Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant

The Educational Assistance (EA) Grant is a part of the Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Awards and is a need-based grant that provides financial assistance to eligible applicants enrolled at postsecondary institutions for educational expenses. A student may receive an award of up to $3,000 for up to​ four years.

Application Timeline:

• Consideration Deadline: Students must submit their 2026-2027 FAFSA or MHEC One-App by March 1, 2026 in order to be considered for the Educational Assistance Grant
• Documentation Deadline: The deadline for any documentation is August 1, 2026. Not every student will be required to submit additional documentation.
• Award Date: Awarding is anticipated to begin in Summer 2026, contingent availability of funding, and will continue until all funds have been exhausted.​

Eligibility Requirements:​

Individuals applying for the Educational Assistance Grant for the first time must:

• Be eligible for in-state tuition in Maryland;
• By March 1, 2026: file the 2026-2027​ Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or State financial aid application for undocumented students (formerly MSFAA) through the new MHEC One-App;
  • The FAFSA is open to U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens
  • The State financial aid application through the MHEC One-App is for residents of Maryland who are eligible for in-state tuition but NOT eligible to file the FAFSA (undocumented students)
  • Students must have a Maryland university or college listed on their FAFSA or MHEC One-pp by March 1, 2026
• Demonstrate financial need (see Financial Need Calculation below);
• Be a currently enrolled high school senior OR currently enrolled at an eligible two-year or four-year Maryland institution as a full-time (12 credits/semester) degree-seeking undergraduate student*;
• Cannot have previously received a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the 2026-2027 academic year
• Submit any required documentation (see Documentation below) by August 1, 2026 ​or by specified date

*Note: The EA Grant may be used at an out-of-state institution only if the award recipient is a deaf or hearing-impaired student and the institution makes special provisions for deaf and hearing-impaired students that are not available at Maryland institutions.