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Scholarships and grants are excellent sources of money to help you pay for college, and they’re especially great because they don’t have to be repaid (unlike student loans). Although you have to find the awards for which you are eligible and spend time applying, the effort is well worth the reward. If you live in Maryland, we’ve done some of the work for you. Here are some scholarship awards that are available to residents of the Old Line State.
State-funded scholarships for students from Maryland:
Award Amount: Up to $11,800
Application Deadline: March 1
The Delegate Scholarship is available to current high school students as well as part- or full-time undergraduate and graduate students and students attending private career schools. Students may apply by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and then contacting their legislator or the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Students receiving awards from the Office of Student Financial Assistance must demonstrate financial need. Awards are not automatically renewed; students must reapply each year.
Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program
Award Amount: Varies
Application Deadline: July 15, 2019
This scholarship is available to students with a family member who was injured or killed while serving their community or country, including:
- Children, stepchildren, and surviving spouses of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who died or became 100% disabled as a result of their military service
- Children, stepchildren, and surviving spouses of individuals who died in or as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
- Children of individuals taken as prisoners of war or individuals who went missing in action during the Vietnam War
- Children, stepchildren, and surviving spouses of state or local public safety workers who died or became 100% disabled in the line of duty or a state or local public safety worker who became 100% disabled in the line of duty
- Children, stepchildren, and surviving spouses of school employees who died or became 100% disabled due to an act of violence that occurred at their place of work
The award is open to full- or part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in two- or four-year institutions in Maryland and students attending private career schools. Students should contact their school’s financial aid office for application information.
Guaranteed Access Partnership Program
Award Amount: Up to $18,600
Application Deadline: March 1
Minimum GPA Required: 2.5
This award is available to recipients of the Guaranteed Access Grant (below) who are attending one of the following institutions: Capitol Technology University, Goucher College, Hood College, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University Maryland, Maryland Institute College of Art, McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Stevenson University, St. John’s College, Washington Adventist University, or Washington College. The award matches the amount of a student’s Guaranteed Access Grant. Students must complete the FAFSA, the Guaranteed Access Grant application, and an institutional application for aid. More information can be found at your school’s financial aid office.
Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant
Award Amount: Up to $3,000
Application Deadline: March 1
Current high school seniors and full-time undergraduate students with financial need can apply for this grant. Students apply by submitting the FAFSA. Not all students are guaranteed an award, however, as distribution of funds is based on availability. Students with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) as determined by the FAFSA will receive top priority. You may apply for this grant each year of your undergraduate studies, provided you maintain full-time enrollment.
Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant
Award Amount: Up to $18,600
Application Deadline: March 1
Minimum GPA Required: 2.5
The Guaranteed Access Grant is open to current high school students who will complete a college preparatory program as well as individuals who earned their GED and are under 26 years old. High school students must maintain a high school GPA of 2.5, while GED recipients must have scored a minimum of 165 of each section of their GED exam. Both high school students and GED recipients must demonstrate financial need (defined as having a total family income within 130% of the poverty level). Recipients of the award must enroll full time at a participating two- or four-year institution in Maryland. Apply by submitting the FAFSA and the Guaranteed Access Grant application. The award may be renewed for up to four years, provided students maintain full-time enrollment.
Jack F. Tolbert Memorial Student Grant Program
Award Amount: $500
Application Deadline: March 1
This award is given to students with financial need who currently attend or plan to attend a private career school. Recipients must enroll for at least 18 hours weekly. To apply, submit the FAFSA by March 1 and contact your school’s financial aid office to learn whether there are additional application requirements. This award may be renewed once.
Award Amount: Up to $11,800
Application Deadline: March 1
The Senatorial Scholarship is awarded by state legislators (or, if they choose not to disburse their own awards, by the Office of Student Financial Assistance). The award is available to current high school seniors, part- and full-time undergraduate and graduate students, and students attending private career schools who can demonstrate financial need. Students must first apply via the FAFSA and then contact their senator or the Office of Student Financial Assistance (which can provide a list of all state legislators). Some awards automatically renew each year—up to four years for full-time students or eight years for part-time students. Check with your senator or the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine whether your award is renewable.
Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG)
Award Amount: Up to $4,000
Application Deadline: July 2, 2019
This grant is available to high school seniors and full- or part-time undergraduate and graduate students pursuing (or planning to pursue) certain majors: child care, education, human services, nursing, physical or occupational therapy, social work, or public service. To apply, submit the WSSAG application online; the FAFSA is not required, but is used to determine a student’s need and the order in which awards are given. Applicants are ranked based on their GPA and their level of financial need, and students with the greatest need within their GPA range are awarded first. Recipients will be required to fulfill a service commitment.
Privately funded scholarships for Maryland residents:
Cynthia E. Morgan Memorial Scholarship
Award Amount: $1,000
Application Deadline: February 25, 2020
Essay: Yes
This scholarship honors Cynthia Morgan, a well-loved mother and grandmother who died of stomach cancer in 2004. Applicants must be first-generation students who are in their junior or senior year of high school or currently attending a Maryland postsecondary institution. Students must plan to pursue a medicine-related degree. To apply, complete the online scholarship application and submit a one-page essay on “your goals and aspirations as they relate to your education, career, and future plans.”
Restaurant Association of Maryland Scholarships
Award Amount: Varies
The Restaurant Association of Maryland funds several scholarships for Maryland residents who are interested in hospitality, hospitality management, or the culinary arts. Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000; eligibility criteria vary among the different scholarship opportunities. Keep an eye on the provider’s website for next year’s application!
VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation
Award Amount: $1,000
Essay: Yes
This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors whose primary residence (or that of their parent or guardian) receives power from an electric utility that is part of the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. Students will be required to submit their most recent electric bill, as well as their high school transcript, a copy of their SAT or ACT scores, and a one-page essay detailing why the student deserves a scholarship. Decisions are based on financial need, academic achievement, and the student’s personal statement.
This list of scholarships is a great jumping off point for students from Maryland. To maximize your savings, do your own scholarship search, including your interests and achievements in your search terms. There are scholarships available for almost anything, just waiting to be found. Happy searching!
