Howard P. Rawlings
Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant

Purpose

The Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant is a need- based grant that

provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at postsecondary institutions. The amount of the GA Grant equals 100 percent of the student’s financial need and a student may receive an award for up to $20,700*.

*The above amount is for the 2023-2024 academic year. The 2024-2025 maximum amount will be finalized in late Spring 2024; on average there is a 2.5% increase to the maximum annual amount a student may receive.

Eligibility- Initial Requirements

Individuals applying for the Guaranteed Access Grant for the first time must:

Be eligible for in-state tuition in Maryland;
By May 15 , 2024 for priority consideration or by June 1, 2024 for final consideration: file the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the new MHEC One App (if you are not eligible to file the FAFSA)
Meet the initial income requirements for the 2024-2025 academic year (see Initial Applicants – Income Requirements below);
Demonstrate a definite financial need;
Be accepted for admission and plans to enroll in a regular undergraduate program at an eligible two-year or four-year Maryland institution as a full-time (12 credits/semester) degree-seeking undergraduate student;
Have completed high school or obtained a GED with a passing score of 145 per module;
Must begin college within 6 years of completing high school;
Be under the age of 26 at time of first receiving the GA

For the 2024-2025 year, must be born after July 1, 1998

2024-2025 GA Initial Applicants- Income Requirements

Initial recipients of the GA must have an annual total family income that is at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines for the prior-prior tax year. For the 2024-2025 academic year, this would be the 2022 tax year poverty guidelines.

Household Size	130% of 2022 Poverty Level
1	$17,667
2	$23,803
3	$29,939
4	$36,075
5	$42,211
6	$48,347
7	$54,483
8	$60,619
For families/households with more than 8 persons, for each additional person add	$6,136

Eligibility Renewal Applicants

Guaranteed Access Grant recipients may be eligible to renew the award for up to 3 years. For recipients to remain eligible for the GA, they must:

Remain eligible for in-state tuition in Maryland
By May 15 , 2024 for priority consideration or by June 1, 2024 for final consideration: file the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the new MHEC One App (if you are not eligible to file the FAFSA)
Meet the renewal income requirements for the 2024-2025 academic year (see Renewal Applicants – Income Requirements below)
Demonstrate a definite financial need;
Enroll as a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student at an eligible two-year or four-year Maryland institution;
Maintain the satisfactory academic progress standards of the enrolled institution;
Students who have received the award for at least two years and thereafter must:
Annually complete 30 credits in order to have their awards renewed for the full amount or
Annually complete 24-29 credits in order to have their awards renewed for a prorated amount
For an overview on the Credit Completion Requirements click here.
More information on the renewal requirements.

2024-2025 GA Initial Applicants- Income Requirements

Renewal recipients of the GA must have an annual total family income that is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for the prior-prior tax year (2022 tax year for the 2024-2025 academic year) OR remains eligible to receive a federal Pell Grant.

Household Size	150% of 2022 Poverty Level
1	$20,385
2	$27,465
3	$34,545
4	$41,625
5	$48,705
6	$55,785
7	$62,865
8	$69,945
For families/households with more than 8 persons, for each additional person add	$7,080

Application Process

To apply for the Guaranteed Access Grant:

For US Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens: Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by May 15, 2024 for priority consideration or by June 1, 2024

After submitting a FAFSA, individuals need to create or access their account on Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS)

For individuals not eligible to apply for the FAFSA but eligible for in-state tuition: Submit the MHEC One App by May 15, 2024 for priority consideration or by June 1, 2024

Individuals need to create or access their MDCAPS account before completing the MHEC One App

Submit all required documentation (see Documentation below) on MDCAPS by June 15 for priority consideration or by the final deadline, July 15, 2024

Important Information:

MDCAPS will automatically consider students potentially qualified for the Guaranteed Access Grant if they meet basic eligibility requirements.
Confirmation of eligibility is dependent on any required documentation validating aspects of an individual's eligibility and the enrolled institution further certifying an individual's eligibility.
The Guaranteed Access Grant is a need-based grant and is an individual's unmet need is too low or their need has been calculated as fully met, they will not receive the GA, even if they meet all other criteria

All Guaranteed Access Grant awards are contingent on the availability of funds.

Required Documentation

Eligible applicants, after submission of the FAFSA or MHEC One App, may be asked to submit documentation. Any documentation that is requested is required for continued consideration for the Guaranteed Access Grant. Both initial applicants and renewal recipients may be asked to submit required documentation.

Applicants will receive email notifications of required documentation, and can also view all requested, required documentation via the “Check Your Application Status" page on their MDCAPS account.

Possible Required Documentation
Documentation Task	Type of Information Needed
GED Examination Transcript	Submit copy that must include the scores for each module
Dependent Student Verification Worksheet	Can be downloaded from MDCAPS and filled out; must be signed by student AND parents
Independent Student Verification Worksheet	Can be downloaded from MDCAPS and filled out; must be signed by student
2022 Parent/Student/Spouse IRS Tax Transcript	Submit either a copy of the 2022 IRS tax transcript or a copy of the signed 2022 1040 tax return
2022 Parent/Student/Spouse Maryland State Tax Return	Submit copy of the Signed Maryland Tax Return, IRS Tax Return Transcript, or 1040 Tax Return
2022 Student/Spouse/Parent W2s, 1099, or Schedule C	Submit the W2, 1099, Schedule C or the IRS Wage and Income Transcript
2022 Verification of Non-Filing Form IRS for Parent/Student/Spouse	Submit the MHEC non-filing Form or the IRS Verification Non-Filing Letter; must be signed
Proof of Legal Guardianship/Ward of the Court Status/Foster Care Status	Submit a copy of official documentation showing status
Documentation of Unaccompanied Youth	Submit copy of documentation from appropriate source
NOTE: Not every applicant will be asked to submit documentation, nor will every individual selected to submit documentation be selected to submit every type of documentation. The list above is not exhaustive, and other types of required documentation may be requested.

Guaranteed Access Partnership Program (GAPP)

The Guaranteed Access Partnership Program (GAPP) provides a matching grant award to eligible Maryland students who receive a GA Grant and enroll at a participating Maryland independent college or university as a new undergraduate student.

The Maryland institutions that are participating include: