At a lot of big public schools, merit money is a chart: hit a GPA and a test score, get a check. Maryland doesn’t work that way. Every student who applies by November 1 is automatically considered for merit, but a committee reads the whole application and decides who gets what. There are no published cutoffs, and test scores are optional for merit too. The upside is that a strong transcript and a real story can win money even without a perfect score. The catch is that you can’t calculate your award ahead of time, and missing November 1 takes you out of the running completely.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at the University of Maryland (Read This First)
November 1 is the only merit deadline that matters. Students who apply by the January 20 regular deadline can still get in, but they are not considered for merit scholarships at all.
“Automatic” means automatic consideration, not automatic money. President’s and Dean’s awards are picked by holistic review. No GPA or test score guarantees anything.
One merit award per student. Banneker/Key, President’s and Dean’s don’t stack, and if outside scholarships push total aid past the cost of attendance, UMD trims its own award.
Business, engineering and computer science cost more after 60 credits. Those majors pay $1,687 extra per semester (up to four semesters), and AP and dual-enrollment credits count toward the 60.
Out-of-state families have fewer levers. The Dean’s Scholarship is for Maryland residents only, and UMD no longer takes part in the Academic Common Market.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Maryland is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 32-35; SAT: 1410-1520.
Average net price? About $15,833/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Maryland: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Maryland 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
$600 to $1,500 more than the in-state total below.$1,200 to $3,100 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$30,304
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$12,834
Housing & meals (typical)
$17,470
Total billed cost
$30,304
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$61,556
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$44,086
Housing & meals (typical)
$17,470
Total billed cost
$61,556
That is $31,252 more per year than Maryland residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $15,833 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.
Heads up for business, engineering and computer science families
The table above is the standard bill. Students majoring in the Smith School of Business, the Clark School of Engineering or Computer Science pay differential tuition once they reach 60 credits: $1,687 per semester in 2026-27, for no more than four semesters (about $6,750 total). Residents and non-residents pay the same amount. AP, IB and dual-enrollment credits count toward the 60, so a student who arrives with a lot of credit can hit it sooner. UMD covers the charge with a grant for students with an SAI of $0 to $8,000 and for Banneker/Key and Frederick Douglass scholars.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Maryland
How much does UMD actually cost per year?
For 2026-27, a Maryland resident living on campus is looking at about $30,300 in direct costs (tuition, fees, housing and food), and UMD’s full budget with books, transportation and personal costs is about $34,300. Out-of-state students are looking at about $61,600 in direct costs and about $65,500 in the full budget. The average family that receives grant aid pays far less than either number.
Can out-of-state students get in-state tuition at Maryland?
Not through a regional program. UMD has left the Academic Common Market and offers no broad tuition waiver for non-residents. In-state rates require the student, or a parent for dependent students, to have lived in and supported Maryland for at least 12 straight months for reasons other than school. For most out-of-state families, the realistic way to shrink the bill is the President’s Scholarship (up to $20,000 a year) or Banneker/Key.
Is there a way for Maryland families to pay nothing for tuition?
Yes, for many lower- and middle-income families. Through the Terrapin Commitment, full-time Maryland residents who qualify for a Pell Grant or have a total family income of $75,000 or less get the rest of their in-state tuition and fees covered after other grants are applied. The key is filing the FAFSA by March 1 every single year.
Why does my major change the price?
Because of differential tuition. Business, engineering and computer science students pay $1,687 more per semester once they pass 60 credits, for up to four semesters. If your student changes out of those majors during the add/drop window, the charge is refunded. Double majors only pay it once.
Is the average net price really around $15,800?
That is the federal average for first-time, full-time students who received grant or scholarship aid, after that aid is subtracted. It is a useful gut check, but it blends in-state and lower-income families. A middle-income Maryland family without merit aid usually pays more, and an out-of-state family without merit pays much more. UMD’s net price calculator will give you a closer number.
Do housing and meal costs vary?
