Coppin State is a public HBCU in West Baltimore and part of the University System of Maryland. It’s small (about 1,900 undergrads, 12 students per faculty member), test-optional, and rolling admission, with no undergraduate application fee. It takes the Common App and the Common Black College App. It isn’t just a Maryland school, either: about 39% of first-time students come from out of state. Money is a big part of the story. In 2023-24, 89% of full-time first-year students got grant or scholarship aid, and the average Coppin institutional award was $8,275.
Presidential (full ride) and Fanny Jackson Coppin (tuition and fees)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Coppin State (Read This First)
The money deadline is December 1, not March 1. Coppin’s admissions page lists a March 1 priority date, but you have to apply for admission by December 1 to be considered for Presidential, Fanny Jackson Coppin, Gold, Blue, and Transfer merit. Apply in February and you can still get in, but you’ve likely missed the merit round.
“No separate application” does not mean “automatic.” Coppin considers every on-time applicant, but it says the awards are competitive and invitation-only. Meeting the GPA makes your student eligible, not guaranteed. Coppin encourages an essay, resume, and recommendations even though they’re optional, so send them.
Fanny Jackson Coppin comes with a housing bill. It covers tuition, fees, and books, but your student has to live on campus to keep it, and it doesn’t pay for housing. Budget about $11,975 a year for a double room and the Bronze meal plan.
Merit requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. The Maryland Dream Act can get eligible students the in-state rate, but it doesn’t open the door to Coppin’s merit awards.
There’s a $974-a-semester health insurance charge. Every full-time undergrad is billed for it automatically. If your student is on your health plan, file the waiver and that $1,948 a year comes off the bill.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Coppin State University is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Coppin State University? Test-optional to get in, and the Presidential and Fanny Jackson Coppin awards list ACT or SAT targets, but resumes and recommendation letters can stand in for scores.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: Not reported (test-optional); SAT: Not reported (test-optional).
Average net price? About $9,831/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Coppin State University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Coppin State University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$400 to $1,000 more than the in-state total below.$500 to $1,300 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$19,499
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$7,524
Housing & meals (typical)
$11,975
Total billed cost
$19,499
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$26,701
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$14,726
Housing & meals (typical)
$11,975
Total billed cost
$26,701
That is $7,202 more per year than Maryland residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $9,831 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
Out-of-State Reality Check
For 2026-27, an out-of-state student living on campus pays about $26,701 in direct costs, compared with about $19,499 for a Maryland resident. The difference is $7,202, all of it tuition. Coppin’s $5,000 Gold award covers roughly 70% of that gap, and Presidential covers all billed costs no matter where your student is from. Coppin has no regional tuition discount, so merit is the main lever.
Costs the Table Doesn’t Show
Health insurance: $974 per semester, billed automatically to full-time undergrads. Waivable with proof of other coverage.
Enrollment fee: a one-time $150 undergraduate fee.
Books: Coppin’s Eagle First Day book fee is added automatically each semester.
Program fees: nursing and health programs can add clinical, simulation, and lab fees, and student teaching carries a $730 fee.
Parking: $80 if your student brings a car.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Coppin State University
How much does Coppin State cost per year?
For 2026-27, tuition and mandatory fees are $7,524 for Maryland residents and $14,726 for out-of-state students. A double room with the Bronze meal plan adds $11,975. That puts direct costs at about $19,499 in-state and $26,701 out-of-state, before the health insurance fee if you don’t waive it.
What do families actually pay after aid?
The federal average net price for first-year students was $9,831 in 2023-24. Income matters a lot here: families earning under $30,000 averaged $7,714, and families earning $48,000 to $75,000 averaged $12,636. Coppin’s net price calculator will give you a number for your own situation.
Is the health insurance fee really required?
It’s charged to every full-time undergrad, but your student can waive it by showing proof of other coverage. If your student is already on your plan, file the waiver. It’s almost $2,000 a year.
Can out-of-state students get in-state tuition at Coppin?
Not through a regional program. Coppin isn’t part of WUE or MSEP-style discounts. The two Maryland paths are the Maryland Dream Act tuition exemption, for eligible graduates of Maryland high schools, and DACA status held for 12 months plus the Maryland Residency Form. Otherwise, residency follows University System of Maryland rules, which require 12 months of living, working, paying taxes, and registering a car in Maryland.
Did housing and meals go up for 2026-27?
