Maryland State Aid: The Grants Nobody Tells You About (and How to Get Them)
Maryland has some real money on the table — full tuition in some cases. But most families miss it. Either they don’t know the deadlines, or they didn’t realize they had to apply through their senator, not just FAFSA. If you’ve got a kid heading to college, here’s how to make sure you don’t leave thousands behind.
💡 Key Point: Maryland has two forms — the FAFSA (for most students) and the MSFAA (for undocumented or DACA students). Your kid only needs to file one — whichever applies to them.
💵 What You Can Get
| Grant/Scholarship | Who Gets It | Amount | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Access Grant | Low-income high school seniors | Up to full cost of attendance | FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 |
| Educational Assistance Grant | Any MD student with financial need | $400–$3,000/year | FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 |
| Campus-Based Educational Assistance | Filed FAFSA late but still shows need | $200–$5,000/year | FAFSA + awarded by your college |
| 2+2 Transfer Scholarship | Transferring from a MD community college | $1,000–$2,000/year | FAFSA + separate application |
| Part-Time Grant | If your kid’s attending part-time | Varies | FAFSA + apply through your college |
| Workforce Shortage Grant | Students going into high-need fields (like teaching or nursing) | Up to $4,000/year | FAFSA + separate application |
| Senatorial Scholarship | Live in their district and apply | $400–$10,000/year | FAFSA + contact your state senator |
| Delegate Scholarship | Same idea — but through your House delegates | Varies | FAFSA + apply to each delegate individually |
| Conroy Memorial Scholarship | Veterans, public safety families, or surviving spouses/children | Full tuition at public colleges | Apply through your college |
| Foster Care Waiver | Students in foster care or adopted after age 13 | Full tuition & fees | FAFSA + verify with your college |
💡 Pro Tip: The Senator and Delegate scholarships are two separate pots of money. Most parents never apply for both — don’t make that mistake.
📝 How to Apply
- File the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 — that’s the priority deadline.
- Log in to MDCAPS to track Maryland aid status.
- Find your state senator and delegates and ask how to apply — each one runs their own process.
- Use your college aid office for workforce grants, foster care waivers, or transfer help.
🏫 Maryland Public Universities (Coming Soon)
- University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
- Towson University
- Salisbury University
- Frostburg State University
- Bowie State University
- Coppin State University
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- University of Baltimore
- St. Mary’s College of Maryland
📦 Step 6: Stay Organized
Too much to keep up with? That’s normal. The free College Ready Parent Starter Kit gives you a place to track all of this:
- ✔️ Scholarship tracker (state + national)
- ✔️ FAFSA/aid deadlines by state
- ✔️ Key questions to ask your counselor
- ✔️ College-specific award tips