University of Maryland Global Campus offers eligible Maryland community college graduates the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree at a significantly reduced cost with the Completion Scholarship.1 Award recipients can complete a bachelor's degree program for $12,000 or less, well below the typical tuition cost for in-state students.

If you've earned an associate's degree from a Maryland community college, you are guaranteed admission to UMGC, as long as your conferral date is listed on your transcript.

How to Earn the Completion Scholarship

There is no separate application process for the Completion Scholarship. You will be eligible for the scholarship if you meet the required criteria, and UMGC will contact you if you are selected to receive the scholarship.

Apply to UMGC in three easy steps.

  1. Complete the UMGC application for admission. Be sure to indicate that you earned an associate's degree from a Maryland community college.
  2. Have your community college(s) send official transcripts directly to UMGC. The transcripts must show that you earned an associate's degree.
  3. Contact an admissions advisor who can help you get started at UMGC.

Deadline to Apply to UMGC

The Completion Scholarship is awarded throughout the year. If you have not yet applied to UMGC, we encourage you to apply as early as possible before our fall, spring, and summer course registration deadlines.

Initial Eligibility Criteria for the Completion Scholarship

  • You earned an associate's degree from a Maryland community college
  • You are admitted to UMGC as a degree-seeking student pursuing your first bachelor's degree, and have earned no more than 12 credits at UMGC
  • You are a Maryland resident receiving the in-state tuition rate or an active-duty military servicemember
  • If you receive tuition assistance or remission: Your military Tuition Assistance or employer's tuition remission or assistance does not cover 100 percent of your tuition
  • If you are already enrolled: You meet UMGC's requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • If you are already enrolled: You are in good financial standing at UMGC

Scholarship Details

Award Details

If you are selected to receive the Completion Scholarship, you will pay no more than $199 for every credit you register for and complete at UMGC. In total, you will pay $12,000 or less to complete your bachelor's degree, unless you need more than 60 credits. If you need more than 60 credits at UMGC, you will be charged regular tuition and fees for those additional credits.

You can receive Completion Scholarship funds during the summer, fall, and spring terms.

Notification Details

If you are selected to receive the Completion Scholarship, you will receive a notification from the Office of Financial Aid when your award is posted.

Award Disbursement

Your funds will disburse within 10 days prior to the start date of the term you are selected to receive the Completion Scholarship.

Paying Your Balance

Once the scholarship has been credited to your account, there will be a balance on your account for each course that you take. This balance is your responsibility and if you do not pay it, you will be dropped from your selected courses. Remember, you also have the following payment options:

If you owe a balance, please be sure to pay it as soon as possible. Not paying your balance will affect your ability to register for courses and receive the Completion Scholarship in future terms. Any unpaid balance may be sent to collections per UMGC institutional policy.

Criteria to Renew the Completion Scholarship

You can renew your Completion Scholarship award if you continue to meet the initial eligibility criteria and meet all of the following continuing eligibility criteria:

  • Meet the university's requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress
  • Have completed less than 60 cumulative credits of coursework
  • Enroll in and complete at least 3 credits with a grade of C or better each fall and spring term; this enrollment must be continuous

You can earn the Completion Scholarship in the summer term, but it is not a required term for enrollment. However, if you choose to enroll in summer term courses, you must meet the continuing eligibility criteria outlined above.

Please review this page for any updates regarding the Completion Scholarship award details, eligibility requirements, and renewal requirements.

Completion Scholarship FAQs

How can I submit my official transcript to UMGC? +

Learn how to submit your transcripts directly to UMGC.

Does my eligibility for the Completion Scholarship depend on the date I earned my associate's degree from a Maryland community college? +

No. It does not matter when you earned your associate's degree from a Maryland community college.

What should I do to ensure I am not dropped from my courses? +

In order to avoid being dropped from a course that you have registered for, please ensure you have made payment arrangements to cover the entire balance due. For more information, please read about payment deadlines and disenrollment.

If you are using financial aid, please be sure you have enough aid to cover your entire tuition due. If you do not have enough aid to cover the entire balance, you will need to find an alternative way to pay the difference, such as using UMGC's interest-free monthly payment plan.

Can I have my Completion Scholarship reinstated if I don't meet the criteria to renew my award? +

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria to maintain your Completion Scholarship, you may submit an appeal via the Help Center for the scholarship to be reinstated. Be sure to include your seven digit UMGC student ID number.

Generally, the reasons considered for an appeal are limited to family and/or medical emergencies. Your appeal must include a signed personal statement as well as additional documentation that supports your appeal.

Am I eligible for the Completion Scholarship if I'm an active-duty servicemember or veteran? +

If your military Tuition Assistance pays 100 percent of your tuition and fees, you are not eligible for the scholarship.

Veteran students using education benefits are eligible if they are Maryland residents and meet other scholarship eligibility criteria.

Am I eligible for the Completion Scholarship if my employer provides tuition remission? +

If your employer's tuition remission or assistance pays 100 percent of your tuition and fees, you are not eligible for the scholarship. If you receive partial employer tuition remission or assistance, you are eligible for the scholarship, as long as you meet the other scholarship eligibility requirements. However, the scholarship award may be pro-rated based on remaining balance due.

Employees of UMGC and their dependents as well as anyone who receives remission of fees from other institutions are not eligible to apply for UMGC institutional scholarships.

Do I need to fill out the FAFSA to be eligible for the Completion Scholarship? +

The FAFSA is not required. However, it is recommended that you complete the FAFSA to be eligible for other forms of institutional, state, and federal aid.

Please note: If you are a financial aid recipient, you must complete all federal requirements in order to receive Title IV funding.

Will the Completion Scholarship cover the cost of tuition even when tuition increases? +

Yes. The Completion Scholarship will be adjusted accordingly to ensure you will be able to earn the final 60 credits of your bachelor's degree for $12,000 or less. Your cost may be higher if you need to take additional credits, choose to switch programs during your study, or wish to take extra courses.

Will my Completion Scholarship award be affected if I make changes to my course enrollment during the term? +

Your scholarship will be adjusted based on changes you make to your enrollment. You will receive additional scholarship funding if you add courses, or your scholarship will be reduced if you drop or withdraw from a course.

If you need to drop a course during the term, it is best to contact your advisor first. If you choose to drop your course during a term, you may want to consider replacing it with another course to ensure you can complete the term with at least 3 credits.

If you drop or withdraw from a course during the term, your Completion Scholarship will be reduced. If you owe a balance, please be sure to pay it as soon as possible. Not paying your balance will affect your ability to register for courses and receive the Completion Scholarship in future terms. Any unpaid balance may be sent to collections per UMGC institutional policy.

Am I eligible for the Completion Scholarship if I have dual enrollment from a Maryland community college? +

If you have dual enrollment, you are eligible for the Completion Scholarship once you complete your associate's degree. You must have earned a cumulative 2.0 GPA at both institutions to be considered.

For More Information About the Completion Scholarship

Please call 855-321-8682 or contact the Help Center.

1 This scholarship cannot be combined with any other discounts or with the Summer Term Scholarship, Fall Term Scholarship, Pennsylvania Completion Scholarship, or UMGC NE Tri-State Scholarship.