Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship

The 2025-2026 application is Open teacher fellows.png

The Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship is awarded to students who pledge to work as a public school or public prekindergarten teacher in Maryland upon completion of their studies in a high-needs school (as identified by MSDE), or in a grade level or content area in which there is a shortage of qualified educators.

Application Timeline:

Opening Date: The 2025-2026 academic year application opens on March 1, 2025, for high school seniors graduating in Spring/Summer 2025 and other applicants who will be attending college in the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
Closing Date: The 2025-2026 academic year 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:}

Applicants enrolled or intend to enroll at an eligible institution in an undergraduate or graduate program leading to a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.
Applicants must agree to work as a public school or public prekindergarten teacher in the State upon completion of their studies in a high-needs school (as identified by MSDE), or in a grade level or content area in which there is a shortage of qualified educators.
Full-time or part-time enrollment at an eligible institution pursuing a course of study leading to a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.
Applicants are no longer required to be Maryland residents or provide GPA, GRE, or SAT scores.

Note: An individual who has been employed as a teaching assistant at a public school or public prekindergarten program in Maryland for at least 2 years may apply and is eligible to hold the scholarship as a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student.

*A recipient of this scholarship may not hold a Maryland professional teacher's certificate.

Application Process & Requirements:

Applicants must submit the online application through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS). 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.
High School Applicants	Submit a high school transcript after completing of first semester of senior year in high school; AND Essay; AND Institutional Certification Form
Applicants currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution	Submit a college transcript, or if not applicable a final high school transcript; AND Essay; AND Institutional Certification Form
Applicants that graduated from high school and completed some courses at a post-secondary institution	Submit a college transcript; AND Essay; AND Institutional Certification Form
Applicants not currently enrolled at a post-secondary institution but who graduated from a college or university	Submit a final undergraduate transcript; AND Institutional Certification Form; AND Essay
Applicants currently enrolled in a graduate degree program	Submit a final undergraduate transcript; AND Institutional Certification Form; AND Essay
Teaching Assistants	Submit a Teaching Asst Employer Verification Form; AND Essay; AND Institutional Certification Form *Applicants with teaching certificates are ineligible for the award

Required Documentation:

For High School Applicants or Those with Less Than 12 College Credits:

Official or unofficial high school transcript.

For Applicants with More Than 12 College Credits or College Graduates Not Currently Enrolled:

Official or unofficial college transcript.

For Graduate Applicants:

Official or unofficial transcript from current school or undergraduate transcript.

All Applicants:

A 600-word essay detailing how the applicant has demonstrated exceptional dedication to or aptitude for teaching. The essay must be typed.
Institutional Certification Form - Provided through the applicant's MDCAPS account. Must be completed by the institution.

Award Amount:

An award applicant is eligible to receive an award contingent on the availability of funds as follows:

At a Maryland public senior higher education institution, the scholarship award is equivalent to 100% of the annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate.
At a Maryland private nonprofit institution, the scholarship award is equal to the lesser of:

100% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP) and 100% of the room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution; or
50% of the annual tuition and mandatory fees of a resident undergraduate or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution and 100% of the room and board of a resident undergraduate student or graduate student, as appropriate, at the institution.

Note: A private nonprofit institution must provide a matching scholarship award in an amount equal to the State award provided for tuition & fees only. Private nonprofit institutions are not required to match State funds awarded for room and board.

Per available funding, out-of-state residents who have a housing status as "Off Campus" or "With Parent" will have a housing allowance included in their award. The housing allowance is based on room and board costs provided to MHEC from each institution.

Renewal Requirements:

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

Continues to be a full-time or part-time undergraduate or graduate student.
Continues to make satisfactory progress toward a degree, and maintains the standards of the institution.

If a recipient of the Teaching Fellows of Maryland scholarship is enrolled in a course of study that is determined by the institution to require five years to complete, the recipient may renew the annual award four times. The recipient must submit a “Program of Study" appeal, by the deadline, providing documentation of the program of study requirements.

Additional Information: