University of Maryland Scholarships: What Out-of-State Families Need to Know

🎓 University of Maryland (College Park) Scholarships & Merit Aid (2025–2026)

← Back to the College Scholarships Hub • See Maryland state aid

What This Page Covers:
  • Sticker price vs. what families actually pay on average
  • Automatic merit (e.g., President’s, Dean’s) and competitive awards
  • Banneker/Key full-tuition and full-ride tiers (Honors)
  • Notes on reciprocity (none for nonresidents) and key dates

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~44–45% (Fall 2024)
  • Middle 50% GPA: Not officially published
  • Middle 50% SAT/ACT: Not published (test-optional era)
  • Testing Policy: Test-optional (through Fall 2026)

Source: University System of Maryland IRIS dashboard; UMD Admissions communications.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌

University of Maryland at a Glance

Average Net Price
$15,833
After grants/scholarships (federal data via BigFuture)
Automatic Merit
President’s & Dean’s Scholarships
Automatic consideration for admitted freshmen
Typical Qualifiers
High GPA & rigorous coursework
Holistic review; strong academics & impact matter
Testing Policy
Test-optional through 2026
Scores considered if submitted; not required
Key Deadlines
Nov 1 (priority) • FAFSA priority ~Feb
Always confirm the current cycle on UMD’s site
Honors College
UMD Honors College
Living–learning programs like Gemstone, ACES, Scholars
Full Tuition / Full Ride
Banneker/Key Scholarship
Ranges from full tuition to full COA for top Honors admits
Residency & Reciprocity
No regional reciprocity
Nonresidents pay OOS rate; merit can offset costs
Verified from University of Maryland sources & federal-data summaries (2025–26 review).
Last verified: October 15, 2025

The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state’s flagship R1 research university and a top public choice in the Mid-Atlantic. Maryland offers a mix of automatic merit awards and highly competitive scholarships—most notably the Banneker/Key, which can cover full tuition or even the full cost of attendance for exceptional Honors students.

Out-of-state students won’t find regional reciprocity here, but strong applicants can still bring costs down significantly with UMD merit. For Maryland residents, state grants can stack with institutional aid for additional savings.

Sources: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/university-of-maryland-college-park/tuition-and-costs https://www.usmd.edu/IRIS/?view=UMCP https://www.collegevine.com/faq/124377/banneker-key-scholarship-tips-and-insights https://www.scholarships.com/scholarships/university-of-maryland-banneker-key-scholarship

💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Maryland (2025–2026)

The University of Maryland (UMD) offers an excellent return on investment for in-state students—and strong merit opportunities for high-achieving out-of-state students. Below are the official 2025–2026 estimated annual costs before aid.

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees $12,008 $41,974
On-Campus Housing & Meals $16,436 $16,436
Estimated Annual Total (table items only) $28,444 $58,410

Note: Other standard allowances in UMD’s budget—Books & Supplies ($1,250), Transportation ($1,514), and Misc. Personal ($1,200)—are not included in the table to keep it clean but are part of the full financial-aid COA.

📉 Average Net Price (After Aid)

Across all undergraduates, families pay an average of $15,833 per year after grants and scholarships (latest federal-data summary). Individual net price varies by income, FAFSA/CADAA eligibility, and merit awards.

🌎 Out-of-State Tuition Policy

UMD does not participate in regional reciprocity programs (e.g., WUE, MSEP, NEBHE). Nonresidents pay the standard out-of-state rate; however, high-achieving students may earn substantial merit scholarships (e.g., President’s, Dean’s, Banneker/Key) that reduce overall cost.

Sources: UMD Admissions/Financial Aid pages (for policy notes) and federal data via College Board BigFuture for net price.

⚙️ Automatic Merit Scholarships

🧠 Superscore Policy: UMD superscores both SAT and ACT (highest SAT section scores across dates, highest ACT composite).

UMD considers every applicant for automatic merit scholarships if they apply by the November 1 Early Action deadline. Awards use GPA, course rigor, and optionally strong test scores. No extra steps, but out-of-state tuition discounts and biggest awards are reserved for top applicants.

