Military Scholarships

The Veterans Engagement Scholarship committee has two internal scholarships designed to assist MSU student veterans with funding assistance in the areas of Tuition assistance and Book assistance. 

A $5000 VES Tuition Assistance Scholarship (VESTA) is awarded to ten (10) student veterans, up to $500 per student.

The VES Book Assistance Scholarship (VESBA) of $4000 is awarded to five (5) student veterans up to $400 per student.  

Each student must exhibit a need and provide proof of the gap between what they have been awarded and what they need to satisfy their current billing. The scholarship award gap MUST be less than or equal to the gap allotments of $500 in tuition costs and less than or equal to the gap allotment of $400 in book costs. Eligible matriculating student veterans can take advantage of this funding opportunity by completing the Military Funding Request Form AND submitting the applicable scholarship application by the designated due date. Scholarship applications can be found by going to VES Online forms.

Scholarship parameters:

• Awarded in the Fall and Spring terms
• Interested applicants must complete a separate application for each scholarship each term
• Scholarship awards cannot exceed the gap allotment
• Scholarship awards cannot generate a refund
• Scholarship awards are only awarded to military-affiliated students
• Summer Scholarship awards are based on available term funding (Summer Session I ONLY)
• Awards will be posted to the Financial Aid Award Screen in WEBSIS
• Award notifications will be sent via Smartsheet to student MSU email account

Scholarship eligibility:

Eligible applicants must have the military status of:

Active Duty Servicemembers, Select Reservists, National or Air Guard members, Retired Veterans, Spouses, Dependents, or ROTC Cadets. 

In addition, students can use one or more of the following funding sources:

• Chapter 30: GI Montgomery Bill (AD)
• Chapter 1606: GI Montgomery Bill (SR)
• Chapter 33: Post 9/11 (Entitlement 50% - 90% ONLY)
• Chapter 35: Dependent Educational Assistance
• MD National Guard State Tuition Waiver
• Federal Tuition Assistance (All Branches)
• Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (Books Only)
• Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship (Books Only)
• ROTC Bridge/ROTC Grant
• Exhausted or ineligible veteran, spouse, or dependent using Self-Pay (FAFSA)

Beginning in Fall 2024, the VES Scholarship team will offer additional scholarship opportunities by adding a $6000 VES Housing Scholarship. These awards will be issued to twelve (12) student veterans, up to $500 per student.

The VES Housing Scholarship will provide funds to eligible students with a gap between the 80% requirement to maintain housing and the current bill balance once classes have begun. The eligibility gap cannot exceed $500 per student per term. Eligible students MUST provide proof of their approved on-campus/off-campus housing/room assignment with their housing scholarship application. Other Housing Scholarship requirements will apply and be noted in the application.

For more information regarding the parameters of each scholarship, please visit the Tuition Assistance Scholarship and Book Assistance Scholarship Overview.  VES Housing Scholarship Overview - coming soon

NOTE:

Undergraduate student-veterans MUST participate in the First Day Complete Book Program to meet the eligibility requirements for book scholarship assistance. 

Master's and Ph.D. students Do Not participate in the First Day Complete Program, and as such, will be required to submit their paid invoices/receipts along with their class syllabus for the book reimbursement costs up to the allotted $400 based on scholarship funding availability. 

Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program & Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program offer scholarship opportunities to any eligible current high school senior. Full-time and part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students are also eligible recipients.

The Edward T. Conroy Scholarship is a State of Maryland-issued scholarship managed by the Office of Financial Aid and funded by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Applicants must be enrolled in a 2 or 4-year program at a Maryland college or university. He/she can also be enrolled in a private career school or a 2-year terminal certificate program, where credits earned can be transferred to an accredited baccalaureate program at a participating Maryland school.

Applications open one time per year in April. The application deadline is July 15th. Applications should be submitted to the school's Financial Aid office for review and determination. Awards are renewed each year automatically as long as the student maintains continued enrollment at the institution of the initial record. 

Eligible students could receive the award for up to 5 years of full-time attendance with 12 credits or more. Part-time attendees can receive the award for up to 8 years with 6-11 credits or more per semester. 

Student veterans, dependents, and spouses who meet the eligibility criteria under the Department of Veterans Affairs VA Educational Benefits GI Bill Post 9/11 and the Chapter 35:Dependent Educational Assistance Program may also be eligible for assistance under this scholarship. The student MUST be a Maryland Resident on or before applying, and official supplemental documentation will be required from the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine eligibility.

Additional information can be found on our Office of Financial Aid webpage. 

The Richard W. Collins Leadership with Honor Scholarship is available to students enrolled at any Historically Black Colleges, in the State of Maryland listed below.

1. Bowie State University
2. Coppin State University
3. Morgan State University
4. University of Maryland (Eastern Shore campus)

The applicant MUST be a Maryland resident identified as a minority student and be a member of a Reserve Office Training Corp Program at their school. 

This scholarship is managed by the Office of Financial Aid at Morgan State and is funded through the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Application instructions can be found on the Maryland Higher Education Commission website.

Scholarship Parameters: 

• Awards are granted in Fall and Spring terms ONLY
• Scholarships are awarded on an annual academic year schedule
• Interested applicants must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or submit the MHEC One App through the Maryland College Aid Processing Portal (MDCAPS) for any applicant who is ineligible to receive federal aid but is eligible for in-state tuition by July 15.
• Scholarship applications MUST be submitted no later than May 1st for primary consideration. 
• Scholarship applications MUST be submitted no later than July 15th for secondary consideration. 
• Awards will be posted to the Financial Aid Award Screen in WEBSIS
• Applications MUST be completed and submitted each academic year to be considered 

Scholarship eligibility:

• Applicant MUST be enrolled Full-Time
• Applicant MUST be an in-state Maryland Resident
• Applicant MUST be attending one of the following HBCUs: Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University, or University of Maryland (Eastern Shore campus)
• Applicant MUST be a member of a ROTC Program and be able to provide supporting documentation of membership
• Applicant MUST provide supporting documentation from the institution of being a minority student

This scholarship provides tuition assistance funding. Applicants should coordinate with their ROTC Program Cadre or PMS for more information and scholarship instructions.

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship extends the availability of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement. This extension allows eligible recipients up to 9 additional months or $30,000.00 of added benefits (whichever comes first). Eligible recipients must be pursuing educational training in the STEM field. Click here to see the listing of eligible STEM programs.

Scholarship Eligibility

Eligible students must be a current or previous recipients of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement. The student must be enrolled in an undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math academic degree program, a dual degree program, or have earned a STEM degree and are now pursuing a teaching certificate. Potential applicants could also be enrolled in an approved clinical training program for healthcare professionals.

Additional Requirements:

For Undergraduate applicants:

• The program must require at least 120 semester hours
• Applicant must have completed at least 60 standard credit hours
• Applicant(s) must have 6 months or LESS remaining entitlement under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

The Teaching Certificate Requirements are:

• The applicant has earned a STEM post-secondary degree
• The applicant was accepted in or enrolled in a teaching certification program
• Applicant(s) has or will soon exhaust your Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement. 

NOTE: Applicants can have one (1) day of remaining entitlement left to qualify, however, there are no guarantees that any applicant will be approved for the scholarship. Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships in