Financial Support for Maryland Students
As a private institution, McDaniel’s tuition, food and housing costs are the same for in state and out-of-state students. However, Maryland residents may be eligible for additional state-based financial support. This support may include state scholarships (Senatorial, Delegate) and/or state grants (Educational Assistance, Guaranteed Access).
A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for all state aid. Need-based state grants also require a Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) account.
If you are interested in being considered by the state of Maryland for state financial aid, the deadline to submit your FAFSA is March 1. McDaniel is unable to request exceptions, and state deadlines must be followed closely.
State Legislative Scholarships
The Maryland Senatorial Scholarship
The Maryland Senatorial Scholarship is offered to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a post-secondary credential full-time or part-time at a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university or private career school. These scholarships are offered/awarded through your state delegation for your district, not through your federal delegation, which includes your U.S. Senators.
The Maryland Delegate Scholarship
The Maryland Delegate Scholarship is offered to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a postsecondary credential full-time or part-time at a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university or private career school. Interested students should contact their local Delegates for instructions on how to apply.
Learn more about state scholarships here.
State Grants
Educational Assistance (EA) Grant
The Educational Assistance (EA) Grant is one component of the Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards (EEA) Program. The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) offers the Educational Assistance (EA) Grant to Maryland residents who demonstrate financial need, based on information submitted through the FAFSA or MHEC One-App by March 1.
Historically, this grant has provided up to $3,000 per year to eligible Maryland students attending in-state institutions like McDaniel. In recent years, the state has focused its funding on renewing awards for returning students, so no new initial EA Grants have been issued during the past two award cycles. We encourage all eligible Maryland students to complete the FAFSA and check their MDCAPS account regularly, doing so ensures you’re ready to receive the grant if new funding becomes available.
McDaniel will continue to share updates from MHEC as they’re announced.
The Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant
The Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant is a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled in Maryland for post-secondary institutions for educational expenses. Students must submit their FAFSA or MHEC One-App by March 1 in order to be considered for the Guaranteed Access Grant.
In 2025-2026, the Grant was awarded in the amount of $18,000 per year. Each year, the award amount for the Guaranteed Access Grant is determined once the State of Maryland budget for the upcoming fiscal year is finalized. Because the amount of the grant is dependent on the state, McDaniel College encourages all Maryland students to complete the FAFSA by March 1 and check their MDCAPS account regularly throughout the spring and summer.
Most students will have already received their McDaniel financial aid offer at the time a GA Grant is awarded. Your GA Grant will be added to your financial aid offer up to the direct costs (tuition, housing, food and mandatory fees). For many students, this covers the remaining balance.
Should the GA Grant cause your total financial aid offer to exceed the college’s direct costs, your McDaniel financial aid will be reduced in the following order:
- McDaniel Need-Based Grant
- Visit Grant(s)
Your McDaniel merit scholarship will only be reduced as a last resort and will never be reduced below the amount of the current year GA Grant.
Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship Program
Maryland residents interested in becoming teachers may be eligible for State-funded scholarships through the Teaching Fellows for Maryland program.
As a private nonprofit institution, McDaniel College must provide a matching scholarship equal to the State award for tuition and fees only. McDaniel’s portion of this match includes existing institutional aid, such as merit or legacy scholarships, so these awards are not added on top of the State match. In other words, a student’s McDaniel merit or legacy scholarship counts toward meeting the required institutional match.
The State currently caps the tuition match at the University of Maryland, College Parks rate of $10,490, plus McDaniel’s mandatory fees of $975. The State also covers 100% of McDaniel’s standard double housing and standard meal plan costs as described below.
The scholarship award is equal to the lesser of:
• 100% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident student at UMCP and 100% of the room and board at the institution; or
• 50% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees at the institution and 100% of the room and board at the institution.
Note: Private nonprofit institutions must provide a matching scholarship for tuition and fees only and are not required to match State funds awarded for room and board.
Eligibility
- Must be accepted or currently enrolled (full- or part-time) in an undergraduate or graduate program at an eligible Maryland institution leading to teacher certification.
- Must agree to teach in a Maryland public school or public pre-kindergarten program after graduation, in a high-needs school or a critical shortage area.
- Applicants with at least two years of experience as a teaching assistant in a Maryland public school or pre-K may also qualify.
- Applicants cannot hold a Maryland professional teacher’s certificate.