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Transfer Merit Scholarships

If you are transferring to the University of Maryland, we offer scholarships tailored just for you!

Merit scholarships provide financial awards to some of the University of Maryland’s most academically talented transfer students. Transfer applicants that apply by the March 1 early action deadline for priority fall admission consideration, are automatically reviewed for some of these merit scholarships, while others require a separate application. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents can qualify for the university’s merit scholarships.

Admission decision letters for fall early action applicants are mailed by late April, and merit scholarship award notifications are mailed beginning a few weeks later. Students cannot appeal their merit scholarship decisions, and the university does not match award offers from other institutions. Awards offered to admitted students who do not enroll at UMD cannot be disbursed to other students.

To be considered for merit scholarships, students must submit a completed undergraduate admission application for the fall semester by the March 1 early action deadline. Students are only eligible to receive one merit scholarship. All merit scholarship decisions are based on academic and applicant information at the time of applying, not current or ongoing work. Additional eligibility requirements for each scholarship vary and can be found below.

The Frederick Douglass Scholarship is a prestigious University of Maryland scholarship for academically talented transfer students from a Maryland community college. This exceptional academic scholarship honors the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass.

The Maryland Transfer Scholarship provides partial-tuition awards ranging from $5,000 distributed equally over two semesters to $10,000 distributed equally over four consecutive semesters.

Only in-state students transferring to the University of Maryland from a two-year or four-year institution are eligible. Students must apply for admission by the early action deadline and must submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline of January 1. Students are considered for this award on the basis of academic talent and demonstrated financial need. To maintain the scholarship, students must be enrolled full time beginning this fall academic semester and maintain a cumulative grade point average of a 3.20. Each fall, roughly 200 Maryland Transfer Scholarship recipients are welcomed to campus.

The President’s Transfer Scholarship provides funding for a maximum of two years to out-of-state transfer students enrolled at the University of Maryland. The annual award is in the amount of $5,000 and is determined through a competitive process based on academic talent. Only out-of-state applicants are eligible to receive the President’s Transfer Scholarship. No separate application is required for consideration, as recipients are identified through evaluation of admission application materials including academic achievement, extracurricular activities, awards, honors and an essay.

We are committed to providing you with helpful information and resources that can assist in making a UMD education affordable for you and your family. Students admitted to UMD have the ability to find and apply for scholarships through our scholarship matching platform. Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid's website to get started on your scholarship search.

Additionally, several academic departments offer merit scholarships to their most promising students. You should contact the department, college or school directly for information about availability, eligibility, applications and deadlines.

Policies for all merit scholarships can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid website.

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Freshman applicants can apply using either the Common App or StandOut Admissions Network platforms. At this time, transfer applicants can only apply using StandOut Admissions Network.

Finance

Consistently ranked as one of the best values in public higher education, you can rest assured that you will receive an affordable world-class education.

College is a major investment for you and your family. The university is here to help. We offer an array of financial aid programs—including scholarships, grants, loans and student employment—as part of our commitment to making an excellent education affordable.

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The University of Maryland has launched a new investment in need-based financial aid, the Terrapin Commitment program, which will provide up to $20 million annually for students from the state of Maryland.

The goal of the Terrapin Commitment program is to reduce the gap between a student’s total financial aid package and the cost of an education. The program will begin in January 2023 and ensures that tuition and fees are fully covered for Pell eligible, in-state students, who are enrolled full time and have unmet financial need. More details can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid's website.

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Congratulations on your admission to the University of Maryland! We are excited to welcome you into our world of fearless ideas.

You’ve received your admission letter, checked out your major and started celebrating with family and friends. To make enrollment official, check out information for newly admitted students to get everything you need to start your academic career at UMD. 

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