Maryland is home to over 6.1 million residents, around 356,000 of which are currently enrolled in Maryland universities. Of the college students attending Maryland universities, nearly 80% are undergraduates and the other 20% are graduate students. Rising costs of education have affected students throughout the nation, and Maryland residents are no exception. To relieve some of this stress, financial assistance through scholarships and grants can help lower the cost you pay for higher education.
The combined number of K-12 students attending Maryland schools is 882,538. Students in Maryland come from different backgrounds, with a diverse student population. Of the students attending public schools in Maryland, 35.6% are white, 33.1% are Black/African American, 19.4% are of Hispanic descent, and the other 11.9% are comprised of other various ethnically diverse students.
The diverse population of students in Maryland is due to the increasing minority population. 47% of Maryland residents are white, making the majority population consist of racial minorities. As K-12 students grow up, colleges in Maryland will continue to become even more racially diverse.
In recent years, the United States has seen a change in the gender demographics of universities. Women comprise approximately 60% of the undergraduate student population. Maryland's gender demographics line up closely with the national average. Of the students attending colleges in Maryland, 43.4% are male and 56.6% are female.
Maryland is home to 92 colleges. 33 of these schools are public universities and the other 59 are private institutions. Despite Maryland's smaller size, being the 8th smallest state in the nation, it has plenty of universities to choose from.
Some of the most notable colleges in Maryland include Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, and Townson University. Maryland is also home to the U.S. Naval Academy and 16 Maryland community colleges. Different colleges specialize in different types of education and provide different degree programs such as liberal arts and private career schools. By doing a little bit of research, you can find schools in Maryland that support your different interests.
As of 2021, the average tuition price for attending colleges in Maryland is listed as $8,170 for in-state students and $15,784 for out-of-state students. When combining these values with the averages for room and board as well as books and educational materials, the average cost of attendance for Maryland colleges is $24,066 for in-state students and $31,680 for students attending from out of Maryland.
Current high school seniors looking to attend an institution of higher education can begin looking for financial aid and college scholarships to help cover the costs of attending Maryland schools.
Maryland residents have incurred a combined total of around $37.1 billion in debt through higher education costs. The average college graduate leaves Maryland colleges with $39,505 in student loan debt. This is higher than the national average of $39,351 per student.
Despite the high prices for attending Maryland colleges, there are ways for eligible students to get help paying for the cost of attendance. These options include scholarships offered by individual universities, grants, federal financial assistance, and student loan forgiveness programs. To learn more about how student loan forgiveness works, visit Bold.org's comprehensive Guide to Student Loan Forgiveness.
Searching for scholarships can seem like a daunting process. It can be hard to know what scholarships are best for you, where to start looking for scholarships, and how to apply. Bold.org makes the scholarship process simple, giving straightforward ways for students to find scholarships and become scholarship recipients.
High school students preparing for college, degree-seeking undergraduates, graduate students, international students, and transfer students can all find college scholarships on Bold.org that give opportunities for financial assistance.
When looking into Maryland scholarships, begin by examining your academic and professional goals. Use your future plans to help guide which scholarship awards you choose to apply for. Below, we've shared some scholarships specific to students of different interests and backgrounds.
Giving back to your community not only makes it a better place to live but is also personally rewarding. Especially in recent times, it is more important than ever to support each other and help those in need.
Volunteering can give you a sense of accomplishment and can even help you land a job. Applicants who have volunteering experience are 82% more likely to be chosen for a job than candidates without experience. This scholarship aims to support high school seniors in Maryland who are involved in their communities and are passionate about giving back.
Pillars4Dignity, a nonprofit organization located in Maryland, aims to support and empower underserved women who face economic and social hardships. You must be a rising female junior or senior in high school, and be located in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia to be eligible for this scholarship.
Ultimately, how you conduct your scholarship search is up to you. There are many scholarship opportunities out there - the tricky part is finding which ones are best for you to apply for. Use resources such as Bold.org to help you narrow your search. The more eligibility requirements you meet for a scholarship, the more likely you are to be successful in securing it since a fewer number of people will be applying for it.
Below we've listed some additional scholarships to help get you started on the scholarship process.
High school seniors have many different options when it comes to scholarships since they are just about to begin their college experience. Of the scholarships offered for high school students, many are geared specifically to high school seniors. Because of the number of scholarships open for high school seniors, there are broad and specific options to consider.
Some scholarships are for high school seniors intending to pursue specific majors, such as the Jack “Fluxare” Hytner Memorial Scholarship, which is for seniors planning to pursue a degree in the technology field. Other scholarships, such as the Dark and Light Scholarship, are for students that are from a specific state.
No matter where you're from or what your interests are, there are high school senior scholarships available for you. Take a look at more scholarships for high school seniors here.
