Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship

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The Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship program promotes the state's compelling interests in educating diverse student bodies and in achieving diversity in ROTC programs.
Application Timeline: 
  • Opening Date: The 2025-2026 application opens April 15, 2025.
  • Closing Date: The 2025-2026 application will close on April 1,  2026.
  • Notification Date: While specific notification dates are not provided, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants are advised to submit all required materials promptly to ensure timely processing. 
Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Current or prospective full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students;  
  • Current or prospective part-time degree-seeking undergraduate students; 
  • Current or prospective full-time degree-seeking graduate students; 
  • Current or prospective part-time degree-seeking graduate students; or
  • Undocumented students eligible for in-state tuition.
An individual who has been identified by the institution as a minority student or a student who is a member of another group historically underrepresented in Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) programs.  The applicant must be:
  • Enrolled full-time at the following institutions only: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, or University of Maryland Eastern Shore;
  • A member of a ROTC program; and
  • Determined to be eligible for in-state tuition by the institution.​

Application Process & Requirements:
An individual must:
  • Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa or submit the MHEC One App online through the Maryland College Aid Processing Portal (MDCAPS) for any applicant who is ineligible to receive federal aid but is eligible for in-state tuition by July 15.
  • Applicants must submit the online application through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) One-App by visiting https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us. The online application and all required documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the closing date.
Note:  All required documents will be requested and submitted online through each applicant's MDCAPS account.


Required Documentation: 
All Applicants must submit the following:
  • Institutional Certification Form - Provided through the applicant's MDCAPS account. Must be completed by the institution and returned to OSFA
  • Documentation confirming the student is a member of a ROTC program 
    • Documentation must be uploaded onto the student’s MDCAPS account
  • FAFSA or MHEC One App for Undocumented students 

Award Amount:

  • An annual scholarship award shall be in the amount prescribed by MHEC, which shall not exceed the recipient's education expenses. 
  • The minimum scholarship award amount shall not be less than $500 per semester and $1,000 for the academic year.
Note: Recipient's with financial need are prioritized

Renewal Requirements:

A recipient is eligible to receive a renewal award for up to three years if the recipient

  • Submit the Richard W. Collins III application in MDCAPS;
  • Submit the FAFSA or submit the MHEC One-App online through MDCAPS for any applicant who is ineligible for federal aid but is eligible for in-state tuition by July 15;
  • Continues to meet the eligibility and enrollment requirements as outlined above; and
  • Continues to make satisfactory progress toward a degree and maintains the standards of the institution.

Additional Information: