Create a Student User Account

Important: Please READ!

Applying for Financial Aid for 2027–2028?
Starting with the 2027–2028 school year, the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is moving from the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) to the new Maryland Student Information System (MDSIS).

Applying for Maryland State Financial Aid for the First Time?
If you are applying for Maryland State financial aid for the first time for the 2027–2028 school year, do not create an MDCAPS account. Instead, you will create an account in MDSIS, MHEC’s new system. New MDSIS accounts will be available beginning in January 2027. More information about how to create your account and apply for financial aid will be shared before registration opens.

Already Have an MDCAPS Account?
If you already have an MDCAPS account, you do not need to take any action right now. Continue to use MDCAPS for the 2026–2027 school year and earlier years to:

View your financial aid awards
Submit requested documents
Check the status of your financial aid

When it is time to move to MDSIS, current MDCAPS users will receive instructions explaining how to create their new MDSIS account.

Remember
MDCAPS: Continue using it for 2026–2027 and earlier financial aid.
MDSIS: Beginning with 2027–2028, Maryland State financial aid applications and awards will move to MDSIS.
If you are applying for Maryland State financial aid for the first time for 2027–2028, do not create an MDCAPS account. Wait for MDSIS registration to open in January 2027.

First Name:
Last Name:
Social Security Number:		The social security number MUST be entered accurately. If you do not have a social security number, please enter your ITIN. If you do not have a social security number or ITIN, please enter 000-00-0000.
Date of Birth: (mm/dd/yyyy)
Email:
Confirm Email:

User Name:		User Name must be at least 5 alpha-numeric characters.

Password: Confirm Password:		Password must contain at least 8 characters. Password must contain at least one number. Password must contain at least one letter. Password must contain at least one special character (!,@,#,$, etc.). Password must NOT contain special characters <, >, [, ], & , ;, ', or ". Password is case sensitive.
Select the High School you have/will graduate from:
Enter the date you anticipate or already graduated from high school: (mm/dd/yyyy)
User Agreement
MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Student User Agreement for Participation in MDCAPS I understand and agree that my access to the Maryland College Aid Processing System ("MD CAPS") of the Maryland Higher Education Commission ("MHEC"), Office of Student Financial Assistance ("OSFA") or its successor, is subject to all of the terms of this Student User Agreement for Participation in MD CAPS ("User Agreement"). Use of MD CAPS I agree that I will: • Follow all policies and procedures adopted by MHEC/OSFA for use of MD CAPS; and • Contact MHEC if I have any questions about use of MD CAPS. Confidentiality I acknowledge that: • The information provided in MD CAPS includes confidential student information, the disclosure of which is governed by (1) the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g ("FERPA") and regulations promulgated under FERPA, 34 C.F.R. Part 99, pertaining to education records; (2) the Maryland Public Information Act, State Government Article, Title 10, Subtitle 6, Part III (§§ 10-611 - 10-630), and (3) the Code of Maryland Regulations, COMAR 13B.04.03.01 et seq. Security of User Account I agree that I: • Will maintain the confidentiality of my user name and password and any and all activities that occur under my user name and password; • Will not share my user name and password with anyone; • Will immediately notify MHEC of any unauthorized use of my user name and password or any other security breach known to me; • Will not use MD CAPS in any way that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or invasive of another's privacy, or harms minors in any way; • Will not employ misleading or other manipulated identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any information transmitted through MD CAPS; • Will protect all downloaded data from MD CAPS with the same rigor required by the data within MD CAPS and all applicable regulations; • Will report to MHEC immediately if there is a loss of a physical device with student data such as a laptop, CD, USB storage media, or other similar items; and • Will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to MHEC's computer systems, or engage in any activity that disrupts, diminishes the quality of, interferes with the performance of, or impairs the functionality of, MD CAPS. Changes to Terms of User Agreement I agree that: • I have read, understand and will be abide by the terms of this User Agreement; • MHEC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to change the terms of this User Agreement, including modifications, additions, or deletions at any time without further notice; • My continued use of MD CAPS after any such changes constitutes my acceptance of the new terms of the User Agreement, which is always available to me within MD CAPS; • If I do not agree to abide by the terms of the User Agreement, I will not use or access (or continue to use or access) MD CAPS; and • If MHEC changes the terms of the User Agreement in a way that is unacceptable to me, I may cancel my account by emailing osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov. Modification, Suspension, or Termination of Access to the MD CAPS/ Audit I agree that: • MHEC may, at any time for any reason, and in its sole discretion, modify, suspend, or terminate my access to MD CAPS, with or without notice to me; • MHEC is not liable for any modification, suspension, or termination of my access to MD CAPS; • MHEC may audit activities performed on MD CAPS; and Signature The signature of the Student User on this User Agreement evidences the agreement of the Student User to comply with all provisions of this User Agreement and all requirements of MHEC/ OSFA regarding MD CAPS. By clicking "Create Login" at the bottom of this page, as a condition of having access to MD CAPS, I have agreed to all of the terms included in this User Agreement.
I agree to the above user agreement



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