Scholarship Award Amount/year Eligibility (est. GPA/test) Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
President’s Scholarship $12,000–$15,000 GPA ~3.9–4.0; SAT 1500+ or ACT 34–35 (superscored) No Yes (GPA ≥3.20, full-time, up to 8 semesters) Top 5–10%; all majors Nov 1 (Early Action)
Banneker/Key Scholarship Full in-state tuition (highest level covers tuition, fees, and may include housing; top MD/OOS students) By Honors invite only; usually GPA ≥3.6, SAT ~1410+/ACT ~32+; rigorous curriculum No, but Honors interview required Yes (GPA ≥3.20, 30 credits/year, up to 8 semesters) Top ~150 Honors admits (about 2% of class) Nov 1 (Early Action, Honors round)
General Merit Awards $3,000–$10,000 GPA 3.5–3.8 or strong upward trend; test-optional accepted No Yes (GPA ≥3.20, full-time) Top 20–30% of incoming class (mix of in-state and OOS) Nov 1 (EA preferred)
📌 Note: UMD does not publish hard cutoffs; above figures are based on self-reported award bands and university disclosures.

❓FAQ: Automatic Merit Scholarships at UMD

Do we need a separate application?
No—apply by Nov 1 Early Action and all applicants are considered for all merit awards automatically.

Are test scores required?
No, but high scores can help, especially for the President’s and Banneker/Key tiers. Superscore is used.

Weighted or unweighted GPA?
UMD recalculates GPA for strength and rigor (weighted recognized, AP/IB favored).

How long do scholarships last?
Up to eight semesters (four years) if full-time status and minimum GPA (3.20) are maintained.

What else should families know?
No appeals or matching to other schools’ offers. Only one major university merit scholarship per student.

🏆 Competitive Scholarships (UMD Invite-Based Awards)

🎓 Honors-Linked Awards: UMD’s largest scholarships (like Banneker/Key) go to Honors College invitees. No extra application is needed, but an interview is required for Banneker/Key.
Scholarship Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
Banneker/Key Scholarship Full tuition, fees, room/board; partial awards ~$8K–$12K/yr Honors College invitee, GPA ~3.8+, SAT 1410+/ACT 32+, interview required No (Honors + interview only) Yes (GPA 3.20, 12 credits/semester, 8 total) ~150 Honors interview invitees, top 1-2% of class Nov 1 (Early Action)
President’s Scholarship $12,000–$15,000/year Top applicants, GPA ~3.9–4.0, rigorous courses, optional SAT 1500+/ACT 34+ No Yes (GPA 3.20, full-time, 4 years) Top 5% of Early Action admits Nov 1
Dean’s Scholarship (MD residents) $1,500 freshman; $3,000 sophomore; up to $4,500 total MD resident, GPA 3.4–3.6, strong overall record No Yes (GPA 3.2, 12 credits/semester) Strong in-state students not in top tiers Nov 1

Note: Only one of these “flagship” merit awards is allowed per student, but each can stack with need-based aid, alumni, and outside scholarships.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Uncollapsed)

Do students need a separate application? No; Early Action application and (for B/K) Honors invite and interview are sufficient.

Can out-of-state students win? Yes—President’s and Banneker/Key go to OOS and MD. Dean’s is Maryland-only.

Do these require high test scores? Not required, but most winners report 1400+ SAT or 32+ ACT.

Who wins a Banneker/Key? Honors invitees with top academics, leadership, and interview performance.

Can you stack these with other aid? Yes, but UMD only allows one major university merit scholarship per student (may combine with need-based and private scholarships).

🔎 Hidden Gems: Smaller University Awards

UMD offers several small but meaningful scholarships to help first-gen, leadership, band, or major-specific students close their cost gap. Many require only a quick application or are awarded automatically.