Yes. The table uses UMD’s averages ($10,290 for on-campus housing and $7,180 for the meal plan in 2026-27). Newer or apartment-style halls cost more, and even Banneker/Key scholars pay the difference if they pick a pricier room or meal plan than the standard one.
Will tuition stay the same all four years?
No. The University System of Maryland Board of Regents sets rates each year, and they can rise. Merit awards like President’s are set dollar amounts, so they don’t grow with tuition. Build in a small increase each year when you budget.
November 1: The one merit deadline. A complete application (transcript, recommendations, everything) gets your student considered for President’s, Dean’s, Banneker/Key, the Clark Foundation programs and Maryland Promise.
By March 1: Banneker/Key interview invitations go out. March 1 is also UMD’s FAFSA priority date, which Terrapin Commitment depends on.
By April 1: Merit scholarship notifications arrive.
Mid-April to late May: Applications close for the Alumni Association, Stamp Student Leader and Clark School scholarships.
Parent rule of thumb: treat November 1 as the real deadline even if your student is still deciding. Early action at UMD is non-binding, so there’s no downside to applying early.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at the University of Maryland
At UMD, “automatic” means your student is automatically considered, with no separate application, as long as the admission application is complete by November 1. It does not mean automatic money. Awards are decided through holistic review, and UMD does not publish GPA or test score cutoffs. Testing is optional for merit, and if scores are sent, UMD superscores both the SAT and ACT.
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
President’s Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 · 📢 Results: By April 1 ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$2,000–$20,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A student can hold only one of UMD's admission-based merit awards (Banneker/Key, President's, Dean's, Frederick Douglass or Maryland Transfer). President's does combine with need-based grants and outside scholarships, but total aid cannot exceed UMD's cost of attendance, and UMD reduces the President's award if it does. Serving as a resident assistant also reduces it.
💡
Strategic Detail
The workhorse of UMD merit. Awards run from $2,000 to $20,000 a year for four years, and both Maryland residents and out-of-state students are eligible. There is no separate application: a complete UMD application filed by the November 1 early action deadline is reviewed automatically. Selection is holistic, based on grades, rigor, activities, awards and the essay, not a GPA or test cutoff. Students hear by April 1. Keeping it requires a 3.20 cumulative GPA and 30 completed credits every academic year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Early action applicants whose transcript, rigor and activities sit near the top of UMD's admitted pool. Out-of-state students win it too, and for them it is the main merit award on the table, since the Dean's Scholarship is for Maryland residents only.
Automatic
Dean’s Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 · 📢 Results: By April 1 Non-Renewable
$1,500–$4,500/yr
✔ Stackable
👥 ~≈400 new recipients per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Dean's cannot be combined with Banneker/Key, President's, Frederick Douglass or Maryland Transfer. It does combine with need-based grants, Terrapin Commitment and outside scholarships, up to UMD's cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Maryland residents only. Comes in two versions: $1,500 for freshman year only, or $4,500 a year for freshman and sophomore years. UMD welcomes roughly 400 new Dean's Scholars each fall. Like President's, it is chosen through holistic review of the early action application, with no separate application and no published cutoffs. Students hear by April 1. The two-year version requires a 3.20 cumulative GPA and 30 completed credits to carry into sophomore year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong Maryland residents who apply early action and land just below the President's tier. Real rigor (AP, IB or dual enrollment) and a clear activities story put a student in this band.
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: A student can receive only one UMD admission-based merit award (Banneker/Key, President’s, Dean’s, Frederick Douglass or Maryland Transfer). Merit decisions can’t be appealed, and UMD does not match offers from other schools.
Automatic Merit FAQs (University of Maryland)
What GPA or test score do you need for a UMD merit scholarship?
There isn’t a published number. UMD reviews grades, course rigor, activities, awards and the essay together. Test scores are optional for merit consideration, so students without strong scores aren’t shut out.
How much is the President’s Scholarship?
