To accept or decline awards please log on to MD CAPS.
If you have questions about residency requirements for state scholarships, please refer to the MHEC Maryland Residency Policy.
Who is eligible?
Available to current high school seniors and full-time and part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students. Financial need is required.
Both the student and parents/guardians must be Maryland residents in order to be eligible for financial assistance from the state. Go to mdelect.net to search for your delegate or senator.
Award Amount
The minimum annual award amount is $400 and the maximum award is $9,000.
How to Apply
To apply for the grant, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be received by the state by March 1. Contact your senator in February for further instructions.
Contact Information
More specific information on financial assistance available from the State of Maryland may be obtained by contacting:
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Office of Student Financial Assistance
6 North Liberty Street
Ground Suite
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
www.mhec.state.md.us
410-767-3300 or 800-974-0203
Who is eligible?
Available to current high school seniors and full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students. Financial need may be required.
Both the student and parents/guardians must be Maryland residents in order to be eligible for financial assistance from the state. Go to mdelect.net to search for your delegate or senator.
Award Amount
The minimum annual award amount is $200.
How to Apply
To apply for the grant, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be received by the state by March 1. Contact your delegates in February for further instructions.
Contact Information
More specific information on financial assistance available from the State of Maryland may be obtained by contacting:
Maryland Higher Education Commission
Office of Student Financial Assistance
6 North Liberty Street
Ground Suite
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
www.mhec.state.md.us
410-767-3300 or 800-974-0203
Who is eligible?
Current full-time or part-time graduate students enrolled at an eligible accredited Maryland postsecondary institution in a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN, MS) program, post-graduate certificate program in nursing education, Doctorate (PhD, DNP, EdD) program or another graduate-level nursing program required to prepare individuals to become nursing faculty.
Additional Requirements
- Maryland Resident
- 3.0 GPA or Higher
Award Amount
The Graduate Nursing Faculty Scholarship is equal to all tuition and mandatory fees for courses in the approved nursing plan of study at Maryland public and independent colleges and universities.
Questions? Contact Katelyn Barley at kbarley@ndm.edu.
How to Apply
Contact Katelyn Barley at kbarley@ndm.edu.
Supplemental Application Items
Cohen Scholars Essay
Cohen Scholars Nomination
What is the Cohen Scholars Program?
The Cohen Scholars Program is funded by the Nurse Support Program II for students to complete the graduate degrees (MS, MSN, DNP, PhD, EdD) and core education coursework, including post-master's teaching certificates, necessary to prepare to become a nurse educator, nurse faculty or clinical educator in one of Maryland’s nursing degree programs. The Cohen Scholars are recognized as the next generation of nurse educators to fill the positions needed now and in the future and will serve as new nursing faculty and clinical educators to produce the additional nursing graduates required by Maryland’s hospitals and health systems.
What is the maximum amount of Cohen Scholars award?
The maximum amount of the award is equal to all tuition and mandatory fees for courses in the approved nursing plan of study at Maryland public and independent colleges and universities.
What is the eligibility criteria for the Cohen Scholars?
New nominees will be selected by faculty committees at each participating school, with Cohen Scholars mentoring plans completed. Nominees should be enrolled at a Maryland college or university as a graduate student in a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, post-graduate certificate program in nursing education, Doctorate (PhD, DNP) program or another graduate-level program required to advance the nursing educator career path. To be eligible, nominees must agree to the plan of study, core educational coursework, mentoring plan and maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
What is the plan of study, core educational coursework, and mentoring plan?
- The plan of study is the student’s coursework required to complete their degree.
- The core educational coursework consists of education courses totaling 9 credits.
- The mentoring plan is an individualized plan that will introduce and provide a rich experience for beginning teachers to experience the world of nursing education. An annual update of the mentoring plan will be required. This will be part of the evaluation process and progress reports. In addition, there is participation with NSP II GNF synchronous sessions and biweekly/monthly mentoring meetings.
What is the Cohen Scholars service obligation?
A recipient must sign a promissory note affirming that the recipient will serve as a nurse faculty at a Maryland institution with nursing degree programs by doing the following:
- Work one year as a full-time nurse faculty member/hospital educator/ approved educational role for each academic year, or portion thereof, the award was received as a full-time or part-time student; or
- As outlined in a recipient’s service obligation agreement and promissory note.
