Information for New and Prospective Freshmen
Welcome!
The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) at UMES coordinates and awards a variety of state, federal, institutional and private sources of financial aid, within their respective policies and guidelines. It is the responsibility of this office to ensure the proper use of these program funds in order to benefit the maximum number of students. Awards can only be offered to those students that are registered in degree seeking programs of study.
Below is a step-by-step tool that will guide you through the financial aid process beginning with your application for admission to UMES and concluding with the payment of your bill. The links are helpful to both prospective and incoming freshmen. Be sure to visit the rest of our Web site for more information that may meet your specific needs.
Getting Started
What's Next?
In April, we will begin sending out financial aid notification letters advising you of all awards you have been offered. We also encourage you to view your financial aid package on the
HawkWeb at
myUMES. Documents that are still needed to complete your file will also be listed on the
HawkWeb to the right under your To Do List.
You must submit the
Authorization to Release Information form if your parent(s) or any other person will be contacting our office concerning your financial aid. Without this form, we can not release any information to anyone besides you.
Estimate your out-of-pocket expenses by comparing your financial aid awards to estimated tuition, fees,
room and board charges located under
UMES Cost of Attendance on the Office of Financial Aid homepage.
About Your Award Notification...
UMES automatically offers all available Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Stafford Loans to students that complete the FAFSA and fulfill the qualifications for receiving federal aid. Other grant awarding is subject to availability of funds and application date. If you decide you want to accept all or some of your loan funds, you will need to go online to your HawkWeb Student Center and under the Financial Aid office, select "Accept/Decline Awards". Once you select the award year you are adjusting, your award will show and you will have the option to either accept (in full or reduced amount) or decline the Federal Direct Student Loan(s).
Direct Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) are also listed on your award notification letter and your award screen if you are a dependent student (as determined by the FAFSA and U.S. Department of Education). These loans are shown as offered only and list the
maximum amount that a parent can borrow for the upcoming academic year. THIS LOAN IS NOT GUARANTEED. The parent must apply online at
www.studentloans.gov OR complete the
PLUS Data Application Sheet and submit it to our office. Their credit must be approved by the Department of Education to receive the PLUS loan.
Before You Begin...
Meet with your advisor and pre-register for classes and complete your payment confirmation to make your registration official.
Pay your bill prior to the due date to avoid late fees and to prevent problems in registering for the following semester.
Remember...
Continue to check your HawkWeb account and your campus email for additional award revisions, requested documents, financial aid disbursements, and student account balance information.