College education that's within reach
With the Baltimore County and Maryland Community College Promise scholarship programs high school graduates can attend CCBC without the cost of tuition and fees.
What are they?
As “last dollar in scholarships,” the Baltimore County and Maryland Community College Promise scholarships cover tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students after applying all other financial awards—such as Pell grants, state aid and scholarships.
Awardees may apply the scholarships to a first degree or credential sought at CCBC. Students still need to cover other costs such as books, transportation, supplies and materials. Additionally, students will need to cover all book fees billed to the student's account as "first day book fees."
How do I qualify?
Baltimore County College Promise Scholarship
Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
- Be a Baltimore County resident.
- If dependent, parent(s) must be a legal resident of Maryland.
- Be a graduate of a public, parochial or private high school, home instruction program with a final, cumulative high school GPA of 2.3 or higher, be a GED recipient or a high school diploma recipient from an external diploma program.
or
Be a graduate of a public, parochial or private high school, home instruction program, be a GED or a high school diploma recipient from an external diploma program and complete at least 3 credits at CCBC with a minimum 2.3 cumulative CCBC GPA.
- Complete the 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Have an adjusted gross household income of $150,000 or less (parent and student) based on submitted FAFSA application.
- Enroll in 1 or more required credits/billable hours towards declared degree/certificate
- Maintain a minimum 2.3 cumulative GPA while at CCBC.
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress
Maryland DREAM Act students
- Meet the Maryland Dream Act eligibility criteria and have an approved Application for Out-of-State Tuition Exemption for Undocumented Students.
- Be a Baltimore County resident.
- If dependent, parent(s) must be a legal resident of Maryland.
- Be a 2018-2023 high school graduate.
- Have an unweighted, cumulative final Maryland high school GPA of 2.3 or higher, be a Maryland GED recipient, or be a Maryland external diploma degree graduate.
or
Be a Maryland high school/GED/external diploma degree graduate and a current CCBC student who has completed at least 3 credits at CCBC with a minimum 2.3 cumulative CCBC GPA.
- Have an adjusted gross household income of $150,000 or less, this includes parent(s) and student based on 2022 Maryland State Tax return(s).
- Enroll in 1 or more required credits/billable hours towards declared degree/certificate
- Maintain a minimum 2.3 cumulative GPA while at CCBC.
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
Maryland Community College Promise:
- Is a need-based financial grant for eligible middle-income families, funded by the State of Maryland.
- Pays up to $5,000 in tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students to enroll full-time at their local Maryland community college.
- Is not available to all community college students.
- Eligibility requirements are listed below.
- Applicants who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree
Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
To be eligible:
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the planned year of enrollment
- Have an unweighted, cumulative high school GPA of 2.3 or higher by the end of first semester senior year, or at graduation.
- Have a household income of:
- $100,000, or less, if single or living in a single-parent household, or
- $150,000, or less, if married or living in a two-parent household.
- Be eligible for in-state tuition as determined by the community college
- Not earned an associates or bachelors degree
- Enroll full-time in at least 12 credits/billable hours at a Maryland community college
- Note: “Full-time” is defined slightly differently for career training students.
- Eligibility does not guarantee award.
Students enrolled in the Associate to Bachelors Nursing Program (ATB) are not eligible to receive the Maryland Community College Promise scholarship at CCBC because CCBC is not considered the student's home institution.
Non-Baltimore County residents who choose to attend CCBC must enroll in an approved MHEC Statewide program in order to receive Maryland Community College Promise funding.
How do I apply?
Baltimore County College Promise Scholarship
Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
- Complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA.
- CCBC’s school code is 002063.
- Complete General Application in AcademicWorks
- Submit all required documentation to Financial Aid Office. Students can login to SIMON to view all requested documents under Financial Aid.
- Submit an official final high school transcript or official report of GED passing scores to the Registrars Office.
