Scholarships, Grants, and other Awards in Maryland

State Government Programs

The government of the state of Maryland is determined to make higher education more accessible to its resident students. Through the Maryland Higher Education Commission, state residents can find a wide array of grants, scholarships and tuition waivers designed to make college more affordable. These state supported programs are a mixture of need-based, merit-based and career specific financial aid. For college-bound students in the state of Maryland, struggling to pay for their college education, financial aid opportunities abound.

The FAFSA and Government Financial Aid

All Federal and state supported financial aid for college students requires the submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The information supplied by the student on their FAFSA is used to prepare a Student Aid Report, which outlines the level of financial aid for which the applicant has qualified. The submission of the FAFSA should be made a priority, and should be completed before beginning the search for any college financial aid.

General Scholarships and Grants for Maryland’s Residents

The state of Maryland offers its resident students a variety of scholarships and grants designed to make college more accessible. These programs are a combination of merit-based, and need-based, financial aid. As with all state supported programs, funding is subject to change depending on economic circumstances.

The following is a broad sampling of the scholarships and grants sponsored by Maryland’s Department of Higher Education. Students applying for any of these programs must be residents of Maryland who are enrolled, or intending to enroll, in an accredited state college or university.

• The Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant is a need-based award for degree-seeking undergraduate students who are enrolled full time at an accredited 2 year or 4 year state college. Awards are determined by financial need and total cost of college attendance.
• The Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant is offered to graduating high school seniors and full time degree-seeking undergraduates. This is a need-based grant, and awards are determined by financial need and total cost of attendance. Funds are limited, and students are encouraged to apply early.
• The Maryland Delegate Scholarship is a need-based award available to resident students who can demonstrate the requisite level of financial need. Student must contact their state delegates and petition for the award. The minimum award amount is $200. Maximum awards can not exceed the total cost of attendance, or $19,000.
• The Maryland Senatorial Scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors and degree-seeking undergraduates. Interested applicants must contact their senator and petition for the award. Scholarship awards are determined by financial need, and range from $400 to $9700.
• The Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program is available to graduate level students pursuing their degrees in law, medicine, social work or veterinary medicine. Awards are determined by financial need, and range from $1000 to $5000 per academic year.

Career Specific Grants and Scholarships

Like most states, Maryland faces ongoing shortages in a number of critical-need professions. In an effort to redress this imbalance, Maryland has put into place a variety of scholarship, grant and loan repayment programs designed to offer financial support to resident students who are pursuing careers in these critical-need professions. Many of these are award-for-service programs. In exchange for funding, recipients must agree to a predetermined term of service within the state.

• The Hal and Jo Cohen Graduate Nursing Scholarship is part of Maryland’s Nurse Support Program which is dedicated to increasing the number of qualified bedside nurses within the state. Applicants must be working towards a graduate or Doctoral degree in the Science of Nursing at a state college or university. The scholarship is strictly merit-based, and the award covers the total cost of tuition. Recipients of the Hal and Jo Cohen Graduate Nursing Scholarship are also eligible for a living expenses grant of $25,000 per academic year.
• The Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program targets students who are pursuing careers in certain high-need fields including child care, social work, teaching, nursing, physical and occupational therapy and public service. This grant is open to graduating high school seniors, undergraduates and graduate students. Grant eligibility is decided on the basis of merit and financial need. Award amounts vary depending on need, and course of study. This is an award-for-service grant, and recipients must agree to a predetermined term of service working at their chosen profession within the state.
• The Maryland Dent-Care Loan Assistance Repayment Program is available to licensed dentists practicing within the state. Applicants must have a patient population that consists of at least 30% Maryland Medical Assistance Program recipients. Eligible dentists can receive up to $23,740 in loan repayments per year for each year of obligated service.
• The Maryland Loan Assistance Program for Physicians  is available to primary care physicians in general internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and general psychiatry. Applicants must be practicing medicine at a government funded public clinic or non-profit medical facility. Eligible recipients can receive up to $25,000 per year in loan repayments for each year of obligated service.

Population Specific Financial Aid

The state of Maryland supports a selection of grants and scholarships for resident students in unique circumstances. These programs target the dependents of fallen public safety workers, veterans, foster care recipients and students with disabilities.

• The Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship is available to the dependent spouses and children of public safety workers who have been killed in the line of duty. Total award amounts may be equal to all tuition and fees, but may not exceed $9,692.
• The Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship is designed to provide financial assistance to college-bound veterans and their dependents. Applicants must be residents of Maryland and must be enrolled at an eligible state college or university. Award amounts are 50% of total tuition and fees, or $10,280.
• The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Students with Disabilities provides financial assistance to resident college-bound students of Maryland who are receiving SSI or SSDI benefits. Eligible students are exempt from paying tuition at a state community college for up to 12 credit hours per semester.
• The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is available to students under 25 who have aged out of Maryland’s foster care system. Applicants must be enrolled full time at a 2 year or 4 year state college or university. Eligible students are exempt from paying tuition and mandatory fees less any grants or scholarships already received.

This is just a sampling of what is available to resident students in the state of Maryland. Information on all of these programs and more can be found at the dedicated website of the Maryland Higher Education Commission.