In a bold effort to increase affordability and access to the state’s flagship institution of higher education, the University of Maryland today launched a new investment in need-based financial aid, providing up to $20 million annually for students from the state of Maryland. The Terrapin Commitment program is the largest single-year investment in need-based scholarships in the university’s history.

The goal of the Terrapin Commitment is to reduce the gap between a student’s total financial aid package and the cost of an education. The program will begin in January 2023 and ensures that tuition and fees are fully covered for Pell Grant-eligible, in-state students, who are enrolled full time and have unmet financial need. The program will dramatically reduce the financial barriers to obtaining a higher education for low-income Marylanders.

All students who submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2022-23 academic year and who meet the eligibility requirements above are automatically considered for the Terrapin Commitment. Find additional information about the program.