Types of Aid

Salisbury University students use a variety of different types of aid from different sources to help make their college experience affordable. This section of our website gives more information about the common types of aid SU students use.

Eligibility Criteria

Financial aid has a wide range of eligibility criteria depending on the type. Some of the common eligibility criteria includes need-based, merit based, program of study, and more.
Need-based and federal aid require the completion of an official FAFSA. This includes all federal loans. Applicants must meet all of the federal eligibility requirements to qualify for these types of aid.
Students who do not meet federal eligibility requirements can still qualify for Maryland state aid if they meet certain requirements to be eligible to complete the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA). The MSFAA is available through the MDCAPS portal.

Aid Programs

Eligibility Categories

Need-based aid. Eligibility for need-based aid is determined by financial need which is based on the estimated cost-of-attendance (COA) and a student’s expected family contribution (EFC) from their FAFSA.
Merit-based aid. Eligibility for merit-based aid is determined by high-school GPA, standardized testing scores, and/or college merit.
Program-based aid. Eligibility for program-based aid is determined by your program of study, typically along with some type of merit and/or need component.

Types of Aid

Gift or “free money” aid does not need to be repaid once you are deemed eligible
- Grants and scholarships are the most common type of gift aid. Eligibility for grants are typically determined based on financial need whereas scholarships come from merit (academic, civic, etc.)
Self-help aid generally requires repayment, work, or a service obligation
- Loans are available and generally must be repaid with interest.
- Federal work-study is when a student secures a part-time position in an office on-campus at SU. Students are paid a bi-weekly paycheck for hours worked. Financial need is required to establish eligibility to participate in the program.
- Aid that requires a service obligation is available to students pursuing certain career paths. The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship is one such example that is available for Maryland residents pursuing a career as a teacher.

Food Stamps-SNAP Resources
- The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 temporarily expands SNAP eligibility to include students enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education, who either:
  1. Are eligible to participate in state or federally financed work-study during the regular school year, as determined by the institution of higher education, or
  2. Have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0 in the current academic year.
  Students who indicated “Yes” on the 22/23 FAFSA that they are interested in Federal Work-Study and are eligible, were automatically awarded Federal Work-Study in their financial aid award. Students who do not have a work-study award, can email The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at finaid@salisbury.edu for additional information on seeking federal work-study eligibility information.
  
  Please note: *Per the USDA: Under SNAP regular rules, only students who actually participate in state or federally funded work study are eligible. The new, temporary exemption expands SNAP eligibility to students who are eligible to participate in federal work study during the regular school year, without the requirement that they actually participate. *
- Additional guidance will be updated, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (USDA) SNAP COVID-19 guidance is shared. You may also find the most current FAQs, concerning the student provisions related to SNAP expansion.
  
  During the COVID-19 public health emergency, a law was passed that made more students temporarily eligible for SNAP. As of July 1, 2023, the temporary student exemptions are no longer available to students applying or recertifying for SNAP. Some students may no longer be eligible for SNAP or may need to provide additional information when they recertify to continue their SNAP benefits