University of Maryland, College Park
PA-7: Affordability and Access

The University of Maryland (UMD) offers need-based aid to students who demonstrate financial need. Need-based aid includes Federal Work-Study; Subsidized Direct Loans; and need-based federal, state and university grants. Other resources include UM tuition waivers/remission; Resident Assistant benefits; employer tuition benefits; vocational rehabilitation benefits; and private, state and university scholarships. University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program was initiated in 2001 to recognize and reward young people who want to better their life opportunities through a college education. The program specifically targets students who, despite adverse life situations, demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence and maturity. Students receive full financial support (tuition, fees, room and board) for their undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. The heart of the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program is the development of individual character, community, responsibility and leadership within an intimate community of peers, advisors and faculty mentors. The cohort of students that form the core of this community benefit from outstanding academic and support programs and are also active in their home activities as role models for future incentive Award candidates. The Maryland Transfer Advantage Program (MTAP) provides a pathway for students at participating community colleges to earn an undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland. Students who participate in MTAP have access to transfer advising resources, can take discounted courses at UMD, and are guaranteed admission to the University of Maryland upon successful completion of the program. This program often provides students with a lower cost path to degree completion at the University of Maryland. In addition, the Maryland Transfer Scholarship Program provides partial-tuition awards ranging from $5,000 distributed equally over two semesters to $10,000 distributed equally over four consecutive semesters. Students are considered for this award on the basis of academic talent and demonstrated financial need. In addition, UMD also offers need-based TerpStart Scholarships designated for the neediest students, Clark Scholars and Clark Opportunity Transfer Scholarships (COTS) which are two new need and merit based awards, and Undergraduate Admissions also offers application fee and enrollment deposit waivers for low-income students.

The University's Teaching and Learning Transformation Center (TLTC) inspires and supports effective, engaging, efficient, and equitable teaching innovations among the University’s instructors and assistants. TLTC works with colleges, departments, programs, and individuals to enhance student learning and recognize excellence in teaching through workshops, ceremonies, and awards and consultations. TLTC helps instructors and teaching assistants understand and provide appropriate academic accommodations and facilitate the ongoing dialogue about obstacles to a fully inclusive learning environment. Their Diversity and Inclusion Workshop series is one of the many ways TLTC supports innovative approaches to overcoming these obstacles. The University's Office of Student Financial Aid offers trainings, facilitated discussions and panel presentations through their outreach program with the goal of providing support, connection and financial literacy education to faculty, staff, students groups and off-campus organizations.

Academic Achievement Programs in Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland primarily serve educationally disadvantaged, low-income, and first generation college students. They provide academic support, advising and counseling, skill enhancement, and tutoring for these populations and for students with disabilities. Academic Achievement Programs include: Intensive Educational Development, Educational Opportunity Center, the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program,) the University Transition Education Readiness Program (uTERP), and Student Support Services. Pre-College Programs in Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland provides education services to mitigate economic and social, inequities that impact access to higher-education. Pre-College Programs provide high school academic counseling and support, career guidance, financial aid guidance, personal development seminars and college preparation workshops. Pre-College Programs is a Federally funded TRIO program and is comprised of Upward Bound and LIFT Programs. About 96% of participating students attend college, many receiving prestigious awards, such as Gates Millennium and Posse scholarships. Pre-College Programs students come from a wide variety of diverse backgrounds, many from immigrant families and most are future first generation college students. The Maryland Ascent Program (MAP) is a program sponsored by the University of Maryland to help selected first-generation college students from Baltimore City and Baltimore County public schools navigate the complex world of college admission. Over a series of sessions in the fall semester, selected students will receive sustained assistance through staff in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and current Maryland students to take their first steps toward a college degree. MAP provides participants, known as Ascent Fellows, educational, motivational, and practical tools modeled after those used by private college counselors. The University's Office of Student Financial Aid provides free financial literacy services through iGrad to help prospective and current students make informed spending and student loan borrowing decisions. iGrad provides interactive tools on financial literacy and planning, designed to help students gain skills and knowledge on the student loan process, good credit decisions and preparation for the future. iGrad's full library of resources include short video presentations, webinars, educational games, calculators, a job and internship search tool, and current, relevant articles on a wide array of financial topics.

