Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship
Offered by Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) · Free to apply
Named for 2nd Lt. Richard W. Collins III, this scholarship supports students who are minorities or members of other groups underrepresented in ROTC and who join an ROTC program at one of Maryland's four historically Black universities: Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State, or the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Prospective full-time students may apply. The award is at least $1,000 a year ($500 per semester) and may not exceed education expenses, with students who have financial need prioritized. Applicants file the FAFSA or MHEC One App and the Collins application in MDCAPS, plus proof of ROTC membership and an institutional certification. It renews for up to three more years.
Other deadlines near this one
- Connecticut Minority Teacher Incentive ProgramDue October 15, 2027 · Up to $5,000/yr for two years, plus $2,500/yr loan reimbursement for up to four years teaching
- Florida First Generation Matching GrantDue October 15, 2027 · Varies by institution (state matches private contributions raised by each campus)
- Daniels Scholarship ProgramDue October 15, 2027 · Up to full cost of attendance at partner schools; up to $25,000/yr at other schools outside CO/NM/UT/WY; up to $7,500/yr at other schools inside those states
How hard is the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.
- Odds
- no published selection data
- Paperwork
- ~3 hrs to file
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
- Fewer rivalsRequires a military or national-service connection
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. 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 Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship?
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
- Must attend a college in Maryland (the award does not travel out of state)
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- For students interested in ROTC
- Must enroll full time at Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State, or UMES and join its ROTC program
- Must be identified by the university as a minority student or member of a group underrepresented in ROTC
- Must be eligible for in-state tuition
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
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 next projected deadline is October 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual October 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open January 15. Apply after you commit to one of the four HBCUs and enroll in ROTC; the window runs January 15 to mid-October.
- Application opens
- January 15, 2027
- Application closes
- October 15, 2027 (estimated)
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship
How much is the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship worth?
The Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship awards at least $1,000 per year and is renewable in later years.
When is the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship deadline?
The next projected deadline is October 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual October 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open January 15. Apply after you commit to one of the four HBCUs and enroll in ROTC; the window runs January 15 to mid-October.
When do Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship applications open?
Applications open January 15, and close October 15, 2027 (estimated). Apply after you commit to one of the four HBCUs and enroll in ROTC; the window runs January 15 to mid-October.
Who is eligible for the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Maryland; Must attend a college in Maryland (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors and current college students; For students interested in ROTC.
Does the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure. What is known: open only to Maryland residents and requires a military or national-service connection. Plan on about 3 hrs of work.
Is the Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship free to apply?
Yes. The Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honor Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More military & service families
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- South Dakota Free Tuition for Children of Deceased Veterans100% of tuition at South Dakota Board of Regents universities · due June 30, 2027
- Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)$1,621 per month of full-time study, up to 36 months (2026-27 rate) · due August 1, 2027
- Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP)Up to $30,000 a year (or cost of attendance, if lower) for up to four years · due September 30, 2027
- Texas Tuition Exemption for Children of POW or MIA Service MembersExempts all tuition and fees at Texas public institutions · due August 31, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.