Between $2,000 and $20,000 a year, for up to four years. Both Maryland residents and out-of-state students are eligible. To keep it, students need a 3.20 cumulative GPA and 30 completed credits each academic year.
Who can get the Dean’s Scholarship?
Maryland residents only. It comes in two versions: $1,500 for freshman year, or $4,500 a year for freshman and sophomore years. Roughly 400 new students receive it each fall.
What happens if my student applies regular decision?
They can still be admitted, but they won’t be considered for merit scholarships. Admitted students who applied by the January 20 regular deadline hear about financial aid in early April, and that aid is need-based only.
Can my student lose the award?
Yes. UMD checks GPA after every fall and spring. Dropping below 3.20 earns one probation semester, then the award is cancelled if the GPA doesn’t recover. Missing 30 completed credits in a year cancels it with no probation. AP credits don’t count toward the 30.
Can outside scholarships reduce my UMD award?
They can. Total aid can’t exceed UMD’s cost of attendance. If a big outside scholarship pushes your student over that line, UMD reduces its own merit award to make room. Being a resident assistant also reduces it.
UMD’s biggest freshman award, Banneker/Key, runs through the Honors College, so you’ll find it in the Honors section below. The two programs here are narrower: the A. James Clark Scholars Program for Maryland engineering students with financial need, and the Frederick Douglass Scholarship for students transferring in from Maryland community colleges.
These are need-based, so UMD may recalculate them when other money comes in.
Terrapin Commitment and Maryland Promise
Yes
Need-based gap fillers for Maryland families. File the FAFSA on time every year.
Departmental and Scholarship Universe Awards
Usually
The smaller awards that help with books, housing and fees.
Outside Scholarships
Yes, up to the cap
Report them. If total aid passes the cost of attendance, UMD trims its merit award.
UMD doesn’t run a big essay-and-interview scholarship weekend for the general freshman class the way some flagships do. The competition happens inside the admission review itself. That’s why the November 1 application, especially the essay and activities, is doing double duty as your student’s scholarship application.
App Required
A. James Clark Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 · 📢 Results: Scholarship award letters by early April ✓ Renews (2.8 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Maryland residents with financial need admitted to engineering through early action
👥 ~Up to 10 new freshmen per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other aid, but because it is need-based UMD may adjust it when other merit or need-based money comes in. It renews even if a family's need changes. Renewal requires a 2.8 cumulative UMD GPA, at least 24 credits a year, staying in the Clark School and filing the FAFSA by the priority deadline each year.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to UMD as an engineering major by November 1. Admitted Clark School freshmen who meet the criteria are invited to apply. File the FAFSA by UMD's priority deadline.
Selection criteria: Clark Foundation Scholarship Programs office reviews merit, financial need (FAFSA), engineering interest, and leadership potential.
✎ Essays🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
The Clark School's signature program, funded by the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation. It supports up to 10 new Maryland freshmen in engineering each year who have both strong academics and financial need. The award is need-based and can reach UMD's cost of attendance plus demonstrated need, recalculated each year from the FAFSA, so it is not a fixed amount. Scholars take business, leadership and service coursework, join the Grand Challenges Scholars Program, and must attend a two-week residential summer program before freshman year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Maryland residents admitted to the Clark School through early action who show financial need on the FAFSA, plus a record of leadership or interest in research, entrepreneurship or service. About 29 percent of current scholars are first-generation college students.
App Required⚠ Transfer Only
Frederick Douglass Scholarship (Transfer)
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 · 📢 Results: By end of April ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 2 yrs)
$5,000–$11,014/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ Maryland community college transfer students only
🏫 3.5+ GPA👥 ~30 full and 15 partial awards per year winners/yr🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts as one of UMD's admission-based merit awards, so it cannot be combined with Banneker/Key, President's, Dean's or Maryland Transfer. It can combine with grants and outside scholarships up to the cost of attendance. Renewal requires a 3.20 GPA and 30 completed credits per year.
