Financial Aid Office

Financial Aid Office

Committed faculty, small classes, outstanding job placement rates - Capitol Technology University is a good investment in your future. The financial aid staff is here to help you pay for that investment. Over 90 percent of our students receive some form of financial assistance.

We are committed to help you review the options and find the best financial plan for you, including:

  • Undergraduate tuition guarantee - Starting with the Fall 2019 class the tuition lock changed to a tuition guarantee. We guarantee the student’s tuition increase will be capped at 1% per year.
  • Financial aid assistance - We know the financial aid process is complex. Our friendly financial aid staff will help you fill out forms, understand the difference between the types of aid available and direct you to the scholarships for which you may be eligible.
  • Financial aid programs - Capitol Technology University offers many programs to help students pay for their education.

News and Updates

Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program

The 2024-2025 Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship​ Program ​Application is OPEN​​.​

​​The Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program supports students who are pursuing an education in programs that have been identified by the Secretary of Higher Education as being directly relevant to cybersecurity.

Submit all required documents to MHEC by SECURE UPLOAD online through your MDCAPS account. Once logged in, select “Electronic File Upload” from the homepage then follow the prompts. 

Individuals currently enrolled at public or private non-profit institutions in the state who are within three years of graduation from an approved, credit-bearing degree in cybersecurity or an approved, credit-bearing certificate program in cybersecurity must:.

  • Have at least a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0 at the time of application.
  • Be enrolled full-time or part time at a public or a private non-profit institution in the state in an approved credit-bearing degree or an approved credit- bearing certificate program. ​
  • Have completed at least 25% of their total credit requirement toward their approved degree or certificate program. (Ex. If you need 120 credits to graduate you must have completed at least 30 credits at the time of application.)​

Visit MHEC Website  

 

NSA Cooperative (Co-Op) Education Program

The National Security Agency (NSA) is pleased to announce a call for applications for the NSA Cooperative (Co-Op) Education Program. The Co-Op Program is open to four-year College and Community College students majoring in computer science, computer or electrical engineering or cybersecurity. Community College students must intend to complete a four-year degree. A GPA of 3.0 is preferred.

Information on the NSA Cooperative (Co-Op) Education Program is posted to the Intelligence Careers.gov website.

How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online between Feb. 1st - March 31st and/or Sept. 1st - Oct. 31st. Applications received after these deadlines, as well as incomplete packages, will not be considered. New Co-Op students will begin work in either January or August only.

To submit a resume during open season, visit the National Security Agency Careers page. Under "Basic Job Search," type in keywords "Cooperative Education," and click on "Search." Select "Cooperative Education" and click "Apply Now." Follow directions as prompted.

 

Women's International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) Fellowships

The Women's International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) believes in doing all it can to help those within the industry with their educational pursuits. WiNUP currently has three fellowships available annually to women pursuing advanced degrees (beyond a bachelor’s degree), which will lead to careers in the utility industry or allied fields. Relevant fields must relate to a career in a utility related profession such as engineering, business administration, accounting, environmental sciences, communication, information technologies.

  • Julia Kiene Fellowship - The Julia Kiene Fellowship is a fellowship of $2,000 annually. Ms. Kiene’s career serves as an inspiration to women who pursue careers in the industry. During her long, diversified career, she taught home economics, served as Home Editor of Capper's Farmer and retired from the Westinghouse Corporation. Ms. Kiene was a president of the organization and served on the Board of Directors for WiNUP’s parent organization, The Electrical Women's Round Table, Inc., for many years.
  • Lyle Mamer Fellowship - The Lyle Mamer Fellowship, a $1,000 annual Fellowship, was named for a long-time associate professor at the University of Tennessee College of Home Economics who dedicated her life to contributing to advancements in the electrical industry. Lyle Mamer, whose family endowed the Fellowship in her name was an active member of WiNUP (formerly called Electrical Women's Round Table, Inc.).
  • Louisan Mamer Fellowship - The Louisan Mamer Fellowship is a Fellowship of $500 annually. Ms. Mamer was an electric industry pioneer who worked for many years with the Rural Electrification Administration educating rural Americans about the uses of electricity. She was the first woman to be awarded the Clyde T. Ellis Award in recognition of her service and accomplishments on behalf of electrical cooperatives. Ms. Mamer joined WiNUP (formerly called Electrical Women's Round Table, Inc.) in 1948 and remained a member until her death in 2006. Her generous $20,000 contribution to WiNUP enables the organization to fund the annual Fellowship in her name.

Applicants must be accepted to a regionally or nationally accredited university.

Both WiNUP Members and non-members are eligible to apply for the fellowships.

Hard copy applications must be postmarked on or before May 1 and online applications must be submitted by 11:59pm (Pacific Time) of each year to be eligible. Fellowship funds will be paid directly to your university. Winners will be notified by June 30 of each year.

 

The Institute for Broadening Participation is offering undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, and postdoc positions for their STEM programs!