Maryland is home to Johns Hopkins University, which specializes in medicine. Since Maryland hosts such a prestigious medical university, there are many students studying medicine who are looking for scholarships to help pay for medical school. Bold.org has a variety of Nursing Scholarships to help medical students pay the expensive costs of extra schooling.
Nursing students in Maryland can look for scholarships listed on the nursing page provided. Additionally, medical students can look at the scholarship search page, which has specific categories under both "Healthcare" and "Nursing." Use these features to assist in your medical scholarship search.
Maryland provides state delegate scholarship awards to students who are residents of Maryland. This scholarship program is open to high school seniors and college students who are from Maryland and plan to or are currently pursuing full-time higher education. These scholarships, specific to Maryland residents, are provided through the state government. To learn more, see information on the Delegate Scholarships informational page. Various other legislative scholarships exist to help Maryland students. See more about legislative scholarships in Maryland here.
As of 2018, immigrants comprised 15% of the Maryland population. Since there are so many students in Maryland who have had international education, scholarships are available to help as they transition to school in the United States. Bold.org is open specifically to students attending school in the United States, and this includes immigrants and international students who may not have started their education here, but are currently attending school in the U.S.
For international students and immigrants, there are specific scholarships on Bold.org that you can search for. See the Scholarships for International Students page and the "Diversity and Inclusion" category on the scholarship search page to find great scholarships for immigrants and international students in Maryland.
Nearly 30% of Maryland's population is Black. Maryland's more diverse population has scholarship options available specifically for them. There are Exclusive Scholarships for Black Students on Bold.org that are meant for African American/Black students. On top of the many opportunities presented on this page, there are even more scholarships that support ethnic minorities under the "Diversity and Inclusion" category of the scholarship search page. These resources are meant to give financial assistance to underrepresented minorities and provide them with support as they pursue higher education.
Maryland has a special scholarship program called the Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program, which gives extensive scholarships to children pursuing undergraduate degrees. These scholarships are meant specifically for students with an immediate family member who has passed away while serving in the United States Armed Forces or who has incurred a serious disability as a result of service.
This scholarship also applies to students who lost a parent or spouse in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Learn more about the Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program to see if it's the right financial aid program for you.
As you begin applying for scholarships for Maryland students, you may have some questions about scholarships and how they work. Here we answer a few questions to help you through the scholarship application process.
No matter what your education status is or the type of background you have, there are scholarships available for you to apply to. Bold.org offers many scholarships. In order to get access to these exclusive opportunities, start by creating your free Bold.org profile. If you click on any of the scholarships listed, you will be directed to where you can create an account.
When you create your account, fill in as much as possible in your profile. The more information you provide, the more scholarships you will be eligible to apply for. Once you've prepared your profile, you can start looking for scholarships. This may seem daunting at first given the number of scholarships available on Bold.org, so start your search by using categories that fit your education level and interests. These filters will help single out scholarships that you are applicable for. You can save scholarships to revisit later.
Bold.org provides scholarships on a wider scale, but it is also important to look for scholarships locally. See what opportunities are available through your school, your community, or through organizations you're involved with. Most colleges have their own scholarships to help students succeed. These scholarships often open yearly for new registrations, so keep an eye out as you go along in your educational career. Scholarships will continue to open up, even as you get farther through school.
Now that you've chosen some scholarships to apply to, it's time to begin the process. Plan out how you want to prepare your application. Putting effort into your application will help make it stand out. For tips on how to write a great scholarship essay, visit our list of tips on how to write a scholarship essay.
It's never too early and never too late to seek out scholarships. As you move forward, be educated on how you can maximize your financial aid through grants and scholarship programs. And if you don't know where to start, Bold.org gives you great tools to guide you through your first steps.
Yes, private colleges accept need-based scholarships and grants. Each school's financial procedure is slightly different, so if you aren't sure how scholarships work for a specific school, reach out to their financial office. Generally, need-based scholarships are accepted at all schools. Additionally, private schools tend to offer many scholarships to help their students pay for college attendance. Do some research on the schools you are interested in, but continue applying for scholarships, because there is a high chance any financial aid you receive will be accepted.
No matter what your education status is or the type of background you have, there are scholarships available for you to apply to. Bold.org offers many scholarships. In order to get access to these exclusive opportunities, start by creating your free Bold.org profile. If you click on any of the scholarships listed, you will be directed to where you can create an account.
Yes, private colleges accept need-based scholarships and grants. Each school's financial procedure is slightly different, so if you aren't sure how scholarships work for a specific school, reach out to their financial office. Generally, need-based scholarships are accepted at all schools. Additionally, private schools tend to offer many scholarships to help their students pay for college attendance. Do some research on the schools you are interested in, but continue applying for scholarships, because there is a high chance any financial aid you receive will be accepted.