Single mom with 3500 SAI - What kind of aid can I expect from University of Maryland?

A 3500 SAI is actually quite good! That indicates significant financial need, which should position you well for need-based aid at UMD. With that SAI, you should qualify for: - Likely full Pell Grant (around $7,400 for 2025-2026) - Possibly Maryland state grants - UMD's own institutional need-based grants - Work-study eligibility - Subsidized federal loans As a single parent, you might also qualify for additional support programs. Have you contacted UMD's financial aid office directly about your situation? They can give you the most accurate picture of your aid package.

congrats on the low SAI! mine was like 12000 lol. UMD gave me some grant money but mostly loans. But with yours being so much lower you should get way more free money

If you're having trouble contacting UMD's financial aid office (which is unfortunately common this time of year), try using Claimyr to get through to them faster. It helped me get through to FSA when I was trying to resolve an issue with my SAI calculation. Just go to claimyr.com and you can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ Regarding your actual question - a 3500 SAI as a single parent should qualify you for significant need-based aid. UMD typically provides a mix of grants and loans, but as a single mom, you should be eligible for their most substantial need-based packages. Have you looked into the Maryland Childcare Scholarship and the TCA Higher Education Program too? Those are specifically for student parents in Maryland.

DO NOT COUNT ON GETTING ENOUGH AID FROM UMD!!!! I was a single parent too with a similar SAI and when my "generous financial aid package" finally arrived, it was MOSTLY LOANS! They gave me like $3000 in grants and expected me to take out over $15,000 in loans FOR ONE YEAR! And that still didn't cover everything! The system is BROKEN and they don't care about helping parents actually afford school!!

I work in financial aid (not at UMD). With a 3500 SAI as an independent student with a dependent, you're in a good position for aid, but remember a few things: 1. Each school has different institutional aid available 2. Maryland has good state grants, but they have deadlines 3. Your total Cost of Attendance will include childcare estimates if you submit documentation 4. As a first-year student, there are annual loan limits that may affect your total package My advice: Once you receive your aid offer, ask for a professional judgment review if your circumstances have changed since your FAFSA data or if you have unusual expenses related to being a student parent. They can often adjust your package.

My sister went to UMD with a similar SAI (hers was like 4200) and she got enough between Pell, Maryland state grants, and UMD grants to cover most of tuition. Still had to take some loans for living expenses tho. But she wasnt a parent so u might get more!

A 3500 SAI should qualify you for substantial aid, but I want to make sure you understand how the whole process works: 1. Your FAFSA and SAI determine your federal aid eligibility (Pell Grants, work-study, subsidized loans) 2. State of Maryland has its own grants determined by your FAFSA info (with deadlines!) 3. UMD then uses all this info to create a complete package with their institutional funds As a single parent, you should also complete the UMD Special Circumstances Form specifically mentioning your childcare expenses and any other costs related to being a student parent. This can significantly increase your aid eligibility. Be sure to meet with a financial aid counselor one-on-one (via Zoom if needed) rather than just calling the general line. They can give you a much more personalized assessment.

Just wanted to add that UMD has a program called S.A.F.E. (Student Assistance & Family Engagement) that's specifically for student parents. They offer additional grants, priority for certain campus housing, emergency aid, and support services. It's not widely advertised but absolutely worth looking into with your situation. Their office might be able to give you a more realistic picture of your total aid than the general financial aid office.

I'm in a very similar situation - single mom with a low SAI trying to figure out if I can make UMD work financially! Reading through these responses has been so helpful. One thing I wanted to add is that I found UMD's Net Price Calculator on their website really useful for getting a rough estimate before my official package came through. It's not perfect but it gave me a ballpark figure to work with while I was waiting. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you've submitted your FAFSA early for next year too - Maryland state aid is first-come-first-served and runs out quickly. The earlier you get everything in, the better your chances of getting the maximum state grants on top of federal aid. Good luck! Being a student parent is tough but so worth it. Feel free to reach out if you want to compare notes on navigating this whole process!

As someone who just went through this process at UMD as a single parent, I wanted to share my experience to give you some real perspective! My SAI was around 4000 and I received a pretty comprehensive package. Here's what I got: - Full Pell Grant ($7,395) - Maryland State Grant ($3,200) - UMD Institutional Grant ($8,500) - Work-study ($2,500) - Subsidized loans to cover the remaining gap The key things that made a huge difference for me: 1. I applied EARLY - seriously, Maryland state aid runs out fast 2. I filled out the Special Circumstances Form mentioning childcare costs 3. I contacted the S.A.F.E. program that someone mentioned above - they were amazing! My total out-of-pocket after all aid was around $4,000 for the year, which I was able to manage with the payment plan. Don't let anyone scare you away - UMD actually does try to support student parents, but you have to know which programs to apply for and be proactive about reaching out. The general financial aid office can be overwhelming, but once I connected with the right people, they were incredibly helpful. Feel free to message me if you want more specific details about my experience!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's also navigating financial aid as a single parent (though not at UMD), I wanted to add a few things that might help: 1. Don't forget about the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit - you can claim childcare expenses related to attending school, which can help offset costs at tax time. 2. Many schools have emergency aid funds specifically for unexpected expenses that student parents face. These aren't always well-publicized but can be lifesavers when childcare falls through or other emergencies pop up. 3. If you end up needing to take some loans, remember that as an independent student with dependents, your annual loan limits are higher than dependent students ($9,500-$12,500 in federal loans vs $5,500-$7,500). Your 3500 SAI really should put you in a strong position for need-based aid. The fact that so many people here have shared positive experiences at UMD for student parents is really encouraging. Best of luck with your decision - you've got this!