At the Mount, the financial aid process falls into two phases: the merit scholarship phase and the financial aid phase.
This phase starts when we review your application for admission (there is no separate application for Merit Scholarships). We value the hard work you put into your studies in high school, and we believe it's important to celebrate your success - which is why every student who applies is offered a merit scholarship based on academic achievement, test scores and extracurricular achievement.
Once you've determined your merit scholarship, there are a variety of financial aid options to help you pay for college, from university-sponsored scholarships and grants to need-based aid offered by the Mount and the federal government. To be considered for this type of aid you will need to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA®. (Note the FAFSA deadline is March 1 and the MSMU school code is 002086.)
Hours: Mon. - Fri.: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Phone number: 301-447-5207
Email: finaid@msmary.edu
Merit scholarships are academic scholarships based on several criteria including course achievement and rigor of curriculum*, standardized tests (SAT, ACT and/or CLT**) for students that choose to submit them, engagement in extracurricular activities, and a holistic review of other supporting application materials. Financial need is not a factor in our merit-based award decisions; in fact, applying for and receiving financial aid is a step that comes after merit scholarship awards. See what you qualify for before you apply for financial aid. These scholarship amounts are available for students applying for Fall 2023.
*Note GPA used for admissions and scholarship consideration is weighted and based on grades 9, 10 and 11.
**CLT scoring comparison chart.
The successful candidate will have at least a 3.75 high school GPA with a demanding course selection. Awards will be determined based on a holistic application review, including grades, curriculum rigor, essay, co- and extra- curricular activities, and letter(s) of recommendation. Standardized test scores are not required for consideration but will be reviewed if provided by the applicant.
The successful candidate will have between a 3.5 and 4.0 high school GPA with a demanding course selection. Awards will be determined based on a holistic application review, including grades, curriculum rigor, essay, co- and extra- curricular activities, and letter(s) of recommendation. Standardized test scores are not required for consideration but will be reviewed if provided by the applicant.
The successful candidate will have between a 3.0 and 4.0 high school GPA. Awards will be determined based on a holistic application review, including grades, curriculum rigor, essay, co- and extra- curricular activities, and letter(s) of recommendation. Standardized test scores are not required for consideration but will be reviewed if provided by the applicant.
The successful candidate will have between a 3.0 and 3.75 high school GPA. Awards will be determined based on a holistic application review, including grades, curriculum rigor, essay, co- and extra- curricular activities, and letter(s) of recommendation. Standardized test scores are not required for consideration but will be reviewed if provided by the applicant.
Accepted students are eligible to receive this scholarship if they have a GPA of 2.99 or below and demonstrate a capability for success at Mount St. Mary’s University.
The Mount is now accepting applications without requiring standardized test scores for most students.
You do not have to file the FAFSA form in order to receive a merit scholarship.
Apply NowIn the second phase students are considered for additional university scholarships and grants, along with need-based aid opportunities. To apply for need-based financial aid you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The $2,000 Visit Grant is a four-year recurring grant that will be awarded to seniors who attend an on-campus admissions event between January 1, 2023 and May 1, 2024 and apply by the December 1 Early Action II deadline for Fall 2024 entry. This award is contingent upon residential status and cannot be combined with an athletic scholarship.
The $2,500 Housing Grant is a four-year recurring grant that will be awarded to students who live on campus. This award is contingent upon residential status and cannot be combined with an athletic scholarship.
The $1,000 Catholic High School Scholarship is available to high school seniors who graduate from a Catholic High School or complete a Catholic-based home school curriculum and apply by the December 1 Early Action II deadline for Fall entry. This four-year recurring scholarship is available for both residential and commuter students.
This award is given through the Office of Admissions of the university. Incoming freshmen or transfer students who have had a sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle graduate from the Mount will be awarded $1,000 per year, which can be renewed for up to four years. Legacy Grants are awarded to students who indicate their status on the admissions application. Financial need is not considered.
Each incoming student with a brother or sister enrolled at the Mount will receive a $2,000 Family Discount Grant. This grant is renewable as long as the siblings are concurrently enrolled. Financial need is not considered.
One (1) full tuition and ten (10) $4,000 Founders Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshman who perform superbly during an on-campus written exam in late January or early February and a personal interview for finalists in early March. Students must be invited into our Honors Program and meet certain academic criteria to participate. The requirement for participation is a 3.75 weighted GPA. Invitations will be sent in December to all eligible students who apply by the December 1 Early Action II Deadline.
Recipients may not combine the Founders Scholarship with other institutional (MSMU) financial aid to receive total MSMU aid in excess of full-time tuition. If the recipient opts to maintain any previously awarded MSMU aid, the Founders Scholarship amount will be reduced so that total institutional aid equals full-time tuition. Recipients must live on campus and maintain a 3.2 GPA to continue receiving the scholarship each year.
These scholarships are funded by the generous gift of Henry and Marion Knott. Student applicants should be incoming freshmen who are Catholic and reside in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Academic achievement is the primary focus of these scholarships, along with service. These scholarships are merit based.
Learn more and apply for the Knott Scholarship Funds’ Scholarships
Mount St. Mary's University competes at the NCAA Division I level in all of its men's and women's sports. All varsity teams offer athletic scholarships. Contact the director of athletics or head coaches at (301) 447-5296 for additional information on these scholarships. See the athletic department directory.
Mount students receive full tuition scholarships plus a monthly stipend from the Army ROTC program. Recipients are able to combine their ROTC scholarship with other Mount scholarships. Scholarships may be for two to four years.
The ROTC Scholarship is awarded to students selected to participate in the ROTC program. The ROTC Scholarship award amount is equal to tuition and fees each semester.
The ROTC Scholarship replaces the merit scholarship and other institutional aid awarded at the time of admission. Mount St. Mary’s University will provide institutional grant funds for billed charges on the student account each semester for room and board, up to the initial annual merit scholarship awarded.
The total of the ROTC Scholarship and institutional aid can not exceed billed charges for tuition, fees, room, and board each semester.
Contact the Mount ROTC department at (301) 447-5350 or visit the ROTC webpage for additional information on these scholarships.
We keep a running list of outside scholarships that you may apply for.
Learn MoreStudents looking to apply for additional need-based financial aid must file the FAFSA. In addition to university-funded grants, other types of need-based financial aid include federal grants, loans and work study as well as state grants for Maryland residents.
The FAFSA becomes available on December 1. Because the income requested on the application is from the prior year, all families should be in a position to file the FAFSA once it becomes available.
If you are a first-time aid applicant, you and one of your parents must apply for and receive an FSA ID. It typically takes two to three days to receive the ID, which serves as an electronic signature. To apply for your FSA ID, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov and click on the icon at the top of the page that says FSA ID. You will need two FSA ID numbers--one for you and one for a parent.
Early Action Applicants – Students who are accepted through the Office of Admissions Early Action Program and file a FAFSA by December 1 will receive their financial aid award letter by mid-January, pending any additional information requests required by the Financial Aid Office.
All other students should submit their FAFSA prior to February 1 for best consideration. Any Maryland resident will not be eligible for Maryland state financial aid if the FAFSA is submitted after March 1. Students will receive their financial aid award letter via email usually within two weeks of submitting the FAFSA.
Mount St. Mary's Title IV School Code is 002086.
Within 48-72 hours after submitting the FAFSA, the student will be notified that the FAFSA has been processed and sent to each school. If there is a problem with the application that prevents it from being processed, the student will be notified as well. Please be on the lookout for this confirmation.
Upon submitting your FAFSA, if you have special circumstances you wish to call to the attention of the Financial Aid Office, go to our forms page and file the appropriate appeals form. Complete this form and return it to the Financial Aid Office.
Mount St. Mary’s will begin to notify students of their financial aid awards in mid-January and will continue to process award letters throughout the spring semester.
You must file the FAFSA form to be considered for need based aid.
FAFSA deadline: March 1
MSMU school code: 002086
Students who have remaining financial need after their merit-based aid is awarded are candidates for the Grant-in-Aid. The Grant-in-Aid is renewable provided the student files the FAFSA and demonstrates similar need in future years.
Up to 50 percent of tuition is awarded based on financial need to students who live at home and commute to the Mount. When combined with an academic scholarship, total money from the Mount cannot exceed 50 percent of tuition. (The grant is not available for summer school.)
Mount St. Mary's University participates in all of the financial aid programs offered by the U.S. Department of Education. To find out if you are eligible for these federal programs you will need to fill out the FAFSA. For more information about federal aid programs, refer to the Federal Student Aid Website (Spanish edition).
*By law, students who have been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs may have their federal aid eligibility revoked.*
Awarded by the federal government to students who demonstrate extremely high need through the FAFSA. Because it is awarded by the government, your Pell eligibility should be the same at each college/university. Learn more at studentaid.ed.gov.
Awarded by the Mount’s financial aid office to students who qualify for significant Pell Grants. Learn more at studentaid.ed.gov.
