Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant

Maryland's broadest need-based grant pays $400 to $3,000 a year for up to four years to residents enrolled full time in a degree program at a Maryland college. There is no separate form: the state screens everyone who files the FAFSA, or the MHEC One-App for students who cannot file federally, then funds applicants in Student Aid Index order until the year's appropriation is committed. Qualifying does not guarantee money, and calculated need below $400 produces no award. File by March 1; any documents the state later requests are due August 1. Renewal takes an annual filing plus continuous full-time enrollment, with 30 credits earned after two years of awards to keep the full amount.

How hard is the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant to win?

This is not a competition. Aid is allocated by a published formula, so meeting the criteria and filing on time is what determines whether the money arrives.

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

• Fewer rivalsOpen only to Maryland residents

How Solyo estimates this: State programs that allocate by published formula are modelled on qualification and filing, not on competition, because there is no selection committee choosing between applicants. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

• ✓Must be a resident of Maryland
• ✓Open to high school seniors and current college students
• ✓Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents (green card), or DACA/Dreamer students

What the application takes

No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is March 1, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open October 1, when the FAFSA opens. Filing early does not raise your odds, but missing March 1 ends them: need order, not filing order, decides who gets paid.

Requested supporting documents due

August 1, 2026

FAFSA and MHEC One-App open

October 1, 2026

FAFSA or MHEC One-App due

March 1, 2027

Common questions about the Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant

More state grants & programs

• 802 Opportunity Grant
  Full tuition and the $100 administrative fee at CCV (last-dollar)
• Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program
  Varies by SAI and school type per statutory table (amounts prorated if funding is short)
• Alabama Student Grant Program
  Up to $3,000/yr ($1,500 per semester; actual amount depends on state funding)
• Alaska Education Grant
  $500-$4,000/yr based on need and enrollment level
• Alaska Performance Scholarship
  $3,500-$7,000/yr depending on tier
• Arizona Promise Program
  Full tuition & mandatory fees at Arizona public universities (last-dollar)

Lists this award appears on

• Maryland Scholarships and State Grants
• No-Essay Scholarships
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• Scholarships With March Deadlines