Financial aid basics
The University of Maine at Machias is committed to helping you understand your educational expenses and assisting students and families in creating a plan for your financial aid, work earnings, and other income that will go toward these costs

Eligibility requirements
In general, to receive aid from the Federal Student Aid Programs, a student must meet the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;
- Have a valid Social Security Number (your name must be the same as on your Social Security card);
- Have a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate;
- Enroll in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate at the University of Maine at Machias;
- Be registered with Selective Service if required (in general, if you are a male age 18 through 25);
- Meet satisfactory academic progress toward a degree;
- Not be in default on a federal loan or owe money on a federal grant;
And, only if you have previously received federal student aid:
- Certify that you were not convicted for a drug offense that occurred while you were enrolled in school and receiving federal student aid.
Students who meet the above criteria are encouraged to apply for financial aid using the FAFSA.
Completing the FAFSA
The only application needed to apply for financial aid at the University of Maine at Machias is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Review the timeline below for important dates and information to be aware of when completing the FAFSA.
Grants
Grants are awarded to students demonstrating high financial need. Grants are free money and do not have to be repaid. The only application required to be considered for these grants is the FAFSA. See below for additional information on the different types of grants.
federal work study
The Federal Work-Study Program provides students with the opportunity to work part-time and earn a bi-weekly paycheck. Funds earned can be used to help pay education expenses. Work-study funds are not applied directly to the student’s bill.
- To qualify, students must file the FAFSA (and answer YES to the Federal Work-Study question on the FAFSA) and meet certain need-based criteria
- The total amount of work-study awarded is what the student is eligible to earn for the academic year. Work-study award amounts are listed as part of the financial aid award in MaineStreet.
For more information on Federal Work-Study, available jobs and the procedure for beginning work as well as for general assistance and guidance, please contact our office.