State Scholarships | Hagerstown Community College
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Hagerstown Community College

State Scholarships

State Scholarships

State Scholarships

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) makes award selections for most of the programs. Hagerstown Community College helps with verifying student eligibility and makes selections for certain programs based on specific criteria determined by the Maryland Higher Education Commission such as enrollment status and the FAFSA.

General Requirements

  • For most awards, students and parents if considered dependent must be residents of Maryland attending a Maryland institution.
  • All students must attend their courses and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by the Student Financial Aid Office.
  • All students must agree to remain drug-free for the full-term of the award.
  • For a number of grants and scholarships, students must complete the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1. Additional documentation may be required as well.
  • For most awards, students must be degree seeking.
  • With the exception of the MD Part-Time Grant and the CBEAG Grant (both listed below) all students will be notified of their award via email from the OSFA at MHEC.
  • Students must accept awards on the MHEC website.
     

General Terminology

Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship

The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship is a last dollar award, available to students who plan to enroll in credit-bearing coursework leading to a vocational certificate, certificate, or an associate degree; or in a sequence of credit or non-credit courses that leads to licensure or certification; or in a registered apprenticeship program at a Maryland community college. For information on the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship, please check the MHEC Promise page.

Maryland Need-Based Aid

Howard P. Rawlings Grants

Howard P. Rawlings grants consists of the Guaranteed Access Grant (GA), the Educational Access Grant (EA), and Campus Based Educational Assistance Grant (CBEAG). Each of these grants are explained, in more detail, below.

Guaranteed Access Grant: The Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant is a grant that provides post-secondary financial assistance to eligible in-state students currently enrolled as high school seniors who will complete a college preparatory program or a student who has obtained a General Educational Development diploma (GED), and is under the age of 26. Students must complete the FAFSA and an additional application through their MDCAPS account. A minimum 2.5 GPA is required and the student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress as defined by HCC. This grant requires full-time (12+ credits) enrollment.

Educational Assistance Grant: The Howard P. Rawlings Educational Access (EA) Grant is a grant that provides post-secondary financial assistance to in-state students. Students who are current high school seniors and full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates may apply for the EA Grant. A FAFSA is required to determine eligibility for the award. If a student is unable to complete the FAFSA, a MSFAA must be completed by the student. The application is open from October 1 through March 1 each year. A student must demonstrate financial need to be potentially eligible for the award; students with the lowest EFC are awarded first. All students eligible for the EA Grant must accept their award online through their MDCAPS account.

Campus-Based Educational Assistance Grant: The Howard P. Rawlings Campus Based Educational Assistance Grant (CBEAG) program is a need-based financial aid program that is designed to financially assist students that were not considered for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance Grant due to not filing his/her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA) by the Maryland state deadline of March 1st. The CBEAG program is a state funded program which allocates funds to participating institutions each academic year to select and award students that are qualified for the CBEAG award. Students must be full time and degree seeking. Additionally, students must be a Maryland Resident as well as their parents (if a dependent student based on FAFSA information). The student must have filed a FAFSA/MSFAA after the March 1 deadline and be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.

Maryland Part-Time Grant

This grant is for students who are registered for at least half-tine (6 credits) but less than full-time (12 credits) at Hagerstown Community College. Students must file the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 and must be a Maryland Resident as well as their parents (if a dependent student based on FAFSA information). The amounts of the part-time grant are set and cannot be increased.  Hagerstown Community College receives a certain of amount of funding at the beginning of each academic year. This is a first come, first served grant given by the Student Financial Aid Office. Students who were awarded an Educational Assistance Grant (described above) by MHEC but are not registered full-time may be awarded a Part-Time Grant depending on availability.

Maryland Legislative Programs

Senatorial Scholarship: Current high school seniors and full-time and part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students. Students attending a private career school may also apply. Students must complete and file the FAFSA or MSFAA by March 1 and contact their State senator in February for further instructions. If you do not know how to contact your State senator, go to www.mdelect.net or call the Board of Supervisors of Elections for your county. For Washington County, call 240-313-2050 or go to the Washington County Board of Elections website.

Delegate Scholarships: The State of Maryland Delegate Scholarship is offered by the local State Delegates to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a post-secondary credential full-time (12+ credits per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits per semester) at a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university or private career school. Current or prospective students should contact their local delegates for instructions on how to apply. For a list and contact information of the student's local delegates, please visit www.mdelect.net or the Maryland State Board of Elections website. For Washington County, call 240-313-2050 or go to the Washington County Board of Elections website.

