2009-2010 Financial Aid Award Guide

How We Determine Your Eligibility for Aid

Cost of Attendance Budgets

Costs of Attendance Budgets are estimates of the educational expenses incurred by students during a nine-month academic year. These budgets include direct university charges (tuition, fees and on-campus room and board) and estimates of indirect expenses (transportation, books, supplies, miscellaneous living expenses and off-campus room and board).

2009-2010 Undergraduate Budgets	In-State	Out-State
Tuition & Fees	$8,053	$23,989
Room On Campus	$5,549	$5,549
Board On/Off Campus	$3,828	$3,828
Personal Expenses & Transportation	$3,024*	$3,024*
Books & Supplies	$1,025*	$1,025*
Total On Campus	$21,479	$37,415
Room with Parents	$1,110
Board with Parents	$2,120
Total with Parents	$15,332	$31,268
Room Off Campus Courtyards,Commons	$6,560
Total Off Campus	$22,490	$38,426
* These figures are averages and will vary from student to student. They are indirect costs not billed by the bursar.

Expected Family Contribution

The federal processor determined your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) by analyzing the income and asset data reported on your FAFSA. Your EFC represents the amount of money your family should be able to contribute to your educational expenses during the academic year. Your actual contribution will depend on the amount of financial aid you receive.

Financial Need

Your Financial Need is the difference between your Cost of Attendance and your Expected Family Contribution.

Example using 2008-2009 data:

Cost of Attendance Budget:	$21,163
- Expected Family Contribution:	- 10,872
= Financial Need:	$10,291

We offer need-based aid to students who show financial need. Your total need-based aid, combined with any other aid you may receive, cannot exceed your financial need. Need-based aid includes Federal Work Study, Perkins Loans, Subsidized Stafford Loans, and need-based federal, state and university grants. Outside resources include UM tuition waivers/remission, Resident Assistant benefits, employer tuition benefits, veterans'; benefits, vocational rehabilitation benefits, and private, state and university scholarships.

Students who do not demonstrate financial need may still be eligible to borrow non-need-based student loans and may also receive merit-based grants and scholarships.

FAFSA Corrections

Once the FAFSA processor receives your FAFSA, you are sent a Student Aid Report (SAR) which summarizes your FAFSA data. If you filed your FAFSA online and have your PIN, corrections may be made online. Your eligibility for aid is based on the information reported on your FAFSA and any additional information we collected from you.

If you need to correct your FAFSA data after we have awarded you financial aid, please contact a Financial Aid Counselor at 301-314-9000 or submit a letter explaining the changes and supporting documentation (i.e. tax forms) to our office.

Special Circumstances

Your eligibility for aid is based on the income and asset data you reported on your FAFSA. If your income has decreased or if you have other special financial circumstances that were not taken into account on your FAFSA, you may qualify to have your financial need recalculated. For information on which types of circumstances qualify for recalculation, please request a Special Circumstances Fact Sheet or visit our web site at: http://www.financialaid.umd.edu.