grant" will be canceled.  This restriction does not apply to students who are living off-campus not with parents.

Typical Award Amounts

Amounts vary based on financial need, housing status, and in-state or out-of-state tuition rates. Annual award amounts are subject to change.

Enrollment Requirements

Awards are pro-rated based on full-time, 3/4 time, 1/2 time, or less than 1/2 time enrollment. See Minimum Credit requirements. Awards may not be used for summer enrollment.