Financing your Garrett Education
An investment that pays off over a lifetime.
A college education will last forever. A quality education will provide you with the knowledge and skills that you will need to excel in today's world. We hope this information will help you learn more about financing your education and encourage you to invest in yourself.

Applying for Financial Aid

1. Complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA application should be mailed with the enclosed envelope after January 1.

2. Students should have their FAFSA form mailed in prior to March 1 to qualify for a Maryland State Scholarship.

3. All students who complete a FAFSA will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail. The SAR will have a summary of all information submitted on the FAFSA. In addition, a student can make any needed corrections on the SAR or contact their Financial Aid Administrator for questions.

4. Thirty percent of all students submitting a FAFSA form will be selected for verification. If a student is selected for verification, he/she will have to provide tax forms, W-2 forms, and a verification worksheet. The Financial Aid Office will contact you if you are selected for verification. Students must submit all requested documentation before receiving financial aid.

5. Award notification letters are mailed to students throughout the summer beginning in late May. The letter provides a student with his/her eligibility for all awards including Pell grants, loans, scholarships, and work program amounts. The award notification must be signed and returned to the Financial Aid Office within two weeks.

6. One week prior to the start of the semester, the Financial Aid Office will begin Financial Aid Deferments. The deferment will include all financial aid a student will receive for the upcoming semester. The student must sign the deferment and take it to the Business Office. The Business Office will subtract all tuition and fees and let the student know how much he/she has remaining, if any, to use in the Bookstore. Students, who do not have enough financial aid to cover their entire balance, will be responsible for paying for their own books. Meal plans and residence hall fees may also be included on the deferment forms if a student is receiving enough financial aid to cover the needed amount.

7. All financial aid is deposited into the student's account at the college. If a student has money remaining in his/her account after all debts to the college have been taken care of, a refund check will be issued to the student.