HOWARD P. RAWLINGS GUARANTEED ACCESS (GA) GRANT FOR MARYLAND RESIDENTS

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HOWARD P. RAWLINGS
GUARANTEED ACCESS (GA) GRANT

Who may apply: Current high school seniors who will complete a college preparatory program or a student who graduated prior to the current academic year who provides written documentation explaining why they were unable to attend college within one (1) year of graduating from high school.

How to apply: Complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and complete and file the Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant application.

When to apply: Students are encouraged to apply by March 1. Applications submitted after March 1 will be considered as long as funds remain available.

Eligible majors: All majors are eligible.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

You and your parents (if you are a dependent student) must be Maryland residents. You must enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university as a full-time (12+ credits per semester; audited courses cannot be used to reach the minimum credit hours required for full-time status), degree-seeking, undergraduate student, and you must demonstrate financial need. All applicants must have a minimum, unweighted cumulative 2.5 high school grade point average (GPA) and meet the following income requirements:

2009-2010 Guaranteed Access Grant Family Income Requirements:

Family Size Total Family Income
1 $ 13,520
2 $ 18,200
3 $ 22,880
4 $ 27,560
5 $ 32,240
6 $ 36,920
7 $ 41,600
8 $ 46,280
Each additional person add $ 4,680
FINANCIAL NEED

A GA Grant is determined by financial need. Your need for a GA Grant is determined using the following formula:

College Cost of Attendance
- EFC + or - Regional Cost of Living Adjustment
- Certain State scholarship awards (if awarded)
- Federal Pell Grant (if eligible)
= Financial Need

AWARD AMOUNT

The amount of a GA Grant equals 100 percent of the student's financial need. The minimum annual award amount is $400 and the maximum award is $14,300. You may hold the GA Grant with all State awards, except the Educational Assistance Grant. The total dollar amount of all State awards may not exceed your cost of attendance, as determined by your school’s financial aid office or $19,000, whichever is less. Funds may not be available to award all eligible students.

RENEWING AN AWARD

To renew an award, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress at the college you are attending. Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA no later than March 1 each year. Eligible students who submit the FAFSA after March 1 will be considered as long as funds remain available. You must also continue to demonstrate financial need. You may receive a GA Grant for a total of four years of full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate study.