Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship offers a valuable opportunity for eligible students to pursue higher education at a Maryland community college. This "last-dollar" scholarship aims to alleviate the financial burden of tuition and mandatory fees, paving the way for a brighter future for many Maryland residents. The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is the authority on Maryland’s Community College Promise program as well as other state financial aid programs.

What is the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship?

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is a grant available to eligible low- and middle-income students, funded by the State of Maryland. This scholarship, available for the 2025-2026 academic year, ensures that eligible students can receive up to $5,000 to cover any remaining tuition and mandatory fee expenses after Federal or State financial aid has been applied. As “last dollar in scholarships,” these programs cover tuition for eligible students after applying all other financial awards - such as Pell grants, state aid and scholarships.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To be considered for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria:

Residency and Education: Be a Maryland high school graduate, GED recipient or external diploma program graduate eligible for in-state tuition. Applicants must not have previously earned a bachelor’s or an associate degree.
Enrollment: Plan to enroll or be currently enrolled full-time or part-time at a Maryland community college in one of the following programs:

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- A credit-bearing vocational certificate/certificate/associate degree program.
- A sequence of credit or non-credit courses that leads to licensure or certification.
- A registered apprenticeship program.
Income: Students must meet the required adjusted gross income limits for the applicable tax year, which is two years prior.
Application Submission: Submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR MHEC One App (for students who are not eligible to submit a FAFSA) by April 15 of the same year as intended enrollment, and contact their local community college in order to apply.

Detailed Requirements for Initial Applicants

Besides the general eligibility criteria, initial applicants have specific requirements regarding GPA and GED scores:

GPA Requirements

High School GPA: High school seniors must have earned an unweighted cumulative 2.3 GPA at the end of the first semester of their senior year in high school or by the end of their senior year in high school. An initial applicant who graduated from high school five or more years before applying for the scholarship is exempt from submitting a high school transcript to document the GPA requirement.
Community College GPA: Individuals currently enrolled at a community college must document that they earned a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 while previously or currently enrolled at a community college.

GED Requirements

GED applicants must submit a copy of their examination.

Income Requirements

Students must be within the required adjusted gross income limits based on the applicable tax year:

Academic Year	Tax Year	Income Limits
2025-2026	2023	$100,000 if the applicant is single or resides in a single-parent household; or $150,000 if married or resides in a two-parent household.

How to Apply

FAFSA or MHEC One App: The first step is to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the MHEC One App (for students who are not eligible to submit a FAFSA). Most Promise scholarships start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Access these applications through the Scholarship and Grant Portal.
Contact Your Community College: Contact your local community college and inquire about their specific application process for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship.
Submit Required Documentation: After completing the FAFSA or MHEC One app, eligible applicants must submit certain documentation for further consideration of the award directly to their institution. All documentation must be submitted to your institution. No documentation will be accepted through MDCAPS. Students must contact their institution in order to submit the required documentation.

Application Filing Deadline for Academic Year 2025-2026 is April 1, 2026

Renewal Requirements

To remain eligible for the award, recipients must meet the following requirements:

Continue to be eligible for in-state tuition.
Annually file the FAFSA or MHEC One App by April 1.
Continue to meet the adjusted gross income requirements.
Enroll in and complete:
- A sequence of credit or non-credit courses that leads to licensure or certification.
- AND 6 credits at the end of the each semester in a credit bearing program.
Maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative community college GPA if enrolled in a credit bearing program.

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Make satisfactory academic progress toward a vocational certificate/certificate/registered apprenticeship/associate degree.

Enrollment Requirements

All eligible applicants must attend the community college located in their county, or in the case of a regional community college, the region in which they live.

Additional Information

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is a grant available to eligible low- and middle-income students.
Funds are provided by the State of Maryland and are limited.
The Community College Promise can cover tuition and mandatory fees up to $5,000/year.
The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) is the authority on Maryland’s Community College Promise program as well as other state financial aid programs.
If you receive an award, you may apply the scholarships to earning a degree or credential at CCBC.
Students can receive the Promise scholarship for the summer term.

How Scholarships are Awarded

Funds are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis.

What to do if Awarded a Scholarship

If you receive an award, you may apply the scholarships to earning a degree or credential at CCBC. Enroll full time or part time (1 or more credits) at CCBC as a degree or certificate-seeking student.

What if Someone Eligible Doesn't Receive the Promise Scholarship?