Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant Program
Scholarship Sponsored by Maryland Higher Education Commission
Important dates
- The application period for the 2025–2026 academic year ends on April 1, 2026.
- The application for the 2026–2027 academic year will open on January 15, 2026 and will close on October 15, 2026.
How to apply
- Submit your application online through the Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) using the MHEC One App to be considered for the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG).
- Although not mandatory, students who want need-based consideration should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which they will attend school. File the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA will be used to establish the order in which awards are made.
- Some majors may require supplemental paperwork; any such requirements will be listed on the application.
Who is eligible
To be eligible for the Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant you must meet all of the following:
- Be a Maryland resident. (If you are a dependent student, at least one parent must also be a Maryland resident.)
- Be enrolled each semester at a Maryland two‑year or four‑year college or university as one of the following:
- Undergraduate: full‑time (12 or more credits per semester) or part‑time (6–11 credits per semester).
- Graduate: full‑time (9 or more credits per semester) or part‑time (6–8 credits per semester).
- Note: A student may be enrolled for fewer than six credits in an individual semester, provided the student completes the minimum required credits for the academic year — at least 12 credit hours per academic year for undergraduates, or at least 9 credit hours per academic year for graduate students (this total may include summer term credits).
- Be a degree‑seeking student in an eligible major that leads to employment in an eligible workforce field, as indicated on your application.
- Maintain your institution’s satisfactory academic progress standards.
Important note about prior MHEC career/occupational awards
Recipients of scholarships from MHEC’s earlier career/occupational programs (including Child Care Provider; Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health, Child Welfare, and Juvenile Justice Workforce Tuition Assistance Program) will continue to receive those awards while they remain eligible. However, students who currently receive one of those former awards are not eligible to receive a WSSAG in addition.