How To Get Free College in Maryland

There's no denying that college tuition can be expensive. While taking out loans is an option, the crippling interest rates can follow you for life. Luckily, there are some ways to go to college tuition-free.

Students in Maryland have different options to help them cover their tuition costs, including the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, the Guaranteed Access Grant, and the Terrapin Promise. Beyond these cost-saving opportunities, students can also attend a tuition-free online college in Maryland.

Keep reading to learn more about how to get free college in Maryland.

Is Community College Free in Maryland?

Community college is not free across the board for all students in Maryland. However, the state has programs to help students cover the cost of college.

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship provides up to $5,000 to help eligible students pay for their community college. The average cost of in-state tuition at Maryland community colleges is $5,130 per year, so combined with other grants and scholarships, this makes tuition free.

Who Qualifies for Free College in Maryland?

The eligibility criteria for free college in Maryland depend on which financial aid program you're applying for. However, most require you to be a Maryland resident. Typically, these programs will also have a maximum income limit, as they're usually based on financial need. That limit can vary between programs, however.

What Is the Guaranteed Access Grant?

The Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access Grant is a need-based grant program that covers 100% of a student's financial need for their degree program. Students can receive up to $22,100. Students must be accepted into an undergraduate program at a Maryland college or university. Students can renew their award up to three times, to cover an entire bachelor's degree.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for the Guaranteed Access Grant, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• be eligible for in-state tuition in Maryland
• meet the initial income requirements
• be accepted for admission and plan to enroll in a regular undergraduate program at an eligible two-year or four-year Maryland institution as a full-time degree-seeking student
• have completed high school or obtained a GED
• be under 26 years old when first receiving the award

The initial household income requirements are 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. As a result, the income limits vary based on your household size.

Eligible Institutions

Accredited Maryland two-year and four-year institutions are eligible for this grant. This means that both public and private school students can use the Guaranteed Access Grant.

Additionally, several independent Maryland colleges are part of the Guaranteed Access Partnership Program. The schools in this program provide a matching grant to students with a Guaranteed Access Grant. These schools include:

• Capitol Technology University
• Goucher College
• Hood College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Loyola University Maryland
• Maryland Institute College of Art
• McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary's University
• Notre Dame of Maryland University
• Stevenson University
• St. John's College
• Washington Adventist University
• Washington College

How To Apply

There is no special application process for the Guaranteed Access Grant. Maryland students will be considered for this grant when they file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Undocumented students should file the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) One-App.

To be considered, you must list a Maryland institution on your submitted FAFSA or MHEC One-App. You may be asked to provide additional documentation depending on the information you provided.

What Is the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship?

As mentioned above, the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is for Maryland students attending a community college. It's a last-dollar scholarship, covering whatever tuition and mandatory fees remain after you receive federal and state grants and scholarships.

Who Is Eligible?

The eligibility requirements for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship are fairly simple. You must be:

• a Maryland high school graduate or GED recipient who is eligible for in-state tuition
• be enrolled or plan to enroll full-time or part-time in a credit-bearing vocational certificate, certificate, or associate degree program, sequence of credit or non-credit courses that leads to licensure or certification, or a registered apprenticeship program
• have a high school grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.3 or a community college GPA of at least 2.5
• have a maximum income of $100,000 if single or residing in a single-parent household or $150,000 if married or in a two-parent household

Eligible Institutions

Public Maryland community colleges are eligible for the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship. There are 16 community colleges in Maryland, all of which will accept this scholarship.

How To Apply

Students will be considered after completing their FAFSA or MHEC One App. They may need to contact their local community college or provide additional documentation.

Tips for Making College Affordable

There are several steps that Maryland residents can take to make college more affordable. These include:

• fill out your FAFSA as soon as possible; this will allow you to see what federal and state grants and scholarships you qualify for right away
• look for other grant and scholarship opportunities
• start at a community college before transferring to a four-year college to finish your bachelor's degree
• reach out to your school's financial aid office for assistance

Tuition-Free Colleges in Maryland

In addition to Maryland's 16 community colleges, several universities offer low-cost or free tuition through financial aid programs. We've listed a few of these below.

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University is a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It accepts and matches the Guaranteed Access Grant and provides other financial aid options. Multiple need-based scholarships are available through the university. Students are automatically considered for these scholarships when they apply for financial aid.

Stevenson University

Stevenson University is a private university in Baltimore County, Maryland. Like Johns Hopkins, it accepts and matches the Guaranteed Access Grant but also offers scholarships. The university offers dozens of scholarship opportunities to students. These scholarships are available based on merit, extracurricular activities, and more.

University of Maryland College Park

The University of Maryland College Park is the flagship university of the University of Maryland system. Students can use the Guaranteed Access Grant, but the university also offers the Terrapin Commitment program. The Terrapin Commitment is a last-dollar scholarship to help students cover any remaining tuition or expenses. Any undergraduate, in-state students with unmet financial needs will be considered for this program if they fill out their FAFSA.