Not really. The double room went up to $3,637.50 a semester, but the Bronze meal plan dropped from $2,674.50 to $2,350. Taken together, the most common combo is about $300 cheaper for the year than in 2025-26.
When does the FAFSA need to be in?
March 1, 2027. That’s Coppin’s priority date and Maryland’s hard deadline for state grants. Coppin’s school code is 002068.
December 1: Admission application in. This one date covers every merit award and the Honors Program referral.
March 1: FAFSA priority date and Maryland’s hard deadline for state grants.
Early to mid March: Maxie Collier Scholars applications close (March 12 in 2027).
April to May 31: AcademicWorks private donor scholarship window (based on the last cycle).
Parent rule of thumb: if your student is even thinking about Coppin, get the admission application in by Thanksgiving.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Coppin State University
Your student doesn’t fill out a scholarship form. Applying for admission by December 1 puts them in the running. Coppin is upfront that these awards are competitive and invitation-only, though, so think of the GPA cutoffs as the line to get considered, not a promise. Test scores are optional.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Gold First-Year Student Merit Award
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPACumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Test scores optional.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Coppin's merit awards work like a ladder, not a stack. If your student also qualifies for Fanny Jackson Coppin or Presidential, the bigger award takes the place of this one. Confirm the final package with Financial Aid before counting on two institutional awards.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renewable $5,000-per-year scholarship for up to four years. There is no separate form: applying for admission by December 1 is what puts your student in the running. Coppin says its merit awards are competitive and offered by invitation only, so a 3.0 GPA makes a student eligible, not guaranteed.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year applicants at or above a 3.0 GPA who get the admission application in before December 1. Coppin encourages essays, resumes, and recommendations even though they are optional, so students who send them give the committee more to go on.
Automatic
Blue First-Year Student Merit Award
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPACumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher. U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Test scores optional.
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is the first rung of Coppin's merit ladder. If your student's GPA lands them in Gold, Fanny Jackson Coppin, or Presidential range, the higher award replaces this one instead of adding to it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renewable $3,000-per-year scholarship for up to four years. Awarded by invitation after admission, with no separate form. The December 1 admission application is the gate.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students between a 2.75 and 3.0 GPA who apply on time. It is the entry-level institutional merit award, so the biggest factor is simply getting the application in before December 1.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Transfer Merit Award
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (3 yrs)
$3,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 TransferAt least 24 transferable credits and a 2.5 cumulative college GPA. U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Community college graduates with a 3.95 or higher GPA should look at the Honors Transfer Scholarship, which pays the in-state tuition and fees amount. The two do not stack, so the bigger one is the one to chase.
💡
Strategic Detail
Renewable $3,000-per-year scholarship for up to three years. Awarded by invitation after admission. Apply by December 1 to be considered.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Transfer students with 24 or more transferable credits and a 2.5 or higher college GPA who apply before December 1.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Coppin’s merit awards work like a ladder. Your student gets the highest rung they reach, not all of them added together. Coppin doesn’t publish a superscore policy, so plan around your best single test sitting if you send scores at all.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Coppin State University)
What’s the difference between the Gold and Blue awards?
Gold is $5,000 a year for students with a 3.0 or higher cumulative high school GPA. Blue is $3,000 a year starting at a 2.75. Both renew for up to four years.
Does my student need SAT or ACT scores?
No. Coppin is test-optional for admission and merit. Gold and Blue are based on GPA. If your student is going for Presidential or Fanny Jackson Coppin without scores, a resume and letters of recommendation do the heavy lifting.
If my student meets the GPA, is the money guaranteed?
No. Coppin says every on-time applicant is considered, but the awards are competitive and offered by invitation. Applying early and sending the optional essay, resume, and recommendations is the best way to stand out.
What happens if we apply after December 1?
Coppin’s admissions are rolling, so your student can still get in. But Coppin tells students to apply by December 1 to qualify for merit, so a later application may not be considered for these awards.
Can transfer students get merit?
Yes. The Transfer Merit Award is $3,000 a year for up to three years, for students with at least 24 transferable credits and a 2.5 college GPA. Community college graduates with a 3.95 or higher should look at the Honors Transfer Scholarship instead, which is worth much more.
Can out-of-state students get these awards?
