Financial Aid / FAFSA

A private school education that remains affordable!
At Maria College, your investment in education will be enhanced by a personalized approach toward your learning and educational experiences. Providing you access to the education programs and offerings in Maria College’s renown family-like environment is one of our many goals in helping students Aspire. Achieve. Become.

Find information about tuition, applying for financial aid through scholarships and more on our website, and browse our Frequently Asked Questions for answers to questions you may have. Contact Maria College’s Office of Financial Aid with any questions or concerns you may have.

Financial Aid FAQs
If you have other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Financial Aid at (518) 861-2586 or sfs@mariacollege.edu.

Office Hours

Monday – Friday

8:30am – 4:30pm

By Appointment: Monday – Friday

8:30am – 6:00pm

Click here to make an appointment.

  • How much does it cost to attend Maria College?

    A detailed breakdown of tuition and fees can be found at Tuition and Fees.  For an estimate of what it may cost to attend Maria College after financial aid, please use the Net Price Calculator.

  • How do I apply for financial aid?

    Maria College encourages all students to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Detailed instructions to applying for financial aid can be found at the Applying for Financial Aid section.

  • Does Maria College offer scholarships? How can I apply for one?

    Maria offers various scholarships based on financial need and/or academic achievement. To apply for any of these scholarships, please complete the scholarship application by June 25, 2023. You will be required to complete your FAFSA for the 2023-24 academic year.

    Learn more about scholarships

  • What state grants are available?

    The state offers various grants and financial aid options. To be eligible a student must complete the FAFSA and NYS TAP applications. Detailed instructions for those applications are found at the Applying for Financial Aid webpage.  

    A listing of the various types of grants and financial aid programs are found at our Financial Aid Programs section.

  • What are the definitions of the various types of financial aid?

    A listing of the various types of grants and financial aid programs is found at our Financial Aid Programs section.

  • How many credits are considered full-time? How many for part-time?

    Any student carrying 12 credit hours is considered a full-time student.

    Any student carrying less than 12 credit hours in any semester is considered part-time. Students enrolling in less than 6 credits should contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss eligibility.

  • What if my FAFSA does not accurately reflect my financial situation due to a unique event that occurred recently?

    If you feel your family has unusual circumstances that might affect your financial aid eligibility, please complete our Request for Special Conditions Application which can be obtained in the Financial Aid Office.  It is recommended that you contact our Financial Aid Office to discuss your special conditions prior to completing the form. If we feel that your circumstance is unusual and impacting your ability to pay, your financial aid award may be adjusted.

  • How does my academic progress affect my financial aid?

    In order to remain eligible for federal and state financial assistance, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress. More information is found in the Maria College Catalog or by visiting the Financial Aid Office.

  • What happens to my financial aid if I withdraw from classes or fail my courses?

    Withdrawing from classes or failing all of your courses has a negative impact on your financial aid eligibility for the semester, including possible loss of all government aid for the semester. Please refer to our Return to Title IV page for more information. It is recommended that you contact your advisor, the business office and the financial aid office prior to choosing to withdraw from classes to make sure you understand the full financial magnitude of the decision.

  • Can I appeal my loss of financial aid?

    A student may appeal his or her loss of financial aid eligibility to the Director of Financial Aid. All appeals must be done in writing and must provide appropriate documentation of the circumstances of the appeal. A student may not appeal a loss of financial aid eligibility more than twice.

  • What does it mean when I am selected for Verification?

    Verification is a quality assurance process used to ensure that the information on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is accurate. If you are selected for verification, the Office of Financial Aid at Maria College is required to collect and review additional documents before your financial aid eligibility can be determined.  Selection of verification is a random process. Please contact the Maria College Financial Aid Office with any questions at (518) 861-2586 or at sfs@mariacollege.edu.

  • Rights and Responsibilities of Student Financial Aid Recipients

    Recipients of student financial aid have the right to know the following:

    • the correct procedures for applying for aid, cost of attendance, types of aid available, how financial need is determined, criteria for awarding aid, how academic progress is determined, and what must be done to continue receiving aid;
    • the type and amount of assistance the student will receive, and how and when the student will receive the aid;
    • the ability to view contents of the student’s financial aid file, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act;
    • the terms and conditions of any loan.

    In addition, it is the student’s responsibility to:

    • complete application materials correctly and submit them on time;
    • read all materials sent from the Office of Financial Aid and all agencies awarding aid; read, understand and keep copies of all forms the student signs;
    • know and comply with the rules governing the aid received;
    • provide additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or any new information the Office of Financial Aid requests;
    • comply with the provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements signed;
    • use financial aid only for expenses related to attending the College;
    • maintain satisfactory academic progress;
    • notify the Office of Financial Aid of any resources not considered during the original need analysis and aid not listed on the award letter, and;
    • keep local and permanent addresses current at the Registrar’s Office. 
  • You may qualify for a Professional Judgement due to special or unusual circumstances that affect your financial situation, or your dependency status as determined by the FAFSA.
    Special Circumstances:  Please fill out the Special Circumstances Form available from the Financial Aid Office if you have had a change in financial situation (loss of a job etc.) that is not reflected on your current FAFSA application. This may make you eligible for an EFC adjustment that could potentially increase your aid. 
     
    Unusual Circumstances:   If you feel you have a unique situation (e.g., parental abandonment) that warrants an FA administrator’s adjustment of your dependency status, please fill out the Unusual Circumstances Form available from the Financial Aid Office. Keep in mind that changing dependency status is generally reserved for extreme situations. Parents refusing to sign and submit financial information for the FAFSA does not alone warrant a dependency override.