To be considered for financial aid awarded through the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Office of Student Financial Aid, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Have a valid FAFSA on file.
- Meet the eligibility requirements of each aid program (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education/ Federal Student Aid).
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States (for federal and state financial aid programs). International students with student visas are not eligible for financial aid awarded through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
- Be enrolled at least half-time (six [6] credit hours for an undergraduate student and three [3] to six [6] credit hours for a graduate student) in a program leading to a degree or eligible certificate program. Federal Pell Grants may be available to students registered less than half-time; audits and cooperative education 00 semester hours do not count.
- Not be in default on an educational loan nor owe a refund on a grant received at any institution.
- Be in good academic standing and maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the UMES Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
- Students enrolled as visiting students, extension, or other non-degree-granting programs are not eligible. If you are a graduate student registered for less than three [3] hours and you are working on your dissertation or thesis [799 or 899 course] or doing research toward fulfillment of a degree requirement, you may be considered a half-time or full-time student. Additional information is available on our Costs of Attendance (Graduate) web page.