The mission of the Institute for Broadening Participation is to increase diversity in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. They design and implement strategies to increase access to STEM education, funding, and careers, with special emphasis on reaching and supporting individuals from underserved communities and underrepresented groups, including underrepresented minorities, women, persons with disabilities, first-generation college students, and students from underserved communities.

30+ undergraduate scholarships

30+ graduate fellowships. 

170+ postdoc positions

To follow the Institute for Broadening Participation on Facebook Liv Detrick, Senior Advisor The Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP) https://www.pathwaystoscience.org/

 

Changes to Maryland Higher Education Commission Programs to students

If you received State financial aid (Guaranteed Access Grant, Educational Assistance Grant or the Campus Based Educational Assistance Grant) beginning July 1, 2018 for at least two years beginning August 31, 2015 and thereafter, you will be required to meet certain Credit Completion Requirements to renew State financial aid awards for subsequent years.

Renewal Credit Completion Requirements:

You must earn your required credits during the fall, spring, and summer terms. To remain eligible for your maximum renewal amount,  you must earn at least 30 credits this year. If you earn fewer than 24 credits this year, your award will not be renewed. If you earn 24 to 29 credits, your renewal award will be prorated.

For more information, visit Maryland Higher Education Commission's web site.

Federal Student Aid ID/Pin Replacement

The new Federal Student Aid ID number- a username and password - has replaced the Federal Student Aid PIN and must be used to log in to certain U.S. Department of Education websites. Your FSA ID confirms your identity when you access your fin aid information and electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents.

You can create an FSA ID when logging in to FAFSA website, the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and Federal Student Aid at https://studentaid.gov/

You can use your FSA ID to sign a FAFSA right away. Once the Social Security Administration verifies your information in one to three days, or if you have linked your PIN to your FSA ID, you will be able to use your FSA ID to access the websites listed above.

Users who arrive at impacted websites will be directed to a link to register for their new FSA ID. The registration process should take less than 7 minutes. Only the owner of the FSA ID should create his or her account. 

Create a New FSA ID.

For helpful Information about the FSA ID.

 

Program Changes for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant and Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant grant programs

MAJOR changes to the RENEWAL process took place for the Educational Assistance (EA) Grant and Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant programs due to the enactment of the College Affordability Act of 2016.

The changes will consist of recipients of the EA or GA awards must successfully complete at least 30 credits by the end of the second academic year of enrollment and each academic year thereafter. This means that students who are eligible for either the EA or GA grant must complete at least 30 credits per academic year, beginning in their sophomore year and thereafter, in order to receive full eligibility.

While these provisions became effective during the 2018-2019 academic year, it is imperative that students plan accordingly now as the number of credits they will earn in the prior year may affect their award eligibility for the upcoming award year.  

Please note that for more information regarding the program changes for the EA and GA grant, students may  visit Fast Track to Finish page  or email: osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov

 

Loan Repayment

Resources

HEERF Funding Reports

News and Updates

Department of Education announced January 30, 2024 it has delayed the sending of 24/25 Institutional Student Income Report (ISIR) (the results of the 24/25 FAFSA) to schools until mid-March at the earliest.  This will delay students receiving their award letters until late March or early April.

The FAFSA Simplification Act

The FAFSA Simplification Act was passed by Congress in 2020 requiring a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. This includes major changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as well as the need analysis formulas used to determine federal aid eligibility. There are also changes to terminology as well as, policies and procedure changes for institutions that participate in federal student aid programs.

2024/2025 FAFSA

Complete your 2024/2025 FAFSA now to eliminate further delays in your awarding of financial aid.  The 2024-2025 FAFSA was launched on December 31, 2023 when typically, it was available October 1st each year. 

You can use the Net Price Calculator and the Scholarship Estimator to get an estimate of how much aid you may be eligible for until the 2024/2025 Awarding begins in late March or early April.

 

2024-2025 FAFSA Form

The 2024-2025 FAFSA form is now available to complete.

You will be able to apply for aid for: 07/01/2024 - 06/30/2025.

All individuals will need an account to access and sign the 2024/2025 FAFSA (parents, spouses, contributors).

Students must now invite a contributor to complete their portion of the FAFSA by entering the contributor’s name, date of birth, Social Security number and email address. Contributors without a Social Security number can still be invited to complete their portion.

Create an Account

The FAFSA form is available for short periods of time while the website is monitored for site performance and updates forms to provide you with a better experience.

Learn more about the 2024-2025 FAFSA

 

MHEC UPDATE: 2024-2025 Deadlines and FAFSA Changes

The Maryland Higher Education Commission has extended the Maryland financial aid deadline to submit the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards Program to June 1, 2024.

Students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline of March 1, 2024 to receive notification of eligibility by April 15, 2024.

For Information about the 2024-2025 FAFSA changes click here

 

2023-2024 FAFSA is available to complete!

The 2023–2024 FAFSA form is available for the Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 semesters.