Maryland Career/Occupational Programs

Charles W. Riley Fire & Emergency Medical Services Tuition Reimbursement Program: The Charles W. Riley Firefighter and Ambulance and Rescue Squad Member Scholarship Program encourages members of 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. This program is for both Full-Time and Part-Time students.  Reimbursement is made one year after completion of courses in fire service technology or EMT Degree program.  Only currently employed firefighters and EMT workers in Maryland may apply.

Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program: The Cybersecurity Public Service Scholarship Program supports students who are pursuing an education in programs that have been identified by the Secretary of Higher Education as being directly relevant to cybersecurity.  Please see the Maryland Higher Education Commission website for criteria and requirements including a service obligation.

Tuition Reduction for Non-Resident Nursing Students: Students must be a resident of a state other than Maryland and be enrolled at a two-year or four-year Maryland public college or university as a full-time (12+ credits per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits per semester), degree-seeking undergraduate student. Audited courses cannot be used to reach the minimum credit hours required for full-time or part-time status.  Students must be accepted into a nursing program. Please see the Maryland Higher Education Commission website for criteria and requirements including a service obligation.

Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant: The Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG) program is for students who plan on working in specific career/occupational programs upon graduation.  Eligible fields include: child care, human services, teaching, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work, and public service. It is for both full-time and part-time students. There are additional application materials required from MHEC.

Maryland Unique Populations Programs

Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy and Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship: The Conroy and Cryor Memorial Scholarship provides aid to a child or step-child of a member of the US Armed forces who is deceased as a result of military service or who suffered a service connected 100 percent permanent disability as a result of military service; a veteran who suffers a service connected disability of 25 percent or greater as a result of military service and has exhausted or no longer eligible for Federal veterans’ educational benefits; child, step-child, or surviving spouse of a victim who died as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; a POW/MIA of the Vietnam Conflict or their child or step-child and was a resident of the state at the time of being declared to be a POW or missing in action; child, step-child, or surviving spouse (has not remarried) of a State or local public safety employee or volunteer who died in the line of duty or was 100 percent disabled in the line of duty; a State or local public safety employee or volunteer who became 100 percent disabled in the line of duty; child, step-child, or surviving spouse (has not remarried) of a school employee who, as a result of an act of violence either died in the line of duty or sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the school employee 100 percent disabled; the surviving spouse (has not remarried) of a member of the United States Armed forces who suffered a service-connected 100 percent permanent disability as a result of military service. Students and parent if applicable must be a Maryland resident but several exceptions due apply. Please see the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s website for additional information and criteria. Contact the HCC Financial Aid Office for an application and to check on eligibility. Applications must be received by the HCC Student Financial Aid Office by July 15.

Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship: The Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance to United States armed forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, and their sons, daughters, or spouses who are current high school seniors, and full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible accredited Maryland post-secondary institution. FAFSA and application materials are due by May 1 of each year.

Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Students: The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is available to students who were out-of-home placed students in Maryland at the time of high school graduation or completion of a GED are eligible for a tuition waiver.  Students must notify the Student Financial Aid Office. To be considered eligible for the tuition waiver students must be listed on the Department of Human Resources foster care list.  If a student is not on the list, the student must contact a case worker to be put on the list and considered eligible.  The DHR must also confirm that the student is eligible for the waiver.  The tuition waiver applies to any balance on tuition and fees before any grants and scholarships received are applied to the school bill. The purpose of Tuition Waiver for Foster Care Recipients is to provide financial assistance to foster care youth.

Tuition Waiver for Students With Disabilities: Students with documented disabilities in Maryland and receiving SSI and SSDI benefits are eligible for a tuition waiver. Students must complete a FAFSA and submit the electronic form. A new form must be submitted each semester by the deadline date listed on the form. The waiver will only apply to tuition and fees not covered by the Pell Grant and other scholarships (student loans are not included).

To apply, download and fill out the Maryland Disability Tuition Waver form.

For information about the Maryland Earn Grant funded by the Maryland Department of Labor, contact the Commercial Vehicle Transportation Program.

For information about continuing education (non-credit) scholarships and grants, visit the Workforce Solutions & Continuing Education page.

For more information about any available scholarships, contact the Student Financial Aid Office at finaid@hagerstowncc.edu.