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FAFSA changes, rising need and underspent scholarships focus of MHEC student‑aid briefing
Summary
The Education and Economic Development Subcommittee reviewed the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Office of Student Financial Assistance fiscal 2026 allowance, focusing on FAFSA changes, program demand shifts, and underspending that prompted DLS to recommend reductions in some scholarship lines.
The Education and Economic Development Subcommittee reviewed the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) fiscal 2026 allowance, with DLS and OSFA explaining how FAFSA changes, program demand shifts and underspending in several scholarship programs affect the state's student‑aid budget.
DLS analysis and FAFSA impacts
Micah Richards of the Department of Legislative Services summarized the OSFA analysis. Richards said the FAFSA Simplification Act replaced the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) with the Student Aid Index (SAI), causing technical delays and an extended application deadline for the 2024–25 award year; Maryland’s FAFSA completion rate fell to roughly 50% (about 8 points below the prior year) but remained above the national average (transcript blocks starting at 3800.355). Richards reported substantial increases…
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