Individuals fulfilling their service obligations as a part-time nurse faculty member or hospital educator or approved educational role serving in Maryland must work two years for each year of their full-time employment obligation. Full-time employment is defined as 35 or more hours per week or a contract for 12 or more academic credit hours per semester in didactic instruction. Part-time employment is defined as 20-34 hours per week or a contract for less than 12 academic credit hours in didactic instruction or a clinical instruction contract for less than 12 contact hours or combination of less than 12 academic credit and/or contact hours per semester.
When does the service obligation begin?
The service obligation begins within six months after completion of your degree program, and cannot be fulfilled prior to completion. If you hold this scholarship with any other award requiring a service obligation, you must perform your service in consecutive years. A recipient must meet the service obligation at any Maryland institution granting nursing degrees and is not required to work at the sponsoring institution. If the service obligation is not met, the Cohen Scholars (formerly Hal and Jo Cohen GNF) award must be repaid with interest.
Does the Cohen Scholars automatically renew each year?
Students who have received this award in a prior year will continue to be eligible for the full program of study if they meet the requirements, follow the mentoring plan and continue to make good progress in the program.
How do I apply for the Cohen Scholars award?
Students can apply by submitting the Nomination form along with the Nomination Essay form, which should be submitted to the Project Director/Program Coordinator, Dr. Katelyn Barley, at kbarley@ndm.edu.
In addition to the Cohen Scholars Nomination and Mentoring Plan form are there any other documents that need to be completed?
Cohen Scholars will need to complete a Promissory Note and a Cohen Scholars Service Obligation Agreement in addition to the Cohen Scholars Nomination form, the Nomination Essay form, and a Mentoring Plan.
When is the deadline to apply for the Cohen Scholars Program?
The deadline to submit the required information for acceptance is set annually. The deadline date for the is July 15.
When will I be notified if I am awarded Cohen Scholars funds?
Students will hear of their funding status within 10 days from the deadline date to submit the Nomination form.
When will the awards be applied to my account?
Awards will be applied to a student’s account after the Add/Drop period each semester.
After graduation whom do I contact to submit documentation that I am teaching?
The contact person for the Cohen Scholars Program is Dr. Katelyn Barley, kbarley@ndm.edu.
If I can’t meet the service obligations am I responsible for repayment?
A recipient will be required to repay the Cohen Scholars (formerly Hal and Jo Cohen GNF) if the recipient has the award revoked; fails to meet the required GPA of 3.25; fails to complete the 9 SH of education core coursework; fails to complete the appropriate degree or certificate program; fails to graduate or demonstrate professional behavior; fails to become licensed or certified as required; has a license or certification revoked during education or service; fails to complete the Cohen Scholars mentoring plan with annual updates; fails to complete the annual questionnaire on performance of service obligation; fails to perform the required service for the required amount of time; or otherwise fails to carry out the obligations of the scholarship.
Can I be hired by the Notre Dame of Maryland School of Nursing?
Yes, it is possible to be hired by the School of Nursing but there is no guarantee of an offer of employment for students receiving Cohen Scholars funding. Cohen Scholars recipients should actively apply to as many schools as possible.
Who is eligible?
Available to degree-seeking graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in nursing and Pharmacy students. Financial need is required.
Award Amount
The minimum award is $1,000 per year and the maximum award is $5,000 per year. Funds may not be available to award all eligible students. Our office will award eligible students randomly.
How to Apply
To apply, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be received by the state by March 1.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- Son, daughter, stepchild or surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of or a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who died or suffered a serviced connected 100% permanent disability as a result of military service.
- Veteran who suffers a service-connected disability of 25% or greater as a result of military service and has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veterans education benefits.
- Son, daughter, stepchild, or surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks who died as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, or the crash of the United Airlines Flight 93
- POW/MIA of the Vietnam Conflict or his/her son, daughter, or stepchild
- Son, daughter, stepchild, or surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a state or local public safety employee or volunteer who died on the line of duty or who was 100% disabled in the line of duty
- State or local public safety employee or volunteer who was 100% disabled in the line of duty
- Veteran, as defined under 9-901 of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, who either suffers a service connected disability of 25% or greater and has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veterans' educational benefits
- Son or daughter or surviving spouse (who has not remarried) of a school employee who, as a result of an act of violence either died in the line of duty or sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the school employee 100% disabled
Detailed Eligibility Requirements
Note: Award is not based on financial need.
Award Amount
Equal to tuition and fees, not to exceed $10,900.
How to Apply
Applications are sent from the Office of Financial Aid via NDM email and are available online.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by July 15.