📄
How to Apply
By March 1 at 5 p.m., submit the UMD transfer application, the FDS application, all college transcripts, an activities list or resume, a 500-word essay about the community you grew up in, and two recommendation letters (one from a community college faculty member) sent to FDS@umd.edu. Finalists interview in late March or early April and hear by the end of April.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
UMD's top merit award for transfer students coming from Maryland community colleges. Thirty full and fifteen partial awards are given each year. For 2026-27 the full award equals in-state tuition ($11,014) and the finalist award is $5,000 a year, for up to four semesters. Applicants need a 3.5 college GPA, Maryland residency, and an associate degree or 56 credits with the most recent 30 earned at a Maryland community college. Recipients also receive UMD's differential tuition grant.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
High-achieving Maryland community college students with strong leadership and a clear story about their home community. The interview in late March or early April decides the final list.
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
Who is eligible for the Clark Scholars Program?
Maryland residents admitted to the A. James Clark School of Engineering through early action who show financial need on the FAFSA. Up to 10 new freshmen are selected each year, and they’re invited to apply after admission.
Is the Clark Scholars Program a full ride?
Not automatically. It’s need-based and can go as high as UMD’s cost of attendance plus demonstrated need, recalculated each year from the FAFSA. Some families will see a very large award and others a smaller one.
What do Clark Scholars have to do?
Attend a mandatory two-week summer program before freshman year, take business and leadership courses with their cohort, work on service projects, keep a 2.8 GPA and complete at least 24 credits a year.
My student is starting at a Maryland community college. Is there a big transfer scholarship?
Yes, the Frederick Douglass Scholarship. Thirty full awards (equal to in-state tuition, $11,014 for 2026-27) and fifteen $5,000 finalist awards go out each year. Students need a 3.5 college GPA and must apply by March 1 with an essay, two recommendations and an interview.
Does UMD offer a National Merit scholarship?
UMD doesn’t list a dedicated National Merit package on its scholarship pages. National Merit students compete for Banneker/Key and President’s through the regular November 1 review.
What should my student focus on in the application?
Since the essay and activities drive the merit decision, give them real attention. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help students organize what they’ve done and tell it clearly.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Two Things to Do Right After Admission
Getting the admission letter doesn’t put your student in line for all of UMD’s money. Two quick moves unlock most of what’s below.
File the FAFSA by March 1, every year. Terrapin Commitment, Maryland Promise, the Clark programs and state grants all hinge on it. Maryland Promise lists January 1 for renewals, so earlier is safer.
Answer every matching question. The more you answer, the more UMD scholarships your student gets matched to.
Engineering students: complete the Clark School scholarship application there by May 31.
Parent translation: merit gets decided in the fall, but the gap-filling money gets decided by paperwork in the spring.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t the headline awards, but they’re where a lot of Maryland families actually close the gap. Several are need-based, a few need their own application, and most stack with merit up to UMD’s cost of attendance.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Terrapin Commitment
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 · 📢 Results: With the financial aid offer ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Maryland residents who are Pell-eligible or have total family income of $75,000 or less
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Built to work on top of everything else. UMD applies Pell, state grants and scholarships first, then Terrapin Commitment fills the remaining tuition and fee gap.
💡
Strategic Detail
UMD's promise to low- and moderate-income Maryland families. If a full-time, in-state student is Pell-eligible, or has a total family income of $75,000 or less with unmet need, Terrapin Commitment pays whatever is left of standard in-state tuition and mandatory fees after other grants, scholarships and the family's Student Aid Index are counted. Students with remaining need can also get extra funds toward other costs. There is no separate application: the FAFSA (or the MHEC One App for students who cannot file a FAFSA) is the application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Maryland residents enrolled full time who file the FAFSA by March 1 each year and either qualify for a Pell Grant or report total family income of $75,000 or less.
