Grants

The maximum annual Pell Grant for the award year may change from year to year according to Congressional appropriation. Pell Grant eligibility is based on the expected family contribution (EFC) as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is directed toward students with exceptional financial need. Priority is given to students who also qualify for a Federal Pell Grant.

Howard P. Rawlings Program of Educational Excellence Awards:

    Guaranteed Access Grant​​ - a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at Washington College. Award amounts are up to $18,000/year.

     Educational Assistance Grant - a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at Washington College. Award amounts are up to $3,000/year.

     Campus-Based Educational Assistance Grant - a need-based financial aid program that assists students who were not considered for the Educational Assistance Grant.

    Part-time Grant - part-time, degree seeking students are eligible as well as students dually enrolled in a Maryland high school and Washington College. 

    2+2 Transfer Scholarship - transfer students who have received an Associates degree from a Maryland community college. Award amount is $1,000 per year and $2,000 for a student who enrolls in a science, teaching, engineering, computer science, mathematics or nursing program.   

    Delegate and Senatorial Scholarships - offered to Maryland residents and are awarded by Maryland Senators and Delegates

    Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship - students who pledge to work as public school or public pre-kindergarten teachers at schools that have at least 50% of the students in the school eligible for free or reduced price meals (FRPM) in Maryland are eligible.

Application for Maryland State Grants - for applicants that are ineligible to receive federal aid using the FAFSA. 

VIsit the MHEC website for more information.

Required Period of Residency

Applicants shall establish that they have been residents of the State of Maryland for the required time frame as specified below.  The required time frames are based upon the type of institution the student will be attending and are for the period immediately preceding the first day of class for the first session in which the student would receive a State scholarship award.

• Students enrolling in independent colleges and universities must have established Maryland residency for a period of 12 months proceeding the first day of class for the first session in which the student would receive a State scholarship award.
• Washington College Residency Verification Process: A student must be a Maryland resident to be eligible for all State financial assistance programs, with the exception of, Delegate and Non-Resident Nursing Scholarship recipients.  Students who do not meet the definition of Maryland residency will not be eligible to receive State funds. Maryland residency MUST be verified prior to disbursement of funds. Washington College will require a residency verification form and supporting documentation.

General Criteria

Recipients of Maryland State scholarships will be considered as Maryland residents if one of the following criteria is met.

• The student is dependent upon a parent(s) or spouse who has maintained a permanent residence in Maryland for the required period of residency described in this section.
• The student is independent and has maintained a permanent residence in Maryland for the required period of residency described in this section.
• The student is a full‑time active member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the State of Maryland or whose home of residency is Maryland.
• The student is a dependent spouse or dependent child of a full‑time active member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the State of Maryland or whose home of residency is Maryland.

Permanent Residence

Determining if permanent residency has been established in Maryland, the following criteria shall be taken into consideration.  The applicable criteria must be met for the required period of residency as described in this section. The criteria are as follows:

• Owns or rents and occupies living quarters in Maryland.
• Maintains within Maryland substantially all personal property.
• Pays Maryland income tax on all earned taxable income including all taxable income earned outside the State.
• Registers all owned motor vehicles in Maryland in accordance with Maryland law.
• Possesses a valid Maryland driver's license, if licensed, in accordance with Maryland law.
• Is registered to vote in Maryland, if registered to vote.
• Receives no public assistance from a state other than the State of Maryland or from a city, county or municipal agency other than one in Maryland.

Extenuating Circumstances

Students who move to Maryland as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) for one of the reasons listed below will be considered Maryland residents for the purposes of State financial aid programs.

Civilian Personnel

The time frame required to meet Maryland residency requirements shall be waived in the case of civilian employees of the U.S. Armed Forces whose positions are transferred from other States to Maryland as the result of the decision of the BRAC for the term of their continuous employment by the U.S. Armed Forces.  This waiver shall also apply to the spouses and dependent children of the affected employees.  Such employees shall be required to submit adequate supporting documentation of a BRAC-related transfer from the Department of Defense or the employee's military unit, such as a copy of the DD Form 1614 and proof of Maryland residence, verifying their eligibility for this waiver.

Defense Contractors

The time frame required to meet Maryland residency requirements shall be waived in the case of employees of defense contractors whose positions are transferred from other states to Maryland as the result of the decision of the BRAC for the term of their continuous employment by their employer.  This waiver shall also apply to the spouses and dependent children of the affected employees. Such employees shall be required to submit adequate supporting documentation of a BRAC-related transfer from their defense contractor employers establishing that the transfer was BRAC-related and proof of Maryland residence, verifying their eligibility of this waiver.

Appeals

A student may appeal a denial of Maryland residency under the appeal mechanism defined laterin this section.

• Change of Status: Maryland residency status is lost at any time that an independent student, or the parent or spouse through whom a dependent student has attained Maryland residency status, establishes a domicile outside the State.
• The student shall be considered an out of State student in the first academic term, trimester, or semester after the out of state move occurs.
• Certification of Residency by Institution: A student’s residency status shall be certified each term by the Maryland institution at which the student is enrolled.
• If the institution determines that the student is not a Maryland resident, then the student’s State scholarship award shall be cancelled.

 

Awarded to students who have financial need according to the FAFSA. These grants are renewable as long as the recipient continues to demonstrate need and maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Award amounts are calculated using direct costs. If you move off campus at any point, your award may be adjusted due to a reduction in these costs. Direct costs include costs billed by the college such as tuition and fees, room and meals. 

WC Need-Based Grants do not need to be repaid.  However, the College hopes that recipients will recognize they have incurred an obligation and therefore subsequently contribute as they can to help ensure that the benefits they enjoyed are available to others.

Students who wish to be considered for Washington College Need-Based  Grants must complete the FAFSA by the annual published deadline date.