Yes. Coppin’s merit awards aren’t limited to Maryland residents. Your student does need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Coppin’s two biggest awards don’t have their own application. Your student is reviewed from the admission file, as long as it’s in by December 1. Both are limited and invitation-only, and both expect your student to join an Excellence Track at summer orientation.
Presidential vs. Fanny Jackson Coppin at a Glance
Presidential
Fanny Jackson Coppin
Covers
Tuition, fees, room, board, health insurance fee, books up to $2,000/yr
Heads up: Coppin’s merit awards page says both awards cover “all books,” while each scholarship’s own page sets the caps shown above. We’re using the caps so you don’t budget on money that isn’t there.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Coppin?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
Parent Translation
Merit ladder (Blue, Gold, FJC, Presidential)
No
Your student gets the highest rung they reach.
Eagle Honors
Overlaps
Pays the in-state tuition and fees amount, which FJC and Presidential already cover.
Private donor awards (AcademicWorks)
Usually yes
These are the gap fillers. For an FJC scholar, they’re how you chip away at the housing bill.
Pell and Maryland state grants
Usually
Need-based money layers on top, up to the cost of attendance. File the FAFSA by March 1.
Big outside scholarships
Watch closely
Coppin can trim aid if the total goes over cost of attendance. Tell Financial Aid before you accept.
Full RideAutomatic
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition, fees, room, board, insurance, and books up to $2,000/year
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Requires a significant record of leadership and service plus a weighted 3.5 GPA.
🏫 3.5+ GPA✎ ~25 ACT✎ ~1200 SATCurrent high school senior. Weighted cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. SAT 1200 or ACT 25 (test-optional applicants reviewed on resumes and letters of recommendation). U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
✚
Stacking & Combining
This replaces every other Coppin merit award rather than stacking with them. Large outside scholarships can trigger an overaward adjustment, so talk to Financial Aid before layering anything on top.
💡
Strategic Detail
Coppin's highest merit award. Covers tuition, fees, room, board, the health insurance fee, and up to $2,000 a year for books. (The merit awards page says all books; the scholarship's own page sets the $2,000 cap, so plan on the cap.) To keep it, scholars complete 30 credits freshman year, enroll in the Academic Excellence Track through the Honors Program or the Leadership Excellence Track, and hold a cumulative 3.5 GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students at the very top of Coppin's applicant pool who pair strong grades with a real record of leadership and community service. Awards are limited and by invitation only.
Full TuitionAutomaticservice
Fanny Jackson Coppin Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition, mandatory fees, and up to $1,000/year for books
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Covers tuition, fees, and up to $1,000 a year for books. Renewal requires living on campus, which this award does not pay for.
🏫 3.3+ GPA✎ ~23 ACT✎ ~1140 SATCurrent high school senior. Weighted cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher. SAT 1140 or ACT 23 (test-optional applicants reviewed on resumes and letters of recommendation). U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
✚
Stacking & Combining
One of Coppin's two flagship awards. If your student qualifies for Presidential, that award replaces this one. Outside scholarships can help with the housing bill, but large ones can trigger an overaward adjustment, so check with Financial Aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Four-year renewable scholarship covering tuition, mandatory fees, and up to $1,000 a year for books. (The merit awards page says all books; the scholarship's own page sets the $1,000 cap.) To keep it, scholars complete 30 credits freshman year, hold a cumulative 3.2 GPA, and live on campus. Housing and meals are not covered, which runs about $11,975 a year for a double room with the Bronze plan in 2026-27. Scholars choose an Excellence Track (Academic or Leadership) at summer orientation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving admits with a weighted 3.3 or higher GPA who either clear the 1140 SAT or 23 ACT mark or send a strong test-optional file. Limited and by invitation only, so applying well before December 1 matters.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How does my student apply for Presidential or Fanny Jackson Coppin?
By applying for admission by December 1. There’s no separate form. Coppin reviews top applicants automatically and offers the awards by invitation.
Can my student win without test scores?
Yes. Coppin is test-optional for both awards. Without scores, Coppin looks at resumes and letters of recommendation, so those need to be strong and specific.
Does my student have to live on campus?
For Fanny Jackson Coppin, yes. Living on campus is a renewal requirement, and the award doesn’t pay for housing. Presidential covers room and board, so that one takes care of itself.
What’s an Excellence Track?
Scholars pick one at summer orientation. The Academic Excellence Track runs through the Honors Program, with accelerated courses, research, and grad school prep. The Leadership Excellence Track focuses on leadership development. Presidential scholars must enroll in one to keep the award.