Automatic
Maryland Promise Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Maryland and Washington, D.C. residents with financial need
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Need-based, so it works alongside merit awards and federal and state grants, with the total capped at UMD's cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
A need-based scholarship for students from Maryland and Washington, D.C. who show strong academic and leadership potential. There is no separate application: admitted students who applied by early action get priority consideration, though not everyone who meets the residency and need criteria is selected. Freshmen receive a four-year offer and transfers a two-year offer. Scholars meet with a program coordinator each semester and take part in workshops and community events. UMD does not publish a set dollar amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Maryland and D.C. residents with demonstrated financial need who were admitted through early action and show leadership potential.
Automatic
Clark Legacy Endowed Scholarships (Engineering)
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Combines with other aid within UMD's cost of attendance cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
Merit- and need-based scholarships for Clark School engineering undergraduates, backed by a $25 million commitment from the Clark Foundation. There is no application: engineering students admitted through early action are automatically considered for the Clark Foundation programs, and Clark Legacy is the broadest of them. UMD does not publish set award amounts.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Engineering students admitted through early action with strong academics and financial need shown on the FAFSA.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Clark School Scholarships Application (Engineering)
📅 Deadline: May 31 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental money that generally sits alongside UMD merit and need-based aid, subject to the cost of attendance cap.
📄
How to Apply
After admission, set up a UMD Directory ID, log in to Scholarship Universe and complete the Clark School scholarship application by May 31 for best consideration.
💡
Strategic Detail
One online application in Scholarship Universe puts current and incoming engineering students in the running for the Clark School's donor-funded scholarships from alumni, industry partners and friends of the school. Amounts vary by fund. This is separate from the Clark Foundation programs, which need no application. Students apply again each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted and current Clark School engineering students who complete the application and the matching questions in Scholarship Universe.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Alumni Association Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mid-April (Apr 17 in 2026) Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid to the student account through the financial aid office and counted with other aid toward the cost of attendance cap.
📄
How to Apply
The application opens in the spring semester on Scholarship Universe. Complete the short answers and essay, and make sure the recommender submits the survey by the mid-April deadline (April 17 in 2026).
Selection criteria: Leadership/involvement
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
The UMD Alumni Association gives $5,000 scholarships each year, paid as $2,500 per semester and funded by dues-paying members and donors. It awarded $75,000 for 2026-27. Undergraduate and graduate students can apply, and past winners can apply again. A committee of alumni reviews short answers, an essay and a recommender survey.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Involved Terps who can show leadership, creativity, academic strength and school pride, with a recommender (professor, mentor or supervisor) who can speak to it. Recent winners have included first-year students.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Student Leader Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Late May (May 31 in 2025) Non-Renewable
$500–$2,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Small one-time awards that sit alongside merit and need-based aid, within the cost of attendance cap.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the single Student Leader Scholarships application linked from Stamp's website. The 2025 round was due May 31, so check the page each spring for the current date.
Selection criteria: Leadership/club impact
💡
Strategic Detail
One application through Stamp Student Union covers about a dozen leadership scholarships, including awards for first-generation students (Fisher Family and Annette and Morris Mintz), LGBTQ advocacy, Latinx community advocacy, transfer students and student organization leaders. Recent awards have ranged from $500 to $2,000, and both incoming and current students have been eligible. A separate Adele's Circle application covers five more awards, one per class year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a track record of leadership in clubs, service or campus organizations. First-generation students should pay close attention, since two of the funds are reserved for them.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Departmental / Major Awards
📅 Deadline: Varies by college; many due in spring ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Generally combines with UMD merit and need-based aid within the cost of attendance cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
Most UMD colleges and departments run their own scholarship funds, and many are matched to students through Scholarship Universe based on major, GPA, need and interests. Amounts vary widely by fund. The financial aid office keeps a directory of each college's scholarship page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted and current students who complete the Scholarship Universe matching questions and keep an eye on their own college's scholarship page.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Mighty Sound of Maryland Band Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Varies ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Small awards that sit alongside other aid within the cost of attendance cap.
