FAFSA Simplification Act

The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed by Congress in 2020, requires significant changes to the processes and systems used to award federal student aid.

These changes include updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, revisions to the formulas used to determine federal aid eligibility, and modifications to terminology, policies, and procedures for institutions that participate in federal student aid programs.

Special Circumstance Appeal

Federal financial aid regulations allow the Financial Aid Office at Capitol Technology University to recalculate financial need in cases involving special circumstances that are not reflected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Families who experience significant loss of income due to temporary or long-term unemployment, the death of a wage earner, or substantial medical expenses not covered by insurance may request a review of their financial aid eligibility.

In these situations, the university may use current-year income instead of prior-prior year income to determine eligibility for financial aid.

All requests must be submitted in writing and include the required supporting documentation.

Access the Special Circumstance Appeal Form

New MDCAPS Feature – Electronic File Upload Tool

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) within the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) has introduced a new feature in the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) called the Electronic File Upload Tool.

Students can now securely submit required documentation for certain state grant and scholarship programs directly through their MDCAPS account.

How to Upload Documents in MDCAPS

1. Log in using your MDCAPS username and password.
2. Select Electronic File Upload from the homepage.
3. Select the academic year for the documents you are uploading.
4. Select the document type from the available options.
5. Click Choose File to select files from your computer.
6. Click Submit.
7. If uploading more than one file, repeat steps 3 through 6.
8. After uploading, the document type will appear at the bottom of the page.
9. Click View Application Status at the top of the Electronic File Upload page to check the status of each document.

Document Status Definitions

• Submitted: Your document was uploaded successfully.
• Accepted: Your document has been reviewed and approved by MHEC.
• Rejected: Your document was reviewed but is incomplete. You will receive a notification explaining what is missing.

All uploaded files must be in one of the following formats: PDF, JPG, PNG, DOC, or DOCX.

Matching Out-of-State Grant

Students who reside outside of Maryland may qualify for a Matching State Grant of up to $5,000 beginning in Fall 2021.

Most states do not have a reciprocal state grant agreement with Maryland. As a result, Capitol Technology University may match state grants or scholarships awarded by non-Maryland state agencies, up to $5,000.

Eligibility Requirements

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
• Apply annually to your state’s higher education agency.
• Be awarded a state grant or scholarship.
• Submit a copy of your state award letter to the Financial Aid Office.
• Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Upon verification, Capitol Technology University will match the award for eligible students. This award is not automatically renewed. Students must reapply each year and meet all eligibility requirements.

Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant

Maryland residents applying for the Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant

Capitol Technology University will process all verification and required documents for both new and continuing students applying for the Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant.

Students should submit all required documents to the Financial Aid Office. The office will upload documents to MDCAPS on the student’s behalf to help ensure timely processing and to avoid duplicate document requests.

For more information, contact the Financial Aid Team at finaid@captechu.edu .

Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (New Requirement)

The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement is an online session that allows students and parents to view how much they have borrowed, estimate potential monthly payments, and understand key concepts such as capitalization and the differences between federal and private loans.

Students and parents must complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement each year to accept a new federal student loan. This requirement is designed to help borrowers understand how loans may affect their financial future.

What Am I Acknowledging?

If this is your first time accepting a federal student loan, you are acknowledging that you understand your responsibility to repay the loan.

If you have existing federal student loans, you are acknowledging that you understand how much you currently owe and how much additional funding you may be eligible to borrow.

Who Should Complete This?

Borrowers accepting a subsidized or unsubsidized loan, a PLUS loan for graduate or professional students, or a PLUS loan for parents.

How Do I Complete This?

To complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement, visit the Federal Student Aid website and log in using your FSA ID and password.

Select Complete Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement under the "Complete Aid Process" section. Parent PLUS borrowers and graduate or professional student PLUS borrowers must also complete this requirement.

The process typically takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

Financial Literacy

Tips for Budgeting

• Learn how budgeting can help you manage your finances and complete your program
• Review important budgeting tips

Managing Your Budget

• Learn how to create a budget

Money Management Checklist

• Download the money management checklist (PDF)

Smart Saving

• Learn how to save money for college (PDF)

Smart Borrowing

• Read five tips for making smart financial decisions about college