How many awards does Coppin give each year?
Coppin doesn’t publish a number. It only says the awards are limited, which is one more reason to apply early.
Can out-of-state students win these?
Yes, as long as they’re U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Presidential covers all billed costs, so for an out-of-state student it’s worth more than $26,000 a year.
Coppin’s scholarship money comes in two separate windows, and most families only catch the first one. December is for merit, through the admission application. Spring is for donor money, through AcademicWorks.
Once admitted, your student activates their Coppin email.
When the portal opens (April in the last cycle), they sign in and complete the General Application.
They finish any extra steps on the “Recommended” opportunities.
They file the FAFSA. Donor money requires it.
They screenshot the “Submitted” status.
Parent translation: one application in April can match your student to dozens of named funds. It’s the easiest money on campus, and most students never log in.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t on the merit page, but they can sit on top of merit and need-based aid. Some are major-specific, a couple come by nomination only, and one is only for Maryland residents.
📅 Deadline: May 31 (last cycle ran April 3 to May 31, 2026) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All UndergradSign-in uses a Coppin student email, so this opens after your student is admitted. A FAFSA is required to receive Private Donor Award funds unless the student is ineligible for federal aid.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Most donor awards are meant to sit on top of merit and need-based aid, but the total cannot exceed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Sign in at coppin.academicworks.com with the Coppin student email, complete the General Application, then complete any Recommended opportunities. Accept awards inside the portal if selected.
Selection criteria: Varies by scholarship; may emphasize GPA, financial need, leadership, major, or personal background depending on donor intent.
💡
Strategic Detail
Coppin's private donor scholarship portal, run by the Coppin State University Development Foundation. Dozens of named funds sit here, many tied to a major (nursing, education, business, computer science) or class year. One general application auto-matches students to every fund they qualify for.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who fill out the general application completely and then finish the extra steps on any Recommended opportunities. Most families never log in, which is exactly why this is a hidden gem.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyresidencymajor
Maxie Collier Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: March 12, 2027 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Maryland residents only, in one of seven listed majors.
🎓 All UndergradCoppin undergraduates who live in Maryland, majoring in criminal justice, elementary education, health sciences, natural sciences, nursing, psychology, or social work. Coppin recommends at least two years left before graduation.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stipends generally sit on top of merit and need-based aid, within the cost-of-attendance limit. Confirm with Financial Aid.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the online program application and two online recommendations (one from a Coppin professor, one from a community leader, supervisor, or mentor) by March 12, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Eligible applicants are invited to interview. Coppin asks applicants not to use AI to write the application.
🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A behavioral health workforce program funded by the Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration. Scholars get stipends, internships, a behavioral health seminar, graduate school mentors, and advising. Partners include the University of Maryland Baltimore, UMBC, and the Black Mental Health Alliance.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Maryland-resident sophomores and juniors in the listed majors who are serious about a behavioral health career in the Baltimore area and can line up two strong recommendations.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Academic Program Scholarships (by major)
📅 Deadline: Varies by department Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Program awards generally stack with institutional merit, within the cost-of-attendance limit.
📄
How to Apply
Dance and Theatre Arts: complete the program scholarship webform linked from Coppin's Academic Program Scholarships page. Other majors: ask the department chair and check AcademicWorks.
Selection criteria: Varies by department; often includes GPA, engagement, and faculty recommendations.
💡
Strategic Detail
Coppin's academic program scholarship page lists Dance and Theatre Arts awards with their own online applications. The nursing, behavioral health, criminal justice, natural sciences, psychology, and social work tiles on that page all point to the Maxie Collier Scholars Program. Coppin also tells students to ask their department directly, since some program funds are not posted.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who are already active in their department and ask faculty directly about program funds.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Division of Information Technology (IT) Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 31 (AcademicWorks general application, last cycle) ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.2+ GPA🎓 All UndergradSophomores, juniors, and seniors in an IT-related major with a 3.2 cumulative GPA after two consecutive full-time semesters.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with institutional merit within the cost-of-attendance limit.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the AcademicWorks general scholarship application, which is how the Division of IT receives applications.
Selection criteria: Based on GPA and other departmental criteria such as academic performance and program engagement.
