The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) provides a number of state grants, scholarships, and loan assistance repayment programs for eligible Maryland residents. Below you will find a complete listing of programs offered by MHEC.
To schedule a virtual appointment with the Office of Student Financial Assistance for questions concerning state financial aid click here.
Need-based grants/scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated financial need and do not have to be repaid
The Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant is a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at postsecondary institutions. The amount of the GA Grant equals 100 percent of the student's financial need.
The Campus Based Educational Assistance Grant (CBEAG) program is a need-based financial aid program that is designed to financially assist students who were NOT considered for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant due to NOT filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or MHEC One App by the Maryland state deadline of June 1.
Scholarships are awarded by Maryland Senators and Delegates
All Maryland residents may apply for the Legislative Scholarships. Maryland residents attending an out-of-state institution may apply if they meet the out-of-state exemptions found on the scholarship pages below.
Grants and Scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in a certain degree program
The Charles W. Riley Firefighter & Ambulance & Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to Maryland residents in the fire-fighting, ambulance, and rescue organizations serving Maryland communities to pursue credited courses that lead to a degree in fire service technology, emergency medical technology, fire service management, or public safety administration with a minor or concentration in fire service technology or fire service management.
Grants or scholarships are available to certain individuals majoring in a specific field at a postsecondary institution
The Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program provides student financial assistance to certain Maryland residents due to their eligible military or public safety service or due to their eligible family or marital relationship to such an individual.
The Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to eligible children and surviving spouses of school employees who, , either died or sustained an injury that rendered the school employee 100 percent disabled, as a victim in an act of violence occurring in the line of duty.
The Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to United States Armed Forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, and their son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter or spouse who are current high school seniors and full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible accredited Maryland postsecondary institution.
Tuition waiver for individuals attending a Maryland public institution
An individual who received a scholarship that requires a service requirement must begin employment in Maryland one year after degree completion, as outlined in the recipient's service obligation agreement and signed promissory note. Information on the applicable service obligation requirement for the respective program is accessible by clicking here.
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) understands that students experience special circumstance that may cause them to fail to meet certain requirements for State awards. Therefore, OSFA has developed an appeal process which allows students, in certain instances, to appeal for (re)consideration of certain State financial aid programs. Click here to submit an appeal.