To complete the 2023–2024 FAFSA: Complete FAFSA Aplication.

You can create or obtain your FSA ID here: Create a new FSA ID

Filing your FAFSA is easier if you have gathered everything you need before you get started. If you are a dependent student you will need the following information for yourself, as well as your parents. If you are married you will need this information for your spouse also.

  • Social Security Number (or Alien Registration Number if you are not a US citizen)
  • Student’s driver’s license (if applicable)
  • 2021 Federal tax returns
  • Bank statements, records of investments, and records of untaxed income
  • An FSA ID to electronically sign the form (students and parents will each need their own FSA ID)

The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) can make obtaining accurate tax information easier.  However, there are some stipulations on who is eligible to use the DRT, so it’s still a good idea to have the information list above on hand.

It is important to follow all of the FAFSA deadlines! We recommend putting them on your calendar as soon as possible:

  • 🗓 FAFSA Opens: October 1st
  • ⏱ State Specific Deadlines: Varies by State
  • ⏱Federal Deadline: June 30th, 2024

NEW MDCAPS Feature - Electronic File Upload Tool

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) with the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), is pleased to announce that the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) has a NEW feature known as the “Electronic File Upload” Tool.

Students may now submit documentation to OSFA as required for certain state grant/scholarship programs, online directly through their MDCAPS account. Documents uploaded through MDCAPS are secure.

How do students upload documents in MDCAPS?

  1. Log in using your MDCAPS username and password.
  2. On the homepage click “Electronic File Upload”.
  3. Select the “Academic Year” for which you are uploading document(s) for.
  4. Select the “Document Type” you are uploading as it appears in the drop down menu.
  5. Click “Choose File” to select the file(s) you want to upload from your computer.
  6. Then, click “Submit”.
    1. If uploading more than one file repeat steps 3-6.
  1. Once you have uploaded your file(s) the type of document(s) you uploaded will display at the bottom of the page.
  2. Then, click “View Application Status” at the top of the “Electronic File Upload” page in MDCAPS to view the “Status” of each document you successfully uploaded.
    1. A status of “Submitted” means your documents were uploaded successfully.
    2. A status of “Accepted” means MHEC has reviewed your document and the documentation is acceptable.
    3. A status of “Rejected” means MHEC has reviewed your document and the information you provided is Incomplete. You will receive a notification from our office informing you why the document is Incomplete.

A reminder that all files must be in PDF, jpg, png, doc, or docx format when uploading documents through MDCAPS.

 

 

Matching Out of State Grant

Students who reside outside of Maryland may qualify for a Matching State Grant for up to $5000 beginning fall 2021.  Most states do not have a reciprocal State Grant agreement with Maryland, therefore Capitol will match State Grants/Scholarships from non-Maryland State Agencies for up to $5000.  Students must complete the FAFSA, apply to their State Higher Education Agency annually, be awarded, and submit to Capitol’s Financial Aid Office a copy of their State Award Letter.  Upon verification, Capitol will match the award for all full-time undergraduate students.  The award is not automatically renewed.  Student must reapply each year when completing the new award year FAFSA, submit the new State Award Letter and meet other requirements such as full-time enrollment and a minimum 3.0 CGPA.

 

Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant

Maryland Residents Applying for Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant

Capitol will be processing ALL verification and documents for new and continuing students applying for the Maryland Guaranteed Access Grant.  All documents should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office to upload to MDCAPS on the students behalf.  This is to assist in the timely processing of awards and eliminate duplicate requests for documents.  Contact the Financial Aid Team at finaid@captechu.edu for more information.

 

Special Circumstance Appeal

The federal laws governing financial aid allow the Financial Aid Office at Capitol Technology University to recalculate financial need in cases of special circumstances not taken into consideration by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Families who suffer significant losses of income due to temporary or long term loss of employment or the death of a wage earner, or families who incur significant medical expenses not covered by insurance may appeal for a review of the financial aid decision. In these unusual situations, Capitol will use “current year” income rather than the “prior-prior year” income to determine a change in financial aid eligibility.  All requests must be made in writing and must include the pertinent documentation requested. You can locate the appeal form under Financial Aid Forms or click here: Special Circumstance Appeal Form

 

Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (New Requirement)

The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement is an online session that will allow students and parents to see how much they have borrowed, preview what their monthly payments might be, and explain concepts such as capitalization and the difference between federal and private loans.

Students and parents must complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement each year to accept a new federal student loan. The goal is to help them understand how loans 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 your loan.

If you have existing federal student loans, you are acknowledging that you understand how much you owe and how much more you can borrow.

Who should complete this?

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

How do I complete this?

To complete the ASLA go to https://studentaid.gov/ and login using your FSA ID and password.  A link entitled “Complete Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement” can be found under the Complete Aid Process Tab.  Parent PLUS borrowers and student graduate/professional PLUS borrowers must also complete this requirement. The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

 

Financial Literacy