💡
Strategic Detail
Two endowed merit funds run by Coppin's Division of Information Technology. Renewable for up to four consecutive years based on available funds.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
IT-track students who hold a 3.2 or higher GPA through their first full year.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Division of Information Technology (IT) Need-Based Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 31 (AcademicWorks general application, last cycle) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 All UndergradFull-time IT-related major with a 2.5 GPA and financial need shown on the FAFSA. Incoming freshmen are eligible.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with merit and other aid within the cost-of-attendance limit.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, then complete the AcademicWorks general scholarship application.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes documented financial need along with satisfactory academic progress and program engagement.
💡
Strategic Detail
Two need-based funds (the Information Technology Division Endowed Scholarship and the ITD Scholarship) started in 2006 with gifts from IT staff and tech partners.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: IT majors with real financial need who file the FAFSA and complete AcademicWorks. Freshmen qualify, which is unusual for a department award.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlylegacy preference
CSU National Alumni Association Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 31 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Preference to children, grandchildren, and siblings of Coppin graduates.
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 All UndergradEnrolled Coppin students. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors need a 2.5 GPA or higher. Preference to relatives of Coppin graduates and to students who will be juniors in the coming fall.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with other aid within the cost-of-attendance limit.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the CSUNAA application and a one-page, double-spaced typed essay on either an accomplishment you were recognized for or your career goals, by May 31 before the fall term. Applicants hear back within a week after add/drop.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Annual award from the Coppin State University National Alumni Association. Recipients can apply to renew if they keep meeting the requirements. Cannot be used to repeat a course.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Rising juniors with a Coppin graduate in the family, but anyone enrolled who meets the GPA can apply.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Onlynominationneed
Senior Opportunity Scholarship (SOS)
📅 Deadline: No set deadline (department nomination) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Nomination only. Students cannot apply on their own.
🏫 2.2+ GPA🎓 UpperclassmenSecond-semester juniors and first-semester seniors with a 2.2 cumulative GPA and financial need who have run out of financial aid.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Designed to fill the last gap after other aid is exhausted.
💡
Strategic Detail
Created by the Coppin Development Foundation board in 2011 to give students close to graduation the final push to finish. One-time, not renewable, paid directly to the university.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Upperclassmen whose academic department knows they are close to finishing but short on money. A good reason to stay on your department's radar.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyclass year
India-Continental Award
📅 Deadline: Not listed (contact Financial Aid) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Sophomores and juniors only. Preference to students on a student visa, but citizens and permanent residents may apply.
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 All UndergradFull-time Coppin sophomores or juniors (seniors not eligible) with a 3.5 GPA and an appreciation of all cultures.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with other aid within the cost-of-attendance limit.
📄
How to Apply
Download the India-Continental application PDF from the award page and submit it to the Office of Financial Aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
One-time award. Past recipients cannot apply again.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-GPA sophomores and juniors, with an edge for international students.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is AcademicWorks, and when is it open?
It’s Coppin’s private donor scholarship portal. One general application matches your student to every fund they qualify for. Last cycle it opened April 3 and closed May 31, 2026. Students sign in with their Coppin email, so it’s for admitted and current students.
What is the Maxie Collier Scholars Program?
It’s a state-funded program for Maryland residents majoring in criminal justice, elementary education, health sciences, natural sciences, nursing, psychology, or social work who want a behavioral health career. Scholars get stipends, internships, and grad school mentoring. Applications for 2027 close March 12, with two recommendations and an interview.
Are there scholarships for computer science and IT majors?
Yes. The Division of IT runs two need-based funds that are open to freshmen with a 2.5 GPA and financial need. It also runs two merit funds for sophomores and up with a 3.2 GPA, renewable for up to four years. Both go through AcademicWorks.
What if my student is close to graduating and runs out of aid?
That’s exactly what the Senior Opportunity Scholarship is for. Your student can’t apply. Their department nominates second-semester juniors and first-semester seniors with financial need and a 2.2 GPA. Making sure the department knows your student is the move.
We have a Coppin grad in the family. Does that help?
Yes. The National Alumni Association Scholarship gives preference to children, grandchildren, and siblings of graduates. It needs a one-page essay and is due May 31 before the fall term.
Are there awards for dance and theatre students?
Yes. Both programs have their own scholarship applications, linked from Coppin’s Academic Program Scholarships page.
