Unlocking Opportunities: A Guide to PGCC Promise Scholarship Requirements and Financial Aid

Prince George's Community College (PGCC) is dedicated to making higher education accessible and affordable. Last year, the college awarded nearly $500,000 in scholarships to students. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the various scholarship and financial aid opportunities available at PGCC, with a focus on the PGCC Promise Scholarship and related requirements.

Understanding Financial Aid at PGCC

Simply stated, financial aid is any grant, scholarship, loan, or work study offered for the express purpose of helping a student meet education-related expenses. Funding for financial aid programs is provided by the Federal government, state government, private organizations, and the college.

Grants and scholarships are considered "gift assistance" and generally do not need to be repaid. Loans, on the other hand, are borrowed money offered at various interest rates and must be repaid over an extended period after the student leaves college or drops to less than half-time enrollment.

Many financial aid programs, most notably federal student aid programs, are awarded to students based on their financial need. Eligibility for need-based financial aid is the difference between the cost of attendance at Prince George’s Community College minus the Student Aid Index (SAI) and other financial assistance. There are additional eligibility requirements which are program specific.

Applying for Financial Aid: The FAFSA and Beyond

The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FSA ID can be created at studentaid.gov. This will provide you with the speediest processing of your application. The FAFSA must be completed once each academic year for which financial aid is requested.

Read also: Affording PGCC: Fees and Expenses

In addition to completing the FAFSA, the student (and his or her parents, if dependent) may be required to provide additional information to verify their eligibility to receive financial aid.

To meet these priority deadlines, students should complete and file the FAFSA by February 1 for the fall semester and by September 1 for the spring semester. Students without complete paperwork in the Student Financial Aid Office by July 15 for the fall semester and by November 1 for the spring semester should be prepared to pay tuition and fees from personal resources. FAFSAs and other required documents received after March 1 will be considered for federal aid, but funding may be limited.

Federal financial aid programs offered at Prince George’s Community College include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study, and Federal Direct Student Loans.

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship (MDCC Promise)

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship (MDCC Promise) creates opportunities for students to attend one of Maryland’s public community colleges by providing tuition assistance for any student eligible for in-state tuition up to $5,000.

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that is available for the 2025-2026 academic year to students who enroll at a Maryland community college. 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.

Read also: College Promise Grant Requirements

Who May Apply for the MDCC Promise Scholarship?

A Maryland high school graduate or GED recipient eligible for in-state tuition who is planning to enroll or is currently enrolled full-time or part-time at a Maryland community college in:

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

How to Apply for the MDCC Promise Scholarship

Submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR MHEC One App (for students who are not eligible to submit a FAFSA) and contact their local community college in order to apply.

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

Required Documentation for the MDCC Promise Scholarship

After completing the FAFSA or MHEC One app eligible applicants must submit certain documentation for further consideration of the award directly to their institution.

Grade Point Average (GPA) & General Education Development (GED) Requirements for Initial Applicants

High School GPA Requirements: 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.
Community College GPA requirements: 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.

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. Students must contact their institution in order to submit the required documentation.

Read also: Understanding Promise Scholarships

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 the applicant is married or resides in a two-parent household.

All documentation must be submitted to your institution. No documentation will be accepted through MDCAPS.

Renewal Requirements for the MDCC Promise Scholarship

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

Enrollment Requirements for the MDCC Promise Scholarship

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.

The Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship (Promise)

The Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship (Promise) is designed to support students with financial resources beyond federal, state, and private scholarships to complete their education. The Promise Scholarship is built on the premise that the lack of financial resources, where possible, should not be the deterrent to achieving a post-secondary experience at Prince George’s Community College that culminates in attaining the associate degree or an industry-recognized licensure or credential. The Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship Program will cover tuition and fees for eligible students.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities at PGCC

Prince George's Community College offers dozens of scholarship opportunities for first-time and returning college students. Institutional scholarships can pay for tuition, fees, and books. Awards are based on available funds. Please check online for the most up-to-date scholarships.

Here are some notable scholarships available at PGCC:

The Board of Trustees’ Legacy Scholarship: This scholarship was established to recognize graduates of Prince George's County high schools who demonstrate high academic ability and strong leadership qualities.
The Apartment and Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington (AOBA) Scholarship: AOBA sponsors a number of scholarships that are available for Prince George’s County high school seniors or high school graduates within the last three years, who have been accepted for admission or are enrolled in Prince George’s Community College. Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative high school/college grade point average (GPA) and demonstrate financial need. Scholarship recipients will receive $1,500 a semester for up to four semesters.
Honors Academy Scholarships: Students who are academically outstanding and are interested in a rigorous program of study, college and community service, and leadership compete for admission to the Honors Academy. Students admitted to the Honors Academy and who maintain their eligibility receive full tuition and fees scholarships at Prince George’s Community College and financial assistance when they transfer to one of the college’s Honors Academy partnering four-year institutions. Honors Academy scholars may hold dual admission in Prince George's Community College and a participating four-year college or university. While the list of participating institutions is constantly growing, it currently includes: American University, Catholic University of America, Howard University, Goucher College, St. Mary's College, University of Maryland College Park, University of Maryland University College, and Washington College. Upon graduation from PGCC, the Honor's Academy scholar will receive Honors Academy recognition and a seamless transfer into one of the partnering four-year colleges or universities. An Honors Academy scholar receives financial support from Prince George's Community College as long as he/she satisfies the requirements of the Academy and maintains his/her eligibility.
Southern Management Leadership Program: Students who have a passionate desire to develop into impactful, creative and inspiring leaders may apply for admission to the Southern Management Leadership Program. Admission is competitive and students in any transferable major can apply. The program, which is a collaboration with the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), develops students’ leadership abilities while supporting academic success. Students who are admitted receive 55 percent of their tuition paid and will receive a textbook scholarship of $500 while at Prince George’s Community College. Once they complete their associate degrees, students transfer to UMCP to earn their bachelor’s degree. At UMCP, the Southern Management Leaders will have up to 50 percent of their tuition paid and will receive a merit scholarship of $1000.
Maryland Part-Time Grants: Maryland Part-Time grants may be awarded to part-time, degree seeking Maryland students who are enrolled in less than 11 credits during the fall or spring term.
Special Sponsorship Programs: Only online applications submitted through AcademicWorks will be accepted, except for Special Sponsorship Programs.

Additional Financial Assistance Programs

District of Columbia Tuition Assistance (TAG): Students who are residents of the District of Columbia may qualify for financial assistance from the District Financial Assistance program, D.C. Tuition Assistance (TAG). Students may apply using the D.C. OneApp which is located at www.dconeapp.dc.gov. The application is available on January 1 and must be filed by June 30 each year.

Other Important Information

Residency: Maryland residents who do not live in Prince George’s County but who enroll in one of the college’s designated Health Management Shortage Programs (HMSP) are eligible for in-county tuition rates so long as they remain enrolled in that program. Residents from other states do not qualify for this lowered tuition rate.
Veteran Students: Veteran students who are eligible for educational benefits should contact the Veteran Services Office located in Lanham Hall, Room ___, for more information. Students who are the spouses or children of deceased or disabled veterans should contact the Veterans Administration (VA) at 1-888-442-4551 for information concerning their eligibility and regulations governing their benefits. Students planning to use their VA benefits must be aware that the monthly benefits are paid retroactively at the end of each month of attendance in classes.

Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Students who are receiving federal student financial aid are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in their program of study.

SAP will be evaluated for all students at the conclusion of the spring semester with the exception of the Police Academy.

Students who do not meet the three standards described above will be placed on Financial Aid suspension. Students must meet with an academic advisor to complete an Academic Plan. The completed Academic Plan, along with the appeal form is to be submitted to the Student Financial Aid Office electronically using the secure portal.

SAP Appeal Process

The appeal must include a detailed explanation of the circumstances that led to the student not meeting satisfactory academic progress or requiring additional time to complete the degree. Please be sure the student ID number is included on all correspondence submitted.

Students may submit an appeal beginning the first Monday in June for the Fall semester. All appeals must be received by the first Friday in August. Students who failed to meet the deadline, or who were not enrolled in the Fall semester may submit an updated Academic Plan for the Spring semester ONLY. Students may submit a SAP Appeal Form beginning the second Monday in October for the Spring semester only. Additional information may be requested during the appeal process. Students have five business days from the date of the additional information request to provide the requested information.

Students whose appeals are successful will be placed on financial aid probation and must adhere to the terms of their academic plan. The Student Financial Aid Office will monitor progress at the end of each semester for students with approved appeals. Students must alert their academic advisor if they feel that they cannot meet the terms of the academic plan as outlined.

Students whose appeals are denied will remain on financial aid suspension. Reinstatement of aid eligibility after financial aid suspension is not automatic when students improve their GPA or completion rate. However, students who improve to the point of meeting SAP criteria at any point before the stated end of the academic plan will again be eligible. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Student Financial Aid Office that he or she has re-established eligibility.

Return of Title IV Funds

Students who are awarded Title IV financial aid must earn their aid by attending classes. Federal regulations require that when students withdraw from the college or stop attending classes during a payment period (such as a term) that the amount of the federal student financial assistance received be adjusted to the amount that has been “earned” up to the point the student withdraws or stops attending classes. The amount of assistance earned is determined based on the portion of the payment period that the student completed. For example, if a student withdraws from the college after attending 30 percent of the term, they have “earned” 30 percent of their financial aid. If the student has received less than the aid “earned,” the funds are released; if the student has received more than the aid “earned,” the excess funds must be returned. If the student must return funds, the funds are returned to the financial aid programs from which the student received funding.

Course Repeat Policy and Financial Aid

Students who receive failing grades in a course may continue to take the course until passing it. (There is no limit on the number of times a course is repeated when receiving the F grade). If a student receives a grade of D or higher or W, the student may take the course one more time and remain eligible for aid. Financial aid can only be received for a maximum of one year of developmental coursework (30 Credit Hours).

Police Academy financial aid recipients must maintain continuous enrollment in each payment period or period of enrollment to remain eligible for financial aid.

Overawards

Students may not receive federal student financial assistance that exceeds need, as determined by the difference between the cost of attendance (COA) and the Student Aid Index (SAI). Students who receive federal financial aid awards in excess of their financial need will have their assistance adjusted or reduced until the overaward is resolved. The student is responsible for repayment to the college of the over awarded amount.

Financial Literacy Resources

Prince George’s Community College is committed to promoting the financial health and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. Financial literacy covers many things: budgeting, use of credit cards, insurance, tips on money management, and much more.

General Application Information

Each scholarship recipient must write a thank-you note to their respective donor. Recommendation letters are not required to submit a general application, although they may be required for some scholarships. An essay is not required to submit a general application. However, some scholarships will require essays. All file uploads must be in either MS Word or Adobe PDF format and saved as ‘.doc’ or ‘.pdf’ files. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Contact Information

Students also may call 301-546-PGCC (7422) during these hours.

PGCC staff can help students with urgent tuition, medical, transportation, housing, or food needs. Must have a current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application on file with the Student Financial Aid Office. Prince George’s Community College School Code is 002089.

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