A. Determination of Financial Need.
- (1) The Office shall calculate an applicant’s adjusted financial need using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need = Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution Plus/Minus Regional Cost of Living Adjustment - Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant or Economic Development Student Assistance Grant - Estimated Pell Grant.
- (2) The Expected Family Contribution shall be determined using the same methodology used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine expected family contribution for purposes of federal student aid.
- (3) The Regional Cost of Living Adjustment shall be determined annually by the Secretary.
(4) Cost of Attendance shall be calculated as follows:
- (a) For a student living with parents, tuition and mandatory fees plus an allowance established by OSFA, with a minimum value of $3,200;
- (b) For a student living off-campus, tuition and mandatory fees plus an allowance established by OSFA, with a minimum value of $5,100; and
- (c) For a student living on-campus, tuition and mandatory fees, room and board, plus an allowance established by OSFA, with a minimum value of $900.
B. Determination of EEA Award Amounts.
- (1) Amounts of EEA program awards shall be calculated using data from the FAFSA or the MSFAA.
(2) EA Grant Formulas. Subject to the requirements of Regulation .04 of this chapter:
- (a) An EA award for a student attending a 4-year institution shall be calculated using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need x 40% = Educational Assistance Grant; and
- (b) An award for a student attending a community college shall be calculated using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need x 60% = Educational Assistance Grant.
- (3) GA Grant Formulas. Subject to the requirements of Regulation .04 of this chapter, Guaranteed Access Grants shall be calculated using the following formula: Adjusted Financial Need x 100% = Guaranteed Access Grant.
- (4) Award amounts shall be calculated on an annual basis and rounded to the nearest $100.
- (5) Awards that are made for the fall and spring semesters in the academic year are evenly split between the two semesters.
- (6) If a student’s award amount is determined to be below $400, the student shall not receive the award.
C. Errors on a FAFSA or MSFAA that are corrected by a student after the deadline may be considered by OSFA. Changes in award amounts as a result of a correction shall be handled as follows:
- (1) For EA Grants and GA Grants, if a correction results in a decrease in an award amount, the award shall be adjusted and the student notified of the change. If a correction results in an increase in an award, the increase shall be funded only if OSFA determines that funds are available.
- (2) For GA Grants only, if a correction in family income or family size results in the student no longer being eligible for a GA Grant, the student's GA award shall be canceled and, if funding is available in OSFA’s determination, the student may be awarded as an EA Grant.
Authority: Education Article, §§11-105(u), 18-204(c), and 18-301 et seq., Annotated Code of Maryland
Effective date: March 25, 2019 (46:6 Md. R. 346)
Regulation .02B amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .03A, C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .03F amended effective July 25, 2022 (49:15 Md. R. 738)
Regulation .03G adopted effective July 25, 2022 (49:15 Md. R. 738)
Regulation .06B, C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .08 amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .10A, B amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .11A amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .12D amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .13 amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .14A, C amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)
Regulation .15E, G amended effective June 28, 2021 (48:13 Md. R. 509)