Maryland Scholarship and Grant Programs

Scholarship and grant programs are offered by educational institutions and other organizations throughout the country.

Although some can be awarded to any student at any institution, others are specific to state and will only be awarded to a student who lives in that state or will only be available in that state.

Grant and scholarship funds are defined as ‘gift monies’ as they don’t have to be repaid and, while grants fund specific research projects, scholarships pay for tuition and other general education expenses.

General Information regarding Maryland Scholarship and Grant Programs

Grants and scholarships are available to students through almost every public college or university, private college or university and community college in Maryland, and there are upwards of 55 postsecondary, accredited schools that grant degrees in Maryland. There are also several Maryland-based educational and philanthropic organizations that fund students’ studies.

Each grant and scholarship program also has its own specific requirements for eligibility and, in Maryland, these can range from which county a student resides in to who their relatives are.

These programs can also be specific to the student’s level (undergraduate or graduate) and area of study, and students should carefully review each program to determine its exact terms and conditions.

There are far more scholarships and grants available in Maryland than are mentioned on this list.

Public Colleges and Universities: University of Maryland

The University of Maryland administers a large number of scholarship and grant programs and also funds at least three such programs. All relevant information can be found on their website’s Scholarships Home Page and, in order to assist students with searching for scholarships, separate pages have been created for, among others, prospective students’ scholarships and graduate students’ scholarships.

Further information concerning all of their scholarship and grant programs can be obtained directly from the university at The Office of Financial Aid, 0102 Lee Building, College Park, MD 20742 (tel: 301-314-9000 and website ).

Representative Scholarship or Grant available through The University of Maryland

Polish Heritage Association Scholarship

This program’s overall aim is to provide financial assistance to students of Polish descent who are resident in Maryland, and several awards of $1,500 will be made every year. The scholarship is open to high school seniors about to enroll for an undergraduate degree as well as both undergraduate and graduate students, and the deadline for submitting applications is in March of any given school year. Eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants must be resident in Maryland and must be of Polish descent;
• Applicants must be full-time students who are pursuing a degree on any level; and
• Applicants must submit several documents along with their application form, including transcripts of their or their family’s latest federal tax return, a letter of reference, grade transcripts and an essay.

The scholarship is awarded mainly on the basis of financial need but other factors like academic achievement and pride in their Polish heritage will also be considered. Further information concerning this program can be obtained from both the University of Maryland and the Polish Heritage Association Scholarship Committee at 1101 St. Paul Street, #1202, Baltimore, MD 21202 (tel: 410-962-8611 and website).

Detailed Examples of Further Scholarships and Grants available through The University of Maryland

1. Kids Chance Scholarships: available for students of between 16 and 25 whose father or mother has been severely injured or killed in an employment-related accident in Maryland;
2. Maryland Parents Association Scholarship: a single annual award available for MU students who have completed at least 24 credit hours at the university and who can demonstrate financial need;
3. Gerald G. Portney Memorial Scholarship: this program was developed to provide financial assistance to the Returning Students Program of the university’s Counseling Center;
4. Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarship: this program was especially created for returning students who are 25 years of age or older, who are enrolled undergraduate students at UMCP and who have already completed at least half the credits towards their degree programs. Priority will be given to those students with disabilities and who are undergoing financial hardship. Several awards ranging from $500 to $1,000 are available in terms of this program; and
5. National Capital Area Gardens Clubs Scholarship: this program is available to students resident in specific counties in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, with the relevant Maryland counties being Montgomery and Prince George. The minimum award available in terms of this scholarship is $3,000 and it is made available to students majoring in the fields of plant pathology, forestry, plant biology, landscape design, horticulture, botany and environmental concerns.

Representative Programs available through other Public Colleges and Universities

1. University of Baltimore: contact details are 1420 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 (tel: 410-837-4777 and website) and representative programs include
2. Henry A. Heinmuller Graduate Scholarship Fund; and
3. France Merrick Graduate Business Scholarship;
4. Morgan State University: contact details are 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251 (tel: 443-885-3333 and website) and representative programs include:
5. The Gateway Scholarship; and
6. The University Incentive Award.