The University of Maryland and its individual colleges offer a wide-range of scholarship opportunities to low-income students with demonstrated financial need. Scholarships may support students with particular lived experiences, particular study interest and more. Below are some examples of scholarship opportunities for low-income students at the University of Maryland: University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program was initiated in 2001 to recognize and reward young people who want to better their life opportunities through a college education. The program specifically targets students who, despite adverse life situations, demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence and maturity. Students receive full financial support (tuition, fees, room and board) for their undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. The heart of the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program is the development of individual character, community, responsibility and leadership within an intimate community of peers, advisors and faculty mentors. The cohort students that form the core of this community benefit from outstanding academic and support programs and are also active in their home activities as role models for future incentive Award candidates. The Hillman Entrepreneurs Program is a scholarship and academic support initiative targeted to students who have an interest in entrepreneurship and an enthusiasm for starting a business venture or leading a company. The goal is to support, develop, and graduate ethical leaders who want to energize and give back to their local communities.The Hillman Entrepreneurs Program offers a new model in education. Students who might not otherwise be able to afford a college education are now starting their college career at either Prince George’s Community College or Montgomery College and then transferring to the University of Maryland to complete their degree in any major. They receive up to 2/3 tuition in scholarship funds. They also receive deep mentoring from full-time mentors at each institution. The Pardee Undergraduate Studies Scholarship was established in 2007 by Katherine "Kit" Pardee '77 to provide scholarships to undergraduate students who have demonstrated consistent involvement in campus activities, are in good academic standing, and have financial need. Preference is given to students who are the first in their families to attend college. The Maryland Transfer Scholarship program provides partial-tuition awards ranging from $5,000 distributed equally over two semesters to $10,000 distributed equally over four consecutive semesters. Students are considered for this award on the basis of academic talent and demonstrate financial need according to the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In-state students transferring to the University of Maryland from a two-year or four-year institution are eligible.

University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program was initiated in 2001 to recognize and reward young people who want to better their life opportunities through a college education. The program specifically targets students who, despite adverse life situations, demonstrate academic ability, uncommon persistence and maturity. Students receive full financial support (tuition, fees, room and board) for their undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland. The heart of the University of Maryland Incentive Awards Program is the development of individual character, community, responsibility and leadership within an intimate community of peers, advisors and faculty mentors. The cohort students that form the core of this community benefit from outstanding academic and support programs and are also active in their home activities as role models for future incentive Award candidates. As part of the Academic Achievement Programs, the Educational Opportunity Center recruits largely low income and first-generation adults for post-secondary admission, enrollment, financial aid, and life-skills services in Prince George’s County. The office works closely with Prince George’s County One-Stop, Prince George’s County 202 Coalition, Maryland Multicultural Youth Center, Prince George’s County Community College, Prince George’s County Library System, and Year Up Capital Region. The EOC assists more than 1,000 low-income college-bound citizens per year in Prince George's County ages 19 and older gain admission and obtain financial aid for post-secondary education enrollment.

The Campus Pantry’s mission is to alleviate food insecurity among UMD-College Park students, faculty and staff by providing emergency food to those in need. Since 2014, the Campus Pantry has served in its mission to alleviate food insecurity at UMD while also emphasizing sustainable food practices and raising awareness about hunger issues in our own community. The Keep Me Maryland Fund provides emergency assistance to students who are in danger of dropping out of school as a result of financial hardships stemming from the economy. The Keep Me Maryland fund can go toward costs associated with tuition/fees, room and board, and books. Students experiencing an unexpected financial hardship that is affecting their ability to pay for school can submit an appeal form for funding. The Dreamkeepers Emergency Financial Assistance program at the University of Maryland is designed to assist students who are experiencing temporary hardships and provide assistance to students at risk of dropping out due to unexpected financial problems. The Dreamkeepers Emergency Assistance Grant can be used to assist students facing unexpected financial emergencies related to issues such living expenses, utility bills, medical expenses, child care, and food related expenses.

The Office of Student Financial Aid awards the Maryland Part-time State Grant to Maryland residents who demonstrate financial need and enroll for 6 to 11 credits (part-time) per semester as a degree-seeking undergraduate student. The minimum Part-Time Grant award is $200, and the maximum award is $2,000. Funds may not be available to award all eligible students. The award is renewable as long as need through FAFSA continues to be demonstrated.

The University of Maryland's Center for Young Children (CYC), established in 1948, provides care and education to children aged 3-6. Enrollment is available to children of Faculty, Staff, Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students and non-affiliated members of the community. The CYC’s mission is to educate and care for young children in a developmentally appropriate manner, to serve as an exemplary laboratory and demonstration school that mentors and trains undergraduate students for education and other related professions, and to serve as a research site for the campus and the community. The University's partnership with the Maryland Family Network provides an enhanced offering of its LOCATE: Child Care service. This service to all students, faculty, and staff. This free service allows university affiliates the opportunity to work with a trained LOCATE: Child Care referral specialist to select the best child care option for their needs.

The Golden Identification Card Program allows eligible senior citizens to take advantage of the wide variety of courses at the University of Maryland at College Park and receive certain other benefits. College Park tuition is waived, and students are charged part-time undergraduate student fees, less the health, student activities, and athletic fees.