Coppin’s Honors Program has been around for more than 30 years. It’s built around one goal: getting students into strong graduate and professional programs. It’s also run a little differently from most honors programs. Your student doesn’t apply cold. Admissions flags qualifying students and sends their files to the Honors Program Director, who then invites them to apply.
Who gets flagged: a 2.75 or 3.0 GPA, at least four advanced courses (AP, Honors, IB, GT, AVID, or dual enrollment), and real leadership in school or the community
How it works: admission, then referral, then an invitation packet, then an interview (in person, phone, or video)
Timing: referrals come from the admission file, so the same December 1 date matters here too
Honors Program Scholarships
App Requiredmajor specific
Eagle Honors Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Invitation-based through admissions referral. Pays the in-state tuition and fees amount, so out-of-state students still owe the nonresident difference.
🏫 3.0+ GPAFirst-semester, first-year student with a 3.0 cumulative high school GPA, four advanced courses in any mix (AP, Honors, IB, GT, AVID, or dual enrollment), and significant leadership in school or community.
✚
Stacking & Combining
If your student already has Presidential or Fanny Jackson Coppin, this adds no extra value because those cover tuition and fees already. Large outside awards can trigger an overaward adjustment.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted. Admissions forwards qualifying files to the Honors Program Director, who sends invitations and application packets. Complete the packet and an interview (in person, phone, or video).
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays the amount of Coppin's in-state tuition and fees ($7,524 for 2026-27) while the student stays active in the Honors Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong first-year admits with a 3.0 or higher GPA, an advanced-course transcript, and real leadership who do not land one of the two flagship awards.
App Required
Honors Associate Scholarship
📅 Deadline: December 1 ✓ Renews
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPAFirst-semester, first-year student with a 2.75 cumulative high school GPA, four advanced courses in any mix (AP, Honors, IB, GT, AVID, or dual enrollment), and significant leadership.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Coppin's Honors page does not say how this combines with Blue or Gold merit, so confirm with Financial Aid. If your student earns Eagle Honors, that award replaces this one. Total aid cannot exceed cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted. Admissions forwards qualifying files to the Honors Program, which sends invitations. Complete the packet and an interview.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $3,000 a year, disbursed as $1,500 per semester, while the student stays active in the Honors Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors candidates between a 2.75 and 3.0 GPA with an advanced-course transcript and leadership experience.
Automatichonors
Strada Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Identified during first year in the Honors Program Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Honors Program students only, identified by the program in their first year.
First-year Honors Program students selected by the program.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Meant to fill gaps that keep students from finishing, within the cost-of-attendance limit.
💡
Strategic Detail
An HBCU initiative of the Strada Education Network focused on leadership, academic success, and workforce readiness. Scholars receive scholarship support aimed at removing money barriers to finishing. Coppin's most recently posted cohort is 2023-24, so confirm the program is still running.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-year Honors students who show leadership potential and could use help staying on track financially.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Honors Upper-Division Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling (contact the Honors Program) ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 UpperclassmenFull-time Coppin student with a 3.5 cumulative GPA, English Composition I and II completed, and between 45 and 60 total credits.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally stacks with other Coppin aid, but Financial Aid can reduce it if total aid exceeds cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Download, complete, and submit the Upper-Division Scholarship application from the Honors Program Scholarships page.
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays $3,000 a year, disbursed as $1,500 per semester. Renews each semester with a 3.2 GPA and full-time status. Aimed at students heading toward graduate or professional school.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sophomores and juniors in the 45 to 60 credit window with a 3.5 or higher GPA who are thinking about grad school.
App Required⚠ Transfer Only
Honors Transfer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling (contact the Honors Program) ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
🏫 4.0+ GPA🎓 TransferCompleted degree from an accredited community college, a 3.95 or higher cumulative community college GPA, and a commitment to at least 15 credits per semester.
✚
Stacking & Combining
The strongest transfer award at Coppin. It replaces the $3,000 Transfer Merit Award. Out-of-state transfers should know it pays the in-state amount, not full nonresident tuition.
📄
How to Apply
After transfer admission, contact the Honors Program. Admissions forwards your file; if recommended, complete the Honors application and an interview.
🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Pays the in-state tuition and fees amount each semester while the student stays active in the Honors Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Community college graduates at the very top of their class (3.95 or higher) who can commit to 15 credits every semester.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Coppin can reduce an Honors award if outside scholarships push total aid over the cost of attendance.
