Applying for Scholarships

In addition to federal and state grants awarded based on financial need, various private scholarships are available for students enrolled in programs at USG. These scholarships are created with contributions from private donors including the USG Board of Advisors, local businesses, foundations, community organizations, and individual donors.

Scholarship Applications

USG Scholarship Timeline: The Fall Scholarship Application is available as of March 1st.  The priority deadline to submit this application is June 30th and the final deadline is July 31st.

The Fall 2025 USG Scholarship Application is NOW OPEN! 

The priority deadline to submit this application is June 30th and the final deadline is July 31st! To apply for scholarships, click on the button above and create an account or sign in. Once signed in, click on Start a New Application.

Please Note: Students must be enrolled in a course/program at USG to be considered for scholarships for the semester they apply. 

Questions?

Feel free to email usg-scholarships@umd.edu

Most scholarship notifications will be sent out the second week of each semester, however, you can check the status of your application throughout the scholarship review process by logging into your student scholarship account. Thank you for your patience.

Thank You Letter Information

To show gratitude and appreciation to our donors, USG requires that all recipients send a letter of thanks to their respective donors. Scholarship donors are generous and caring people who give to support the educational endeavors of students like you. Receiving a well-written thank you note from the student who received their scholarship is always special and lets the donor know how much you appreciate their support. Your note reminds them why they gave in the first place and often helps secure continuing gifts for future students.

Suggestions for your Thank You Letter:

• Keep your letter to one page.
• Convey your message in a clear and concise manner.
• Use your resume as a reference. Work or research experiences, study abroad, involvement in student organizations or student projects are all good topics to include in your letter.
• Proofread your letter. Make sure the donor's name and the name of the scholarship are correct. Check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Sometimes it is hard to proof your own work, so have someone else read the letter before finalizing it.

Please login to your account and attach your thank you letter, addressing the Donors listed on your award letter within 30 days of this notification. Failure to do so may impact the release of your scholarship.

Award Letter Example:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith: 

First paragraph: Explain why you are writing the letter. Be sure to identify your scholarship, home institution, and the program you are enrolled in. 

Second (and possibly third) paragraph: Tell the donor a little about yourself. You can briefly describe your research, any special programs or student organizations in which you participate, student projects, work experience, leadership experience, etc. You can also write about your plans after you graduate. 

Closing paragraph: Thank your donor again for the scholarship and let the donor know how much you appreciate their generous contribution to your education and to USG. 

Sincerely, 
Your Name, Typed

Institutional-Specific Awards 

Institutional-Specific Awards have been designated for students enrolled in particular universities, each with its criteria and deadlines. Please speak to your advisor for more detailed information.

University System of Maryland Financial Aid and Scholarships 

Scholarships for Maryland Community College Transfer Students- USM offers some partial scholarships that provide funding that can be used to address expenses that are part of the cost of attendance at a four-year USM institution. These partial scholarships range from $2,000 - $4,000 per academic year and are renewable for two years.

USM Women's Forum Student Scholarship- The Women's Forum commends and celebrates the achievements of students, faculty, and staff from a cross the system through award and scholarship programs. All awards are available to any individual regardless of gender identity, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability. This scholarship is for students who are attending a USM institution and plan to enroll in the Fall 2025 term. Follow this link to apply now before the deadline of June 15, 2025.
Email USMWFStudentAwards@gmail.com for any questions.

Board of Regents Student Exellence Scholarships- The University System of Maryland (USM) Regents Scholarships are the most prestigious scholarships awarded by the USM. These full scholarships for Maryland residents who are graduates of Maryland community colleges cover the cost of tuition and required fees, a room and meal plan (or the institution's calculated off-campus housing and food costs), and a $1,000 annual stipend for educational expenses such as books or computing equipment. They may be used at any USM institution that awards undergraduate degrees. Some are restricted for those who have demonstrated financial need, but all require a very high GPA and other evidence of excellence. They can be renewed to cover four semesters if eligibility is maintained, including a 3.2 at GPA at the four-year institution.

For a complete list of USM Scholarship Resources, please click here.  You can also view the USM Board of Regents Scholarship Guide for more information.

State Financial Assistance Programs and Applications 

For more information, please visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission. 

2+2 Transfer Scholarship

The 2+2 Transfer Scholarship is designed to assist and encourage transfer students from Maryland community colleges to attend a 4-year institution within the State.  Students must be enrolled in an eligible accredited Maryland postsecondary institution.  

When and How to Apply

Students currently enrolled full-time or part-time as degree-seeking students at a community college in Maryland.  Students are encouraged to complete a FAFSA application by March 1 for priority awarding.  FAFSA applications submitted after March 1 will be considered as long as funding is available. Complete and submit the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship application and all supporting documents by March 1 for priority consideration.  Applications and documents submitted after March 1 and before May 1 will be accepted if funding is available. The application is available in MD CAPS.   

For students who enroll in a science, teaching, engineering, computer science, mathematics, or nursing program, the award will be $2,000.  For all other students, the annual award will be $1,000. The award can be renewed for a total of 3 years of student, or six semesters, whichever is longer.  For more information please visit www.mhec.state.us.  

Maryland Delegate & Senatorial Scholarships

Graduate School Scholarships

Find graduate school scholarships

Learn why scholarships—free money that you don’t have to pay back—are important and how to search for them to help you pay for graduate school.

Ways to pay for graduate school