Maryland Promise Scholarship

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship offers financial assistance to eligible Maryland community college students. As a "last-dollar" scholarship, it covers remaining tuition and mandatory fees after federal and state financial aid is applied.

Important Deadline

Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) One App by April 1, 2026.

Who May Apply

You may be eligible if you are a Maryland high school graduate or GED recipient eligible for in-state tuition and are planning to enroll, or are currently enrolled, full- or part-time in one of the following at a Maryland community college:

• A credit-bearing vocational certificate, certificate, or associate degree program.
• A sequence of credit or noncredit courses leading to licensure or certification.
• A registered apprenticeship program.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, you must:

• Have graduated from a Maryland high school or earned a GED in Maryland.
• Have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of at least 2.3, or a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 if currently enrolled at a community college.
• Be eligible for in-state tuition, as determined by the College.
• Be enrolled in a credit certificate, associate degree program, or a sequence of noncredit courses leading to licensure or certification.*
• Be enrolled full- or part-time if pursuing a credit certificate or associate degree.
• Have not received grants or scholarships covering your full cost of attendance.
• Have an annual adjusted gross income of:
  • $100,000 or less for single (independent) students or one-parent (dependent) households.
  • $150,000 or less for married (independent) students or two-parent (dependent) households.
• Have not previously earned a bachelor's or associate degree.

* If enrolling in a sequence of noncredit courses for licensure or certification, you must register for the next available courses in your sequence offered at the College.

Income Requirements

The student must be within the required adjusted income limits based on the applicable tax year:

How to Apply

Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or MHEC One App (available for students who are not eligible to submit a FAFSA).

Required Documentation

After completing the FAFSA or MHEC One app, eligible applications must submit specific documentation for further consideration by PGCC.

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

** Exceptions to submitting a high school transcript: 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.

Non-Credit Students

Students who plan to enroll as a non-credit "Continuing Education" student in a sequence of non-credit courses that lead to licensure or certification must:

• Complete the Promise Non-Credit Application

All “Continuing Education“ applicants are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or MHEC One App (for undocumented individuals who are not eligible to receive federal financial aid) to minimize the number of documents to be submitted with the Non-Credit Application.

Renewing an Award

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is renewable for up to three years. To maintain eligibility, you must submit the FAFSA or—if you are ineligible for federal aid but eligible for in-state tuition—the MHEC One App by April 1 each year.

You may renew your scholarship if you:

• Continue to be eligible for in-state tuition.
• Submit the FAFSA or MHEC One App by the April 1 deadline annually.
• Are enrolled in and complete:
  • A sequence of credit or noncredit leading to licensure or certificate
  • At least six credits in a credit program at the end of each semester.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 if enrolled in a credit program.
• Make satisfactory academic progress toward a vocational certificate, certificate, registered apprenticeship, or associate degree.
• Continue to meet the income requirements.