Out-of-State Note: Eagle Honors and the Honors Transfer Scholarship pay the in-state tuition and fees amount ($7,524 for 2026-27). An out-of-state student would still owe the roughly $7,200 nonresident difference unless another award covers it.
Extras Worth Knowing About
Academic Excellence Track: the Honors route for Presidential and Fanny Jackson Coppin scholars, with accelerated coursework, research assistantships, conferences, and grad school prep.
Strada Scholars: a leadership program for selected first-year Honors students that includes scholarship support.
Free grad school test prep: the Institute for Standardized Testing runs free GRE, GMAT, and LSAT workshops, and your student doesn’t need to be in Honors to use them.
Honors Program FAQs (Coppin State University)
Can my student just apply to the Honors Program?
Not exactly. Admissions refers qualifying students, and the Honors Program sends invitations. If your student meets the criteria and hasn’t heard anything after being admitted, call the Honors office at 410-951-3388.
What’s the difference between Eagle Honors and Honors Associate?
Eagle Honors (3.0 GPA) pays the in-state tuition and fees amount. Honors Associate (2.75 GPA) pays $3,000 a year. Both need four advanced courses and leadership, and both depend on staying active in the program.
Can current Coppin students join later?
Yes. The Upper-Division Scholarship is $3,000 a year for full-time students with a 3.5 GPA and 45 to 60 credits who’ve finished English Composition I and II. It renews each semester with a 3.2 GPA.
Is there an Honors option for transfer students?
Yes, but the bar is high. The Honors Transfer Scholarship needs a finished community college degree, a 3.95 or higher GPA, and 15 credits every semester.
If my student has Presidential, do they still need Honors?
Presidential scholars have to join an Excellence Track, and the Academic Excellence Track runs through Honors. They wouldn’t get extra Honors scholarship money on top, since Presidential already covers everything Eagle Honors would.
Coppin was founded to train teachers. Today it’s a health-and-human-services school at heart. Most of its graduates go into careers that take care of people: nurses, social workers, counselors, criminal justice professionals. It’s a small campus in West Baltimore, part of the University System of Maryland, with a 12 to 1 student-faculty ratio, so students aren’t lost in 300-person lecture halls.
Signature Program: Helene Fuld School of Nursing: Nursing is Coppin’s biggest bachelor’s program, and the BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The path runs all the way from the traditional BSN to RN-to-BSN, an accelerated second degree, the MSN, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. Nursing has its own admission requirements on top of getting into Coppin, so your student should plan for that.
Criminal Justice: Coppin’s second-largest bachelor’s program. It’s tied to the Bishop L. Robinson Sr. Justice Institute and offers certificates in forensic investigation and policing strategies.
Social Work, Psychology, and Behavioral Health: a strong cluster, backed by the state-funded Maxie Collier Scholars pipeline and graduate programs in counseling and addictions counseling.
Health Information Management and Health Sciences: a less-crowded health career path for students who want the medical field without bedside nursing.
Business with a twist: along with accounting, management, and marketing, Coppin offers sport management, entertainment management (with music and casino and gaming concentrations), and an esports management certificate.
Newer tech majors: data science and cybersecurity engineering sit alongside computer science, with department scholarships through the Division of IT.
Education: Coppin’s founding mission, with early childhood, elementary, and special education majors.
🔗 Official Coppin State University Links
Use Coppin’s own pages below to double-check deadlines, award terms, and costs. When anything on this page and Coppin’s site disagree, go with Coppin.
Coppin State is one of the most affordable four-year options in Maryland, and it’s one of the few places where a strong student can walk away with a true full ride without writing a single scholarship essay. The catch is timing. Every big award, from the $3,000 Blue award all the way up to Presidential, runs off an admission application that’s in by December 1. That’s three months ahead of the date on the admissions page, and it’s the single most important thing on this page.
After that, it’s about knowing the fine print. Fanny Jackson Coppin covers tuition but comes with a housing bill. The health insurance charge disappears if you file the waiver. And the spring AcademicWorks window is free money most students never claim. If your student is headed toward nursing, social work, criminal justice, or a behavioral health career, Coppin was built for exactly that path, and Maryland residents in those majors get one more shot at money through the Maxie Collier program.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is a parent who went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built CollegeReadyParent to give other families the plain-English version. No paywalls, no lead forms, just the real numbers and deadlines. More about Leo →
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
