Scholarship Description
QUALIFICATIONS
To be eligible for the Maryland Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth, a youth must:
Be declared as an unaccompanied homeless youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian and
Be a homeless child or youth as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”
Examples of children who fall under this definition are as follows:
Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason
Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to lack of alternative accommodations
Children and youth living in emergency or transitional shelters
Children and youth abandoned in hospitals
Children and youth awaiting foster care placement
Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches, etc)
Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations
Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations
The financial aid administrator must verify that the youth qualifies as an independent student under the Federal College Cost and Reduction & Access Act.
AWARD AMOUNT
The tuition waiver provides exemption from paying any tuition and mandatory fees at a Maryland public institution of higher education
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The youth must:
Complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st of each year.
Be enrolled on or before he or she reaches the age of 25.
The youth continues to be exempt from paying tuition and fees until 5 years after first enrolling as a candidate for an associate, bachelors, or a vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education.
Be enrolled full time or part time for an associate, bachelors, or a vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education
Students are eligible to receive the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Tuition Waiver for the following semesters:
A. Fall
B. Winter
C. Spring
D. Summer
AWARD AMOUNT
You are exempt from paying tuition and mandatory fees at a public college in Maryland. The tuition waiver only applies to tuition and fees. If a foster care recipient receives a scholarship or grant, the scholarship or grant may not be applied to the tuition for the foster care recipient.
Year of Need: College Freshman, College Sophomore, College Junior, College Senior, Trade/Technical,
Type:
Num Awards: Multiple
Min Award:
Max Award:
Deadline: 2025-12-31
Website: https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/descriptions.aspx
Sponsoring Organization
Maryland Higher Education Commission
6 North Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Contact Person: Benee Edwards Outreach and Grants Management Coordinator
Phone: (410) 767-3300 / (800) 974-0203
Fax: (410) 332-0250
Web: http://www.mhec.state.md.us/
Email:
