Veteran Scholarships

Veterans, Active Duty service members, National Guard, reservists or family members who:

• Wish to start, finish, or further their education at the University of Maryland, College Park.
• Have served in active duty or reserve capacity for any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or National Guard, or are dependents of someone who has served.
• Are registered full- or part-time at UMD and are pursuing undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate degrees.

• Educational and career ambitions
• Record of personal achievement
• Record of military service (or service as a spouse/family member); motivation for serving
• Compelling, thoughtful and thorough essay question responses
• Unmet financial need

The Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy & Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program is funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). The award is for Maryland resident undergraduate and graduate students who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Children, stepchildren and surviving spouses (who have not remarried) of members of the United States Armed Forces who died as a result of military service or who suffered a service-connected 100% permanent disability as a result of military service;
• A 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’ educational benefits;
• A POW/MIA of the Vietnam Conflict, who was a resident of the State of Maryland during their designation as a POW/MIA, and their children or stepchildren;
• Children, stepchildren and surviving spouses (who have not remarried) of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks who died as a result of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the attack on the Pentagon in Virginia or the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania;
• Children, stepchildren and surviving spouses (who have not remarried) of state or local public safety employees or volunteers who either died in the line of duty or sustained an injury in the line of duty that rendered the public safety employee or volunteer 100% disabled;
• Children, stepchildren and surviving spouses (who have 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.

Who may apply: Current high school seniors, full-time and part-time, degree-seeking undergraduates and graduate students.

How to apply: NEW AND RENEWAL APPLICANTS TO THE PROGRAM MUST CONTACT UMD'S FINANCIAL AID OFFICE FOR APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS.

DO NOT SUBMIT ANY APPLICATIONS OR DOCUMENTS TO THE OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

When to apply: By July 15 to your institution

Eligible majors: All majors are eligible.

The University of Maryland, College Park is dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for student veterans and active duty service members and their family members. The UMD Veterans scholarships will provide support for student veterans to pursue their educational goals. The scholarships are intended to cover direct study-related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarships are for one year with the opportunity for current recipients to reapply in subsequent years.

For questions or additional information, you may contact Veteran Student Life at vetstudentlife@umd.edu

The Douglass J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Ira​q Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)​ is designed to provide financial assistance to United States armed forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, and their son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse attending a Maryland post secondary institution.   

Who May Apply?

​To be eligible for the VAIC scholarship, an individual must be a member of the Uniformed Services of the United States who served in Afghanistan, or contiguous air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after October 24, 2001, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense; or in Iraq, or contiguous waters or air space as defined in federal regulations, on or after March 19, 2003, and before a terminal date to be prescribed by the United States Secretary of Defense.  Current deployments are not eligible for the scholarship. ​Individuals may apply if they are:

• ​A veteran who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, as defined above
• An active duty member of the Armed Forces who served at least 60 days in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, as defined above
• A member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above
• A son, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, or spouse​ of: 

1. A​ veteran or active duty member of the Armed Forces who is serving or has served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts at least 60 days, as defined above.
2. A member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces or Maryland National Guard who was activated as a result of the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts and served at least 60 days, as defined above.

Applicants must be Maryland residents that have been accepted for admission or enrolled in a regular undergraduate program at an eligible Maryland institution, or be accepted for admission or enrolled in a 2-year terminal certificate program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program at an eligible Maryland institution.  Students must be enrolled as either a full-time (12+ credits per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits per semester) undergraduate student.

Residents of Maryland include active members of the United States Armed Forces, their spouse, son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter who are stationed in the State of Maryland or whose home of residency is Maryland.

​​How do I Apply?

• ​Complete the Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts

Scholarship application through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS).       
The online application and all required documents (which will reflect in MDCAPS upon completion of your application) must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance for final consideration.
Required documentation includes:

• If a spouse of a veteran, a marriage certificate
• Documentation of military orders.

United States Armed Forces - Active Duty: copy of current official military orders documenting service in Afghanistan/Iraq

United States Armed Forces - Veteran: copy of Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214)

United States Armed Forces - Reserve Component: copy of Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214)

​Maryland National Guard: copy of Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214)

The DD214 military orders or other official documentation must clearly indicate service in Afghanistan/Iraq or contiguous waters or air space and include the dates of service.

While the 2025-2026​​ Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is not required, if the applicant chooses to file the FAFSA it must be completed by March 1 each year.

Submit all required documents to MHEC by SECURE UPLOAD online through your MDCAPS account. Once logged in, select “Electronic File Upload" from the homepage then follow the prompts.