Financial Support

Financial Aid and Scholarships


To get quick, easy-to-understand answers to the most common financial aid questions, visit the Financial Aid FAQ Page. Need more help? Use the contact form for general inquiries, or reach out to a specific staff member using the contact page. Counselors are assigned based on the student’s last name and are available by phone or email.

Stay Black and Gold Emergency Fund


Sometimes, a simple, unexpected turn in circumstances can mean the difference between graduating and having to drop out of school. It can happen to anybody. It’s okay to ask for help. As Retrievers, we’re all in this together.

The Stay Black and Gold Emergency Fund offers one-time emergency assistance, based on generous giving from the UMBC community and partners, to support students through financially challenging circumstances. Funding is limited and priority consideration is given to students who have taken full advantage of other aid options available. This fund is considered one-time emergency assistance. If you need emergency assistance, apply to the Stay Black and Gold Emergency Fund at UMBC. Grants can be used for a variety of expenses that are necessary to support a student’s well-being or academic success.

Student Business Services


Student e-bill payments can be made online or by mail by the due dates. Please call or use these links for help.

FinancialSmarts


UMBC’s online FinancialSmarts CashCourse teaches students critical money management skills including: setting financial goals, effective budget strategies, establishing good credit, and salary/retirement planning. UMBC’s FinancialSmarts offers free tax preparation and sponsors Money Smart Week in spring. Visit to see the array of resources available to students.

CARES Act Funding


The CARES Act, passed by Congress in late March 2020, provides funding to assist university students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. UMBC has been granted a pool of funds through the CARES Act Emergency Grant to offer to students who are experiencing financial difficulties due to the disruption of campus operations and the transition to online learning, as a result of COVID-19.

These emergency grants can be used to cover costs students have incurred due to the disruption of campus operations, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child care expenses. The Emergency Grant funds may not be used to offset any unpaid bills to UMBC and will be delivered to students by the refund method they specified. The CARES Act Emergency Grant does not count in any recipient’s financial aid package.

Recipients of the funds must be eligible for Title IV federal student financial aid, as demonstrated on their 2019-20 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and be currently enrolled at UMBC in a degree program that was transitioned to online due to COVID-19. Students enrolled in programs offered totally online prior to COVID-19 are not eligible for these grants.

Visit this FAQ from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to learn more.