Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Maryland Higher Education Commission

Overview
The Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship supports Maryland’s interest in expanding diversity among college populations and increasing representation within ROTC programs.

Application timeline
- Opening date: The 2025–2026 application cycle begins April 15, 2025.
- Closing date: Applications for 2025–2026 must be submitted by April 1, 2026.
- Notification: There is no single notification date; applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to provide all materials as soon as possible to facilitate timely review.

Who is eligible
General eligibility (applicant status)
- Current or intending undergraduate students pursuing a degree, either full-time or part-time.
- Current or intending graduate students pursuing a degree, either full-time or part-time.
- Undocumented students who have been granted in-state tuition status by their institution.

Scholarship-specific eligibility
In addition, applicants must meet the following scholarship criteria:
- Be identified by their institution as a minority student or as a member of a group historically underrepresented in ROTC programs.
- Be enrolled full-time at one of these institutions only: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, or the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
- Be a member of an ROTC program.
- Have been determined by the institution to be eligible for in-state tuition.

Application steps and required actions
- Financial aid form: By July 15, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. If you are ineligible for federal aid but qualify for in-state tuition, submit the MHEC One App through the Maryland College Aid Processing Portal (MDCAPS) instead.
- Scholarship application: Complete and submit the online application through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) One-App at https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us. All supporting documents must be uploaded to your MDCAPS account and submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the application closing date.
- Important note: MDCAPS will request and receive all required documentation electronically through each applicant’s MDCAPS account.

If you have questions about eligibility or the submission process, contact your institution’s financial aid office or the Office of Student Financial Assistance.