Maryland DREAM Act Students
- Complete General Application in AcademicWorks
- Complete the Baltimore County College Promise for Maryland Dream Act supplemental application.
Applications for the Fall 2023 semester will be accepted April 17th, 2023 through October 13th, 2023.
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
To apply:
- Submit the 2023-2024 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or MSFAA* (Maryland State Financial Aid Application).
- The MSFAA should only be completed by undocumented individuals who are ineligible to receive federal financial aid.
- List your community college on your FAFSA or MSFAA to ensure your application is considered for the Promise program.
- The CCBC school code is 002063
- Submit a high school transcript or GED examination scores via your MDCAPS (Maryland College Aid Processing System) account along with any other documentation requests
- Students who have graduated from high school five or more years before applying for the scholarship are exempt from submitting a high school transcript to document GPA. Applicants must instead submit the Promise Affidavit Form online in their MDCAPS account.
- All FAFSA/MSFAA applications and document requests must be submitted to MHEC by the following deadlines:
- Priority Deadline: July 15, 2023
- Final Deadline: April 24, 2024
*NOTE: The above MSFAA link connects to the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s (MHEC) FAQ page on the MSFAA. The FAQ page includes a link for users to set up a Maryland College Aid Processing (MDCAPS) account which is where the MSFAA form is located.
How will I be notified?
Baltimore County College Promise Scholarship
The
CCBC Financial Aid office will let you know if you’re eligible for the Baltimore County College Promise scholarship via your CCBC student email.
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
How do I renew the College Promise?
Baltimore County College Promise Scholarship
If pursuing an associate degree, you must:
- File a Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) each year.
- Submit the General Application in Academic Works each academic year
- Maintain enrollment at CCBC
- Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.3 Grade Point Average (GPA).
- Maintain a household adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less.
- Maintain Baltimore County Residency
- If dependent, parent(s) must be a legal resident of Maryland.
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Successfully complete degree/certificate within six years.
Maryland DREAM Act students
- Renew Maryland Dream Act eligibility with the International Student Services office.
- Maintain a household adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less.
- Maintain Baltimore County residency.
- Maintain enrollment at CCBC
- Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.3 Grade Point Average (GPA).
- Successfully complete degree/certificate within six years.
If seeking workforce licensure or certification (credit or non-credit), you must:
- Maintain continuous enrollment.
- Maintain Baltimore County Residency.
- Complete the credential within the prescribed timeline for the course/program requirements.
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
Fall 2023 & Spring 2024
A recipient of a Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
may hold the award until the earlier of:
- 3 years after first enrolling as a candidate for a vocational certificate, a certificate, or an associate degree at a community college in the State; or
- The date that the individual is awarded an associate degree, vocational certificate or certificate, whichever comes first.
To Renew:
- remain eligible for in-state tuition
- continue to enroll in and complete
- 12 credits/billable hours per semester, or
- a sequence of credit or non-credit courses that leads to licensure or certification, or
- continues to participate in a registered apprenticeship program
- maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 for the requisite credit-bearing coursework for the remainder of the award
- make satisfactory progress towards a vocational certificate, a certificate, or an associates degree;
- participate in registered apprenticeship program; and
- continue to meet the income requirements
- continues to submit a FAFSA or MSFAA within a timely manner.
Students who wish to appeal minimum eligibility criteria must submit the appropriate appeal form directly to MHEC by the assigned deadline.
Promise fund recipients pursuing an academic degree at community college and planning to transfer and obtain a bachelor’s degree, may stay and earn their associate degree (usually 60 credits) before transferring, but they don’t have to. However, they do need to complete at least 48 credit hours at community college before transferring to a 4-year institution or they risk losing some of the benefits offered by the Promise program.
Who should I contact for more information?
Baltimore County College Promise Scholarship
Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship
Got promise? Ruby does!
"The College Promise scholarship helped me get through my classes without worrying about the financial struggle of paying for college."
Learn more about her experience»
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