Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Foster Care Recipients

Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Foster Care Recipients provides state assistance in the repayment of educational loans owed by foster care recipients who are employed by the state, or by a county or municipality of the state, and who received a graduate or undergraduate degree from an institution of higher education in the state.

Application Timeline:

Opening Date: The 2025-2026 academic year application opens April 15, 2025.

Closing Date: The 2025-2026 academic year application will close on February 21, 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:

You must be a Maryland resident and have been placed in an out-of-home placement by the state or unit of a state government's department of social services for 3 years or more.

You must have earned either an undergraduate or graduate degree from a college in Maryland.

You must be employed at least part-time (20 hours per week) in State, county or local government.

You must have educational loans from a university, government, or commercial source that you used to pay college expenses.

You may not be in default on a loan.

Application Process & Requirements:

Applicants must submit the online application and required documentation by clicking the link on this website page under Additional Information. The online application and all required documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the closing date.

Required Documentation:

Employment Verification Form

Institutional Certification Form

Lender Verification Form

Documentation Proof of Foster Care (must reflect at least 3 years of foster care)

Student signed Maryland State Income tax form/ Federal Returns (Form 1040) - upload your signed 2024 Maryland tax return or Non-filing statement letter from the IRS.

Renewal Requirements:

Awards are automatically renewed on an annual basis for up to a maximum of three (3) years if the annual employment, lender, and tax documentation is received by the deadline each year that the student is receiving funding. Failure to submit required documentation by the deadline or failure to report changes in employment status throughout the service/award years will make the student ineligible for the award.

Service Obligation Requirement:

Each recipient offered an award must sign and return an employment obligation agreement stating they will remain employed by the state or a county or municipality of the state for at least one (1) year after the terms of the award expire.

Prior service obligations from other state scholarships must be completed before applying. One position cannot fulfill two service obligations simultaneously. If a recipient holds multiple service obligations, the obligations must be served in consecutive years.