Maryland's main state financial aid comes through the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards: the need-based Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant, worth up to $18,000 for 2026-27, and the Educational Assistance (EA) Grant. Both are for Maryland residents with financial need, and you qualify by filing the FAFSA or the MHEC One-App by March 1, 2026. You manage your award through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS).
If your student attends college in Maryland and your family has financial need, these grants can be worth thousands a year. The March 1 deadline is the key. Here is how they work for 2026-27.
What state financial aid does Maryland offer?
Maryland's flagship programs are the Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant and Educational Assistance Grant, both need-based, plus targeted programs like the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship. They are administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). The GA Grant is the most generous, aimed at the lowest-income students.
These work alongside federal aid like the Pell Grant. For how the federal pieces fit together, see our complete 2026-27 financial aid guide.
What is the Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant?
The Guaranteed Access Grant is Maryland's largest need-based grant, with a maximum award of $18,000 for 2026-27. It is for Maryland residents with high financial need who meet income and other requirements and enroll at an eligible Maryland college. Because the award is large, it can cover a major share of cost for the families who qualify.
To be considered, file the FAFSA or MHEC One-App by March 1, and watch for any documents MHEC requests. Awarding begins in early April and continues until funds run out, so applying on time is essential.
What is the Educational Assistance (EA) Grant?
The Educational Assistance Grant is a need-based grant for Maryland residents who demonstrate financial need but may not qualify for the larger GA Grant. It helps a broader range of students at eligible Maryland colleges, with the award based on your need and available funding. Like the GA Grant, it is determined from your FAFSA or One-App.
Many Maryland students are considered for both grants from the same application, so file once and on time.
How do you apply for Maryland state aid?
You apply by filing the FAFSA, or the MHEC One-App if you are not eligible for federal aid, by March 1, 2026. There is no separate grant application; MHEC uses your information. If you are offered a grant, you accept it and provide any required documents in MDCAPS, with a documentation deadline of August 1.
Your step-by-step path:
- File the FAFSA, or the MHEC One-App if you are not eligible for federal aid, by March 1, 2026.
- Watch for an award notice and log in to MDCAPS to accept and submit documents.
- Confirm your Maryland residency and provide documentation by August 1.
- Track your college's own aid deadlines.
Your next step
Maryland's Guaranteed Access and Educational Assistance Grants can deliver substantial need-based help, but the March 1 FAFSA or One-App deadline is the gatekeeper. File by March 1, accept your award and submit documents in MDCAPS, and confirm your residency. Read our complete 2026-27 financial aid guide for the federal side, then create your free CollegeLens plan to see your real cost at each Maryland school.
You're doing the hard, smart work of meeting a strict deadline to claim state aid. That is how Maryland families make college more affordable.
-- Sravani at CollegeLens