Maryland Senatorial Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Maryland Higher Education Commission

The Maryland Senatorial Scholarship is offered to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a postsecondary credential full-time (12+ credits undergraduate or 9+ credits graduate per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits undergraduate or 6-8 credits graduate per semester) at a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university or private career school.

​​These scholarships are offered/awarded through your state delegation for your district, not through your federal delegation, which includes your U.S. Senators. 

How Do I Apply?

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa by March 1, each year. If you are eligible for in-state tuition, but ineligible to receive federal financial aid, you must submit the Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) instead. To complete the MSFAA online, click here to access the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS). 

If your state senator makes his/her own awards, you must call or write to your legislator for further instructions. 

​When To Apply

Complete and file the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1, each year and contact your state senator in February for further instructions. (Below are instructions on how to contact your state senator) 

Eligibility Requirements:

A) You and your parents (if you are a dependent student) must be Maryland residents.

B) You must enroll at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university, as a full-time (12+ credits undergraduate or 9+ credits graduate) or part-time (6-11 credits undergraduate or 6-8 credits graduate), degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student, or attend certain private career schools. Audited courses may not be used to reach the minimum credit hours required for full-time or part-time status.

C) You must demonstrate financial need.

D) You must take the SAT 1 or the ACT unless you graduated from high school five or more years ago, have earned 24 college credit hours, or are attending a community college or a private career school.

Award Amount:

You may hold the Senatorial Scholarship with all state awards. The total dollar amount of all state awards may not exceed your cost of attendance as determined by your school's financial aid office, or $29,600, whichever is less. 

Funds may not be available to award all eligible students.

Some state senators have OSFA make awards for them. These awards are made on the basis of financial need as demonstrated on the student's FAFSA.

Eligible Majors

All in-state majors are eligible.

Award recipients who are currently enrolled, or were enrolled within the last two years, in a certificate or license program, course, or sequence of courses at a community college that leads to certification or licensure may use the scholarship to reimburse educational expenses.