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The Aid Window

FAFSA 2027-28 · Maryland

Maryland FAFSA deadlineMar 1, 2027

March 1 is Maryland's deadline to file the FAFSA — or the MHEC One-App for eligible undocumented students — for Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards (Educational Assistance and Guaranteed Access Grants). List at least one Maryland college on the application by that date.

View key dates

Maryland: what to do, step by step

  1. 1

    Create StudentAid.gov accounts — student and parent

    The student and one parent each need their own account to sign the FAFSA. Identity verification can take a few days, so do this first. (One-App applicants follow MHEC's account steps instead.)

    Create accounts at StudentAid.gov →

  2. 2

    File the FAFSA — or MHEC One-App — by March 1, 2027

    File by March 1 (date received) for Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards. List at least one eligible Maryland college. Undocumented students who cannot file the FAFSA use the MHEC One-App.

    Start the FAFSA at StudentAid.gov →Maryland aid programs — MHEC →

  3. 3

    Open MDCAPS and watch for document requests

    Most students only need a correct FAFSA or One-App by March 1. If Maryland asks for documents, submit them through MDCAPS by the published documentation deadline.

    MDCAPS student portal →Important scholarship and grant deadlines — MHEC →

  4. 4

    Check college dates, then set a filing reminder

    Your real deadline is the earliest of: Maryland's March 1 Rawlings date, or any earlier date a college on your list sets for its own aid. Set a reminder for that date now — email or calendar — so you get nudged before it hits.

    Add to Google Calendar Download .ics

    .ics includes state + federal deadlines with 30 / 14 / 7-day reminders.

  5. 5

    When a reminder arrives: finish filing

    That email or calendar alert means the deadline is close. Finish your FAFSA or One-App, confirm a Maryland school is listed, and check MDCAPS. Then you're done until aid offers arrive.

    Open the FAFSA →Educational Assistance Grant — MHEC →

Key dates

October 1, 2026ThursdayFAFSA opened
March 1, 2027MondayMaryland Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards deadline
June 30, 2028FridayFederal FAFSA deadline
Date varies by schoolCollege deadlines

What Maryland applicants need to know

  • Use the FAFSA if you can apply for federal aid. Eligible undocumented students use the MHEC One-App instead.
  • Create and activate an MDCAPS account so you can respond if Maryland asks for documents.
  • Missing March 1 means you are not considered for Rawlings awards for that year — MHEC treats it as a hard consideration deadline.

Watch out

March 1 is a consideration deadline for Rawlings — late filing is not treated as 'still maybe.' File early, list a Maryland school, and watch MDCAPS.

Sources — checked 2026-10-25

Deadlines can change (some states have extended dates in past years). If an official source disagrees with this page, the official source wins — and please tell us via our data page. Cite this page: Source: The Aid Window, aidwindow.com/maryland (checked 2026-10-25).

Applying in another state too? See all verified deadlines by state or the FAFSA 101 guide.