Scholarship Who It’s For Award Amount Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
Fisher Family First‑Gen Endowed Scholarship First‑generation undergrads with need, work/family obstacles $1,000–$3,000 Yes—via Student Affairs or ScholarshipUniverse No (one-time) First-gen, need, brief app; high engagement or hardship Spring/rolling
Student Leader Scholarships First‑gen student leaders (e.g., Fisher, Mintz, Malstrom) $500–$2,000 Yes—combined app covers multiple awards No (annual/one-time) First-gen, key leadership, club/org/volunteer impact Early spring
Alumni Association Scholarship UMD sophomores/juniors with campus involvement $5,000/year Yes—via ScholarshipUniverse No (reapply each year) Continuing UMD students with leadership/service May 31
A. James Clark Legacy Scholarship Freshman engineering majors with need $5,000–$10,000 No—eligible students are auto-matched Yes (aid/app criteria) Admitted engineering majors with qualifying need Auto with admission/FAFSA
UMD Marching Band Scholarship Active marching band participants in any major $500–$1,000/year No—funded by endowment, no extra app Varies (re-apply annually) Band students, reliable participation March (auto with band enrollment)
Departmental / Major Awards STEM, Nursing, Business, or other majors $500–$2,000 typical No—ScholarshipUniverse auto-match Sometimes (annual, check dept.) Active students with strong GPA/major March–April
Terp DREAM Scholarship Fund Undocumented, first-gen, financial need $250–$500 Yes—separate short app, no FAFSA required No—one time High-need, actively engaged, undocumented students Spring
📌 What “Need‑Based” Means Here: Many use FAFSA to check need; DREAM uses other proof. Most awards don’t require essays.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Hidden Gem Scholarships)

Do we need to apply for these? Many are matched automatically by the ScholarshipUniverse profile; others (like Fisher or Terp DREAM) have a quick extra form. Band and Clark Legacy are mostly automatic if eligible.

Can my student get both a major award and these? Yes—university policy allows stacking most of these hidden gem awards with one flagship merit scholarship, as well as federal or private grants.

Where do we find/apply? Most are in ScholarshipUniverse after completing the profile each spring; check Student Affairs/Alumni/major department for additional funds.

Do these require essays/rec letters? Most do not; applications focus on quick information and engagement record or need.

🎓 Honors College (University of Maryland)

All UMD applicants are automatically considered for Honors College. If invited, students get small seminars, priority registration, exclusive research and travel grants, dedicated advising—the pathway to UMD’s largest scholarships.

Scholarship / Benefit Award Amount Eligibility Separate App? Renewable? Who Actually Wins? Deadline
Banneker/Key Scholarship Full tuition, fees, room/board, book allowance, or partial $8K–$12K/yr Honors invitee, GPA ~3.8+, SAT ≥1410/ACT ≥32, rigorous curriculum; by invitation/interview No (Honors review triggers interview) Yes (4 years, 3.2 GPA, 30 credits/year) Top Honors invitees (≈1–2% of class) Nov 1 (Early Action)
Honors Research Grant Up to $500/project Current Honors student; project proposal with faculty endorsement Yes—departmental application each semester No (project-based) Active Honors students in research/thesis Rolling (per project)
Goff Scholarship (ILS only) $1,000 (non-renewable) Honors student in Integrated Life Sciences; GPA ≥3.75; 30–60 UMD credits; pre-med Yes—Goff short application, recommendation No 1–2 ILS students per year Dec 1

Honors College FAQ

Does my student have to apply separately for Honors? No. Every UMD applicant (by Nov 1) is considered. The invitation is based on full transcript, GPA, essay, and course rigor.

Is a high SAT/ACT necessary? Test-optional, but most admits report 1480–1560 SAT or 32–35 ACT. Rigor and essay are prioritized.

What GPA do you need to stay? Minimum 3.00 to remain in Honors; 3.20 to keep Banneker/Key or graduate with Honors citation.

Are there Honors-only scholarships? Yes: Banneker/Key is invite-only for Honors, plus grants like Honors Research Grant and Goff Scholarship (ILS program). Departmental and college-level awards are also open to active Honors students.

Are Honors classes harder? Not harder—smaller, richer discussions and more support. Students say personal advising is a major benefit.

Do Honors students get extra travel/research funding? Yes, via the Honors Research Grant, major/faculty grants, and college-specific support for conferences and presentations.

💬 Final Thoughts

The University of Maryland offers the perfect blend of academic prestige, location, and opportunity. As one of the nation’s top public research universities, UMD is known for standout programs in engineering, computer science, and public policy—along with access to incredible internships in nearby Washington, D.C. With strong merit scholarships and need-based aid, many families find UMD more affordable than expected. For students who want a flagship experience that connects directly to career pathways and innovation, Maryland delivers both excellence and value.

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