Some students may be eligible for Maryland state funding. Please check the Maryland Higher Education's website for information regarding programs and applications. Make sure your FAFSA form is filed by March 1 every year to be considered for state aid.
Students who receive work study in their financial aid package are eligible to apply for a wide variety of on-campus jobs. This award amount is based on working 8 hours per week. College employment other than the federal work study program is available. Contact the Mount's Human Resources Office for more information.
Eligible dependent students may borrow up to $5,500 for the first year of study, up to $6,500 for the second year, and up to $7,500 for each remaining year. The Financial Aid Office will determine if the student is eligible to receive a subsidized loan whereby the government would pay the interest while the student remains in school. Independent students are eligible to borrow additional unsubsidized funds between $4,000-$5,000 per year depending on their class standing. Learn more at studentaid.ed.gov.
This program enables parents of dependent students to borrow the entire annual cost of attendance less financial aid awarded. The parent must not have an adverse credit history. If a parent is not able to obtain a PLUS Loan, the student is eligible to borrow additional unsubsidized funds between $4,000-$5,000 per year depending on the student’s class standing. Learn more at studentaid.ed.gov.
To receive Mount St. Mary's University grants, scholarships, and other awards, a student must:
To receive Title IV federal grants, loans and work study as well as state financial aid, a student must:
The Title IV code to use on the FAFSA is 002086.
The FAFSA deadline is March 1. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for need-based funds on an available basis.
The Financial Aid Office will begin to mail award letters to incoming students in mid-January. Early preference will be given to students accepted through Early Action and whose FAFSA was received by December 1.
You do need to reapply for aid each year by completing a FAFSA form. It becomes available each year after December 1 and should be filed prior to the March 1 deadline.
Probably not if you are an undergraduate student. To determine if you meet the federal definition of an independent student, review the questions in step three of the FAFSA. If you believe your situation is unique and you should be considered independent, please contact with the Financial Aid Office.
Yes. Federal law stipulates that students may not receive federal support if their financial aid exceeds their demonstrated financial need. Mount St. Mary’s participates in the Central Scholarship Partnership and will not reduce any scholarships or grants when financial need remains. However, we still must confirm eligibility for federal need-based funds, including subsidized loans and work study. Total aid including outside resources cannot exceed your demonstrated financial need and cost of attendance.
Your merit-based aid will not be affected, but your eligibility for need-based aid could be. If there is a credit balance on your student account once tuition and fee charges have been paid, you may use this credit to pay for off-campus rent and food expenses. A refund of any credit balance on your student account is obtained directly from the Accounting & Finance Office. Institutional financial aid cannot exceed institutional charges, so any refund must be generated by outside (federal, state or private) financial aid.
You should contact the Human Resources Office and ask to be put on a waiting list. Students who have remaining financial need are given priority on the list. Returning students must be on a re-hire list from the Human Resources Office to have work study included as part of their financial aid package.
Most initial awards are based on expected full-time enrollment and the corresponding tuition charge, unless otherwise indicated. One of the requirements for any institutional academic scholarship is that you be enrolled full time. Furthermore, if you enroll less than full time, your cost of education will be recalculated using actual reduced tuition costs. Your family contribution will not be revised, as you are expected to contribute the same amount regardless of your enrollment status. Your eligibility for need-based aid will be reduced in proportion to the reduced tuition or other charges that result from less than full-time study.
The two offices have separate administrative functions. The Financial Aid Office, located on the first floor of Bradley Hall, determines eligibility for grants, loans and work-study. Located on the third floor of Bradley Hall, the Accounting & Finance Office is responsible for billing and collecting payments from students for university charges.
The Accounting & Finance Office will send fall semester statements in early June. You can estimate the amount you'll have to pay once you receive your financial aid package. Subtract your total aid from the listed tuition, room and board charges and divide by two to calculate what you'll owe for the fall semester.
Visit the Mount's tuition and fees page for more information.
The financial aid office will mail instructions for applying for student and parent loans in April.
Yes, Maryland residents who complete a FAFSA prior to March 1 are considered for need-based awards from the state of Maryland. Please do not ignore these communications. You will be asked to create an account in the states portal (MDCAPS) to review and accept these awards. In addition, you may be required to provide documentation to the state to confirm your eligibility.
Yes, the Department of Education randomly selects student FAFSAs for verification. As such, the school is required to collect various documents including a verification worksheet and tax information to verify that the FAFSA is correct. This is a federal requirement.