UM Scholarships for Prospective Undergraduate Students

To apply for these scholarships, apply for admission to a degree granting program at UM. For maximum consideration, prospective freshman and transfer students must submit all admissions materials by December 1st.

Banneker/Key Scholarships

The Banneker Key Scholarship is the most prestigious merit scholarship offered. There are two award levels for Banneker Key Scholarships. The first award level covers the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and a book allowance each year for four years. The second award level provides $8000 toward tuition and a book allowance each year for four years. All Banneker Key Scholars are offered admission to the University Honors Program. Scholarship candidates are identified through evaluation of admission application materials. The criteria include academic achievement, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, and the essay. Semifinalists are invited to campus in the spring for an interview before the finalists are selected. For further information, please review the Banneker/Key Scholarship Program Policy.

College & Departmental Scholarships

Some University of Maryland colleges and departments offer scholarships to prospective undergraduate students. See College and Departmental Scholarships for more information.

Creative and Performing Arts Scholarships

The Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship provides up to the amount of in-state tuition for entering freshman who demonstrate extraordinary talent in art, dance, music, or theater. The scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years based upon an acceptable level of performance as defined by the respective department. Additional application materials and information about required auditions are available directly from the Departments of Art, Dance, Music, and Theatre.

Dean's Scholarship

The Dean's Scholarship provides one or two-year awards of $1,500 to $4,500 to outstanding entering freshman from Maryland. Recipients are identified through evaluation of the admission application materials. For further information, please review the Dean's Scholarship Program Policy.

Maryland Distinguished Scholar

Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalists are awarded an annual stipend of $3,000 for four years from the state of Maryland. Contact the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) at 1-800-974-1024 for information.

Maryland State Scholarships

The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) offers and administers the following scholarships and grants: Educational Assistance Grant, Guaranteed Access Grant, House of Delegates Scholarship, Senatorial Scholarship, and Distinguished Scholarship. They are based on need, merit, or both. For more information, please contact MHEC at 1-800-974-1024. To be considered for most MHEC aid, your FAFSA must be postmarked by March 1.

National Merit Scholarship/College-Sponsored Merit Award

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) has a variety of scholarships that are awarded to students based on academic performance. The University of Maryland serves as a sponsoring institution for students selected by NMSC to receive the College-Sponsored Merit Scholarship award. Students selected for the UM Sponsored Merit award will receive a four-year renewable scholarship ranging from $1,000-$2,000/year. All finalists should follow NMSC’s instructions for first choice notifications carefully and observe deadlines to remain eligible for awards.

The National Merit Scholarship also awards Corporate-Sponsored merit scholarships and National Achievement awards. For more information on the National Merit Scholarship program please visit: www.nationalmerit.org.

President's Scholarships

The President's Scholarship provides four-year awards to exceptional entering freshman from Maryland and across the nation. Awards range from $2,000 to $8,000 per year. Recipients are identified through evaluation of the admission application materials. Academic achievement, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, and an essay are the criteria reviewed. For further information, please review the President's Scholarship Program Policy.

President's Transfer Scholarships

The President's Transfer Scholarship provides funding for a maximum of two years to transfer students enrolled at the University of Maryland. The annual award is in the amount of $5,000 and is determined through a competitive process based on academic talent. Students do not have to fill out a separate application to be considered for this award, as they will be evaluated based on their application to the University of Maryland. For further information, please review the President's Transfer Scholarship Program Policy.

Regents Scholarship Program

The Regents Scholars program recognizes the extraordinary academic achievements of the brightest entering freshman from Maryland. This four-year scholarship covers the full cost of in-state tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board, plus a $1000 stipend each academic year. Regents Scholars are automatically admitted to the University Honors Program and are eligible for Honors housing. Award recipients are selected from the most academically talented entering freshman each year.

Transfer Academic Excellence Scholarship

These awards are available to outstanding students transferring from Maryland community colleges. The awards cover in-state tuition and mandatory fees for two years of undergraduate study. To be eligible for consideration, students must have an overall grade point average of 3.5 for all college work attempted and must have completed an Associate of Arts degree or the entire first two years of courses for the major in which the student expects to enroll. Candidate nomination forms are available in late December from the UM Undergraduate Admissions Office or from community college advisers. The deadline for receipt of the application, official transcripts, and scholarships materials is early March. See TAES Policy for further information.

Weinberg Regents Scholarship

The Board of Regents has designated the Weinberg Regents Scholarship to be awarded to a Maryland community college transfer student in order to continue the commitment to outstanding students. In order to be selected for this award, a student must have exceptional qualifications, including achievement of a 4.0 grade point average, completion of the Associates of Arts degree at a Maryland community college, evidence of creative and intellectual activities or scholarly potential, and have been admitted to one of the University of Maryland System institutions. The winner may receive the scholarship for two years, totaling no more than four semesters (including summer sessions).