Guides · Login troubleshooting

EMA Login Not Working? How to Fix It

Updated July 5, 2026 · Independent guide, not affiliated with Step Up For Students

If your EMA login isn't working, don't panic — most problems have a quick fix you can do yourself. EMA (Education Market Assistant) uses the same account as your Step Up For Students login. Below are the most common reasons families can't get in, in the order they usually happen. Start at the top and work down.

1. Make sure you're on the REAL login site

The single most common reason a login "fails" is that you're on the wrong website. Scam pages copy the real one to steal passwords. The only official EMA portal is apply.stepupforstudents.org — the full login page is apply.stepupforstudents.org/authentication/login. Type that address yourself or use your own bookmark. Never log in through a link in a text or email.

2. Reset a forgotten password

If the site says your password is wrong, don't keep guessing — too many tries can lock the account. Instead:

1. Go to apply.stepupforstudents.org and click the “Forgot Password” link right on the EMA login screen.
2. Follow the prompts to reset it using the email or phone number on file.
3. Not sure of your username either? Use the “Forgot Username” link the same way.

Step Up For Students also notes that browsers may no longer keep your saved EMA password, so if autofill stopped working, resetting and re-typing the password is normal.

3. Fix a security code (MFA) that isn't arriving

EMA uses two-step verification (also called MFA or a security code) sent to the phone or email on your account. If the code isn't coming through:

1. Check your text messages and your email spam/junk folder.
2. Codes expire — if it's been a few minutes, request a new code instead of using the old one.
3. Make sure the phone number and email on your account are ones you can still access.

Per Step Up For Students: if you cannot complete two-step verification, you'll need a Step Up representative to help reset your password — the system won't let you finish on your own. Call the number in the last section during business hours.

4. Clear browser problems

If the page won't load, spins forever, or logs you back out, it's often the browser — not your account. Try these:

1. Clear your cache and cookies, then reload the login page.
2. Try a different browser (Step Up recommends Google Chrome on a desktop or laptop).
3. Turn off autofill for this site so an old, wrong password isn't being filled in automatically.
4. Use a stable internet connection — a wired connection is most reliable.

5. "Account not found" or the wrong email

If EMA says it can't find your account, you may be using a different email than the one you signed up with. Your login is tied to one specific email/username — often a personal address you used when you first applied. Try the “Forgot Username” link, or check older Step Up emails to see which address they were sent to. Creating a brand-new account will not merge with your existing scholarship, so avoid that.

6. When to call support

If none of the above works — especially a locked account or an MFA reset you can't finish — contact Step Up For Students directly:

1. Phone: 1-877-735-7837 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET).
2. Report a suspicious message or possible fraud to [email protected].

Once you're back in, our step-by-step EMA login guide shows exactly what each screen looks like, and the EMA Account Help Guide home page has the full free walkthrough.

Sources: Step Up For Students logins page (stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/logins/), EMA help page (/ema/), and Security Center (/security-center/); official portal apply.stepupforstudents.org. Independent guide — verify current steps on the official site; features can change.