💡
Strategic Detail
An endowed fund launched in 2022 supports scholarships for members of the Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band, in any major, with the first awards made in fall 2023. UMD does not publish amounts or a formal application process, so ask the band staff how recipients are chosen.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Active members of the Mighty Sound of Maryland marching band.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Maryland Degree Completion Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Rolling (Scholarship Universe) ✓ Renews (2 yrs)
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Meant to be the last piece after other aid and federal loans are used.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through Scholarship Universe. UMD reviews applications within about 7 to 10 business days.
💡
Strategic Detail
A safety net for students close to the finish line. Students with 90 or more credits who still owe UMD a balance, have demonstrated need and have already borrowed their maximum federal loans can receive up to $4,000, for as many as two years, to clear the balance and register for their final semesters.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Seniors in good academic standing with at least a 2.0 GPA, a current FAFSA showing need, maxed-out federal loans and an outstanding UMD balance.
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 the Terrapin Commitment?
It’s UMD’s promise that eligible Maryland families won’t pay standard in-state tuition and fees. If your student is a full-time Maryland resident and qualifies for a Pell Grant, or your total family income is $75,000 or less, UMD covers whatever tuition and fees remain after other grants and scholarships. There’s no separate application. Just file the FAFSA by March 1 each year.
How do we apply for the Maryland Promise Scholarship?
You don’t apply separately. Maryland and D.C. students with financial need who are admitted through early action get priority consideration. Not everyone who qualifies is selected, and recipients need a 3.0 GPA and must take part in program events to renew.
Are there scholarships for first-generation students?
Yes. The Stamp Student Leader Scholarships include two funds just for first-generation students (Fisher Family and Annette and Morris Mintz). One application covers all of them, and incoming students have been eligible.
Can my student apply for scholarships after freshman year?
Yes, and they should. The Alumni Association gives $5,000 awards each spring, departmental scholarships open every year, and seniors with a balance due can apply for the Maryland Degree Completion Scholarship (up to $4,000).
Does Maryland have state grants on top of this?
Maryland residents can qualify for state need-based aid like the Guaranteed Access Grant and the Educational Assistance Grant. The state’s priority deadline is March 1, which is the same date UMD uses, so one FAFSA on time covers both.
What if my student is in the marching band?
The Mighty Sound of Maryland has an endowed scholarship fund for band members in any major. UMD doesn’t publish amounts, so ask the band office how recipients are chosen.
Here’s the part that surprises a lot of families: there is no separate application for the University of Maryland Honors College. Every freshman who submits a complete UMD application by November 1 is automatically considered. If your student is invited, the invitation comes right in the admission letter, by February 1. Students who apply regular decision miss out on both the invitation and Banneker/Key.
How students are chosen: High school grades, course rigor, essays, recommendations, activities and (if submitted) test scores. Testing is optional.
Eight programs to choose from: Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students, Design Cultures and Creativity, Gemstone, Honors Global Challenges and Solutions, Honors Humanities, Integrated Life Sciences, Interdisciplinary Business Honors and University Honors.
Key dates: Invitations by Feb 1, program preference form due mid-February, program placement in mid-March, enrollment deposit by May 1.
Honors College Scholarships and Awards
Full RideAutomatichonors
Banneker/Key Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Nov 1 · 📢 Results: Interview invites by Mar 1; final amounts by Apr 1 ✓ Renews (3.2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full: tuition, mandatory fees, standard on-campus housing, base meal plan and a $1,250 book allowance. Partial: $8,000 (resident) or $12,000 (non-resident) per year plus $1,250 for books
✔ Stackable
⚠ Considered only for students invited to the Honors College through early action
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Banneker/Key cannot be combined with President's, Dean's, Frederick Douglass or Maryland Transfer. It can sit alongside outside scholarships and grants, but if total aid goes past UMD's cost of attendance the Banneker/Key portion is reduced. Students who choose pricier housing or meal plans pay the difference, and resident assistants receive a reduced award. Renewal requires a 3.20 cumulative GPA and 30 completed credits each year, for up to eight semesters.
