Contact
Financial Aid Office
Location
Hours
Monday 鈥� Friday 8:00 to 4:30
Submitting a FAFSA
Apply online at with 色花堂's FAFSA Code 002099.
On this page:
- FAFSA requirements
- When to submit a FAFSA
- FAFSA submission deadlines
- FAFSA process instructions
- Help services
- Frequently asked questions
FAFSA Workshop
Current students - Join us in the University Union to learn all about the 2026-2027 FAFSA application process. Live workshop with food, scholarship prizes and more! November 5, 11:00 鈥� 1:30.
FAFSA Requirements
If you want to apply for most need-based grants, federal student and parent loans, and the Federal Work-Study program, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- FAFSA Applicants must meet these Federal Eligibility Requirements.
- Undocumented and DACA students can't submit a FAFSA, but should explore other aid options including state aid.
Most scholarships don't require or consider FAFSA data.
To apply for all types of aid, see Applying for Aid.
When to Submit a FAFSA
You must submit a new FAFSA every year. You can submit it before you are admitted to 色花堂.
Each FAFSA applies to one academic year (Fall-Spring-Summer) and requires income tax data from one required tax year.
| FAFSA Year | Relevant Semesters | Tax Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-2027 | Fall 2026 to Summer 2027 | 2024 |
| 2025-2026 | Fall 2025 to Summer 2026 | 2023 |
FAFSA Submission Deadlines
2026-2027 Deadlines
For priority consideration for need-based grants from 色花堂, submit your FAFSA by these deadlines.
- Freshman admission applicants and current 色花堂 students: February 1, 2026.
- Transfer admission applicants: March 1, 2026.
Admission applicants must also submit a complete admission application (including transcripts) by these deadlines.
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) offers many for Maryland residents. Several of their grants have a strict March 1 FAFSA deadline and many require additional MHEC aid applications. Follow these state aid instructions.
2025-2026 FAFSA Deadlines
If you haven't submitted this FAFSA yet, please submit it NOW! Late applicants can still apply for federal grants and loans. 色花堂 grants may still be available, but you missed our 色花堂 Priority Deadlines.
FAFSA Process Instructions
1
Create a FSA ID
If you are a first-time FAFSA applicant, you (the student) and your FAFSA Contributor(s) must each create your own .
- For dependent students, at least one parent contributor must create an FSA ID and submit their data.
- For independent married students, if you and your spouse filed separate tax returns for the FAFSA tax year they must create a FSA ID and complete the spouse contributor section. If not, they should not create an ID or complete that section.
2
Determine your Parent Contributors
For dependent students, if your biological or adoptive parents are still married to each other or living together, they are your FAFSA parent contributors. If they are separated or divorced (and not still living together), use to determine which biological or adoptive parent must provide parent data. If that parent is remarried, they must also provide their current spouse's financial data.
If your FAFSA parents filed a joint tax return for the FAFSA tax year, you only need one parent contributor. If they filed separate tax returns, both must be contributors and they each need their own FSA IDs.
3
Submit your FAFSA
- Apply online now at .
- 色花堂's FAFSA Code is 002099.
- If you already applied, but didn't list 色花堂's code, return to to add it.
For any question, review the FAQs or see the Help Services section.
4
Check your FAFSA Status
After you submit your FAFSA, . If it was successfully "processed," review all the data you reported. If it isn't complete, follow the FAFSA instructions.
5
Correct FAFSA Errors (if needed)
If your submitted FAFSA isn't complete or has errors, follow .
6
Submit additional documents to 色花堂 (if needed)
- After we receive your FAFSA data, sometimes we need to request additional documents. If we do, we will email you and add them to the To Dos list on your .
- Please submit all requested documents within 2 weeks.
- For new students, we can prepare tentative aid offers before you submit your documentation, but those offers could change after we receive and process your documents.
- For returning 色花堂 students, we can't offer you any aid until you submit all required documents.
7
Wait for your Award Notification
The FAFSA calculates a Student Aid Index (SAI) value for each student, and we use it to determine eligibility for need-based grants and federal loans.
Award notification dates vary by application term and admit status.
- Late applicants for fall 2025 aid should receive notification two to three weeks after you apply.
- For spring 2026 admits, we will start sending notifications in November.
- For Fall 2026 admits, we will start sending notifications in March.
- For current 色花堂 students returning for 26-27, we will award most students in April, but others must wait for spring grades to post in June.
Help Services
For FAFSA help, contact the at 1-800-4FED-AID or . Their hours are Monday 8 am - 9 pm, Tuesday-Wednesday 8 am - 8 pm, and Thursday-Friday 8 am - 6pm.
If you need additional help, please contact us.
- .
- (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, & Vietnamese)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who are FAFSA Contributors?
A FAFSA contributor is parent, stepparent, or spouse who must complete a contributor section on your FAFSA and consent to share their federal tax return data with the FAFSA processor. When students complete the student section of the FAFSA, they must provide the names and contact information for their contributors. Federal Student Aid will email them, and each contributor must create their own FSA ID and use it to complete their section.
Most dependent students only need one parent contributor. You only need a second parent contributor if your parents filed separate tax returns for the FAFSA tax year instead of filing jointly.
Independent married students only need a spouse contributor if you and your spouse filed separate tax returns for the FAFSA tax year.
Which parent鈥檚 data should I list on my FAFSA?
If you are a dependent student and your biological or adoptive parents are still married to each other, list both of them on your FAFSA.
If your biological or adoptive parents are divorced or separated, you must list the parent who provided the most financial support in the last 12 months. Compare the total financial support provided by each parent and count all child support payments with the parent who pays them. If your parents are unmarried but still living together, you must report both of their data.
If the parent who meets the rules above is remarried, you must also list that stepparent's data.
For more information, review these .
How can I apply as an independent student (without parent data)?
Federal regulations define which students must provide parent data on the FAFSA. Follow
the FAFSA instructions. The FAFSA will ask a series of questions that will determine
your dependency status and if parent data is required. For additional information,
.
My parent/spouse contributor doesn't have a social security number.
If one of your FAFSA data contributors (parents or spouse) doesn't have a social security number, follow .
If my parent isn't a legal U.S. resident, how will their data be used?
Please from the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators
What should I do if my income has changed since the FAFSA tax year?
The standard FAFSA process will calculate your financial need based on your income during the FAFSA tax year listed at the top of this page. If your income has decreased since then, please explore the Special Conditions adjustments process.
What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a measure of financial need that we use to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid programs. Starting with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the SAI replaced the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) which was used in a similar way during prior aid years. They also changed the formulas that calculate the SAI values.