Private Colleges and Universities: Johns Hopkins University

A large number of scholarship and grant programs are also administered through this university and JHU’s website’s scholarship page lists all available programs alphabetically and also by field, location, duration, type and year. Further information concerning these programs can be obtained from JHU’s Office of Academic Advising at 3400 N. Charles Street, Garland Hall, Suite 3A, Baltimore, MD 21218 (tel: 410-516-8216 and website).

Representative Scholarship or Grant available through Johns Hopkins University

The Bander Family Fund for Independent Projects (Grant Program)
This grant program is sponsored through JHU’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) and the deadline for application submissions is March of every year. The award has been developed to fund either one or two research projects that can be completed during the course of a single summer break and is for a total amount of $4,000. Eligibility requirements include:

1. Applicants must be KSAS arts and sciences undergraduate students at JHU in Maryland;
2. Applicants must be requesting funding for projects that are creative, independent of the university and that can only be done outside of the school; and
3. Applicants must undertake to submit a final academic report detailing the outcome of the research project upon its completion.
   Students can be engaged in any field of study and priority will be given to those projects that are highly innovative and push the envelope. Those students who are interested in applying for this grant program can contact JHU directly at the above address.

Detailed Examples of Further Scholarships and Grants available through Johns Hopkins University

1. Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship: this program awards up to $7,500 each year and was developed specifically for sophomores and juniors with a minimum GPA of 3.00 who are pursuing natural science, engineering or mathematics degrees;
2. Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program: in terms of this program, fellowships are awarded in the fields of humanities, social sciences and arts to graduate students who are pursuing either a master’s or a doctoral degree;
3. The James Madison Junior Fellowship: developed specifically for graduating seniors and graduate students who plan to teach either social studies, American history or American government;
4. The Baltimore Scholars’ Program: this program is available only to students who are US citizens or permanent residents, who attended a Baltimore public high school for grades 10 through 12 and who have lived with their custodial parent in Baltimore City for at least three years before applying. Students must also be full-time scholars and must be applying for a four year program at JHU; and
5. The Hodson Trust Scholarship: this is open to all freshmen at JHU and 20 first year students will receive $26,500 each per year in terms of this program. Eligibility for this program is merit based and it can be renewed for up to three years of undergraduate study on the condition that a student maintains a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Students will be considered for selection based on their leadership qualities, academic record and intellectual curiosity.

Representative Programs available through other Private Colleges and Universities

1. College of Notre Dame of Maryland: contact details are 4701 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21210 (tel: 410-435-0100 and website) and representative programs include:Clare and Robert Moore Scholarship Fund; and
   1. John Gyles Education Award;
2. Washington Adventist University: contact details are 7600 Flower Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 (tel: 301-891-4000 and website) and representative programs include:
   1. Washington Adventist University Need Grant; and
   2. Literature Evangelist Scholarship.

Community Colleges and Universities: Chesapeake College

Students attending Chesapeake College are able to choose from a great many scholarship and grant programs that are administered through the college’s Office of Financial Aid. The deadline for submitting applications for most of the available scholarship programs is April of any given school year and further information concerning the programs in question can be obtained directly from Chesapeake College at P O Box 8, Wye Mills, MD 21679 (tel: 410-822-5400 and website).

Representative Scholarship or Grant available through Chesapeake College

A.T. and Mary H. Blades Scholarship
This is a Chesapeake General Scholarship and the amount awarded in terms of this program varies every year. In order to be eligible to apply for this scholarship – and applications have to be in by April of any given year – a student must:

1. Be a resident of one of three counties in Maryland: Caroline County, Talbot County or Dorchester County;
2. Be enrolled full time at the college; and
3. Be able to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00.

Priority is not given on the basis of financial need and students can contact the college at the above address to obtain further information regarding this scholarship program.

Detailed Examples of Further Scholarships and Grants available through Chesapeake College

Atlantic Golf / Queenstown Harbor Scholarship: this is a Chesapeake College Endowed Scholarship and is only available to residents of Queen Anne’s County in Maryland who are enrolled at the college for a full-time study program and are able to maintain a GPA of at least 2.00. This scholarship will also be renewable for a second year’s study should a student be able to maintain a GPA of 2.50. The amount awarded varies and the program is available for both traditional and non-traditional fields of study;

Winslow and Helen Womak Book Scholarship: this is a Chesapeake College General Scholarship and is only available to residents of Maryland’s Eastern Shore who are majoring in nursing. The amount awarded each year will vary and an applicant does not have to demonstrate financial need in order to be eligible for this program;

Kent County Mental Health Scholarship: this is a Chesapeake College Endowed Scholarship and is available every year only to residents of Maryland’s Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties. Students wishing to apply for this scholarship should be able to maintain a GPA of 3.00 and priority will be given to full-time students;

Lee D. and Audrey McMahan Scholarship: this is a Chesapeake College Endowed Scholarship and preference will be given to (a) employees or dependents of employees of the Maryland based Tri Gas and Oil Company and (b) residents of Maryland’s Eastern Shore region. The amounts awarded every year varies, the program is not need-based and funds are made available to one full-time and two part-time students every year; and

Norma and Orrell Saulsbury Incentive Grant: this is also a Chesapeake College Endowed Scholarship and preference is given, in this order, to (a) full-time students resident in Maryland’s Caroline County, (b) full-time students living in the College’s service area and (c) part-time students. Financial need is a consideration for this grant program and the amount awarded each year varies. Students must also be able to maintain a GPA of at least 2.00 or must have ‘the ability to benefit’ from the program as defined by the College.

Representative Programs available through other Community Colleges

1. Carroll Community College: contact details are 1601 Washington Road, Westminster, MD 21157 (tel: 1-888-221-9748 and website) and representative programs include:
   1. Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant; and
      1. Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship;
   2. Harford Community College: contact details are 401 Thomas Run Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 (tel: 443-412-2000 and website) and representative programs include:
      1. Aberdeen Lioness Lions Club Scholarship; and
      2. Fund A.F. Book Scholarship.

Representative Programs available through other Educational / Philanthropic Organizations

Senatorial Scholarship Program

This program is one of many administered through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), and the deadline for the submission of applications is in March of any given year. It is not limited to any specific majors and awards range between $400 and $9,000 per year. This program is also renewable for four years for a full-time student and eight years for a part-time student, but students do need to demonstrate continued academic excellence to continue receiving the award. Eligibility requirements include:

1. Students must be enrolled in either a two or a four year degree program on an undergraduate or graduate level in a public or a private school in Maryland;
2. Students must be residents of Maryland and, if the students are still legally dependent on their parents, their parents must also be Maryland residents;
3. Students must demonstrate financial need; and
4. Students must take either the SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) or the ACT (American College Test).

Further information concerning this program can be obtained directly from the MHEC at 839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400, Annapolis, MD 21401 (tel: 410-260-4500 and website). Further scholarship and grant programs administered through the MHEC include:

1. The Maryland College Access Challenge Grant Program; and
2. The Health Personnel Shortage Incentive Grant.

American Legion Auxiliary Past Presidents’ Parley Scholarship

This is one of the several scholarship programs offered by the American Legion Auxiliary, Department of Maryland and, in terms of this program, one amount of $2,000 is awarded every year to a student enrolled in a nursing program. This program is also renewable for three years and eligibility requirements include:

1. Applicants must be daughters, granddaughters or great-granddaughters of ex-service women or of ex-service men but priority will be given to descendents of ex-service women;
2. Applicants must be nursing majors at an accredited nursing school and must require financial assistance;
3. Applicants must be of good academic standing and must be Maryland residents; and
4. Applicants must submit various documents to the Legion together with their application form and these include a letter of recommendation and grade transcripts.

Students interested in obtaining further information concerning this, and the other programs offered through the Legion, can contact them at 1590 Sulphur Spring Road, Suite 105, Baltimore, MD 21227 (tel: 410-242-9519 and website). Further programs that are available through the Legion in Maryland include:

1. The Tillman Military Scholarship at the University of Maryland; and
2. The ALA Scholarship for Non-traditional Students.

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