💡
Strategic Detail
UMD's most prestigious freshman award and the only one that can become a true full ride. The full version covers tuition, mandatory fees, a standard on-campus room, the base meal plan and a $1,250 book allowance. For 2026-27 UMD estimates that at $31,554 for Maryland residents and $62,806 for out-of-state students. The partial version pays $8,000 a year for residents or $12,000 for non-residents, plus the $1,250 book allowance. Every freshman invited to the Honors College is considered automatically. Semifinalists get an interview invitation by March 1, and final amounts arrive by April 1. Banneker/Key students also receive UMD's differential tuition grant if they major in business, engineering or computer science.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A small slice of Honors College invitees, chosen by a committee looking for future academic leaders. The interview in late February or early March is the deciding step, so semifinalists should prepare for it seriously. Both Maryland residents and out-of-state students are selected.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Honors Research Grant
📅 Deadline: Oct 1 (fall) / Feb 26 (spring) Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Project money rather than tuition money, so it sits alongside merit and need-based aid without affecting UMD's one-merit-award rule.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Honors College grant form by October 1 for fall or February 26 for spring, with materials describing the thesis project.
Selection criteria: Program-level faculty review of project merit and feasibility.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Seed money of up to $500 for Honors students working on an individual honors thesis. It can pay for things like conference travel or equipment specific to the project. Selection weighs academic merit, the quality of the proposal and financial need. A student can receive it only once, and recipients agree to share their final thesis with the Honors College.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted to a college or departmental honors program who are actively doing research that leads to an individual honors thesis.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
Goff Scholarship (Integrated Life Sciences)
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.8+ GPA🎓 Sophomore
✚
Stacking & Combining
A small one-time award that sits alongside merit and need-based aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through Scholarship Universe by December 1 with a resume, a 300 to 500 word reflective essay, and a recommendation from a UMD faculty member or mentor who is not part of ILS or the Honors College.
Selection criteria: ILS program faculty review of academic record and recommendation.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
A $1,000, one-time scholarship for Honors College students in the Integrated Life Sciences (ILS) program who are committed to a career in medicine, medical research, public health or another health field. Applicants need at least a 3.75 GPA and between 30 and 60 UMD credits (AP and IB credits do not count). It is funded by Michael and Ellen Glazer in memory of Dr. David Goff.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
ILS students, usually sophomores, who are making progress toward the ILS citation and already have hands-on clinical, research or public health experience.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Portz Outstanding Honors Student Award
📅 Deadline: Varies Non-Renewable
$150
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A small one-time prize that does not affect other aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $150 prize and certificate given each fall to one student in each Honors living-learning program who pairs outstanding academics with service or accomplishments outside the classroom. Established in 1978 in honor of Professor John Portz, the first director of UMD's General Honors program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One standout student per Honors living-learning program, recognized at the fall Honors Citation Ceremony.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Winston Family Honors Writing Awards
📅 Deadline: Late March (Mar 27 in 2026) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A one-time writing prize that does not affect other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the student application form with the paper (or thesis abstract and draft) and have the faculty mentor submit a statement, both by the late-March deadline. One submission per student.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Cash prizes for the best writing by Honors students in three categories: short essay, research paper and departmental honors thesis. Papers must come from an Honors course (H-version, H-option or living-learning program course) or a departmental honors thesis, and students need at least a 3.0 GPA. Funded by Roger, Karen and Emily Winston.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a polished single-author paper and a faculty mentor willing to write a statement of support.
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.
Banneker/Key values reflect UMD’s 2026-27 estimates and change each year with tuition and housing rates.
Banneker/Key Note: Only students invited to the Honors College are considered for Banneker/Key. Semifinalists hear by March 1 and must interview in late February or early March. Final amounts arrive by April 1. If your student gets the interview invite, treat it like the scholarship depends on it, because it does.
Honors Money Beyond Freshman Year
Research: Grants up to $500 for students writing an honors thesis (due Oct 1 and Feb 26).
Pre-med in ILS: The $1,000 Goff Scholarship, due Dec 1, for students with a 3.75 GPA.
Writing: Winston Family prizes for the best Honors essays, papers and theses each spring.
National awards: Honors students regularly win Fulbright, Goldwater, Gilman and Truman awards, with advising through UMD’s national scholarships office.
Honors College FAQs (University of Maryland)
Is there a separate Honors application at UMD?
No. Submit a complete UMD application by November 1 and your student is automatically considered. Invitations arrive with the admission decision.
Does getting into Honors mean a scholarship?
Not by itself. UMD says scholarship awards are separate from Honors admission. What Honors does give you is consideration for Banneker/Key, which only Honors invitees can receive.
How much is Banneker/Key worth?
The full version covers tuition, fees, a standard room, the base meal plan and $1,250 for books, about $31,554 a year for Maryland residents and $62,806 for out-of-state students in 2026-27. The partial version is $8,000 (resident) or $12,000 (non-resident) a year plus the book allowance.
Can out-of-state students win Banneker/Key?
Yes. Both residents and non-residents are selected. For out-of-state families it’s the single biggest money opportunity at UMD.
What does my student have to do to keep Banneker/Key?
Maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA and complete 30 credits every academic year. The GPA isn’t rounded, so a 3.199 doesn’t count.
The University of Maryland is the state’s flagship, and it sits right outside Washington, D.C. That location shapes a lot of what students do here: federal internships, research partnerships and a job market full of agencies, contractors and tech firms are a short Metro ride away. U.S. News ranks UMD No. 17 among public universities in its 2027 guide, and the academic reputation is strongest in a handful of areas.
Nationally Known Program: A. James Clark School of Engineering. Engineering is UMD’s calling card, and the Clark Foundation’s long-running investment in the school funds three separate scholarship programs for engineering students. Aerospace, mechanical, electrical and computer engineering draw large classes, and the school’s Keystone program focuses on helping first- and second-year students get through the hardest early courses.
Computer Science and Cybersecurity: One of the most popular majors on campus, with an Honors program (ACES) built around cybersecurity. Keep differential tuition in mind when you budget.
Robert H. Smith School of Business: Strong pipelines into finance, accounting, consulting and information systems, helped along by the D.C. and Baltimore job markets.
Criminology and Criminal Justice: UMD’s criminology graduate program has been ranked No. 1 by U.S. News for years, and the undergraduate major is one of the largest on campus.
Biological Sciences and Pre-Health: A big launchpad for pre-med students, with the Integrated Life Sciences Honors program giving extra research and mentoring support.
Physics and Research: Physics and the sciences are long-standing research strengths, and programs like Gemstone put freshmen on multi-year team research projects.
🔗 Official University of Maryland Links
Use UMD’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs and admissions data. When anything on this page and an official UMD page disagree, go with UMD.
Here’s the big picture on Maryland. It isn’t a school where you plug numbers into a chart and know your award. It’s a school that rewards the families who move early. One complete application by November 1 puts your student in the running for President’s, Dean’s, the Honors College and Banneker/Key, and for engineering students, the Clark programs too. Miss that date and almost all of the merit money is off the table.
For Maryland families, the story gets even better if money is tight. Between the Terrapin Commitment, Maryland Promise and state grants, a lot of in-state students with real need can attend the state flagship and pay nothing in tuition, as long as the FAFSA goes in by March 1 every year. For out-of-state families, UMD is a bigger stretch, and President’s or Banneker/Key is usually what makes the math work. Either way, budget for differential tuition if your student is headed into business, engineering or computer science, and don’t skip the spring paperwork in Scholarship Universe. That’s where the smaller awards that add up are hiding.
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Leo Dimilo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built this site to give middle-income and first-generation families the plain-English answers he wished he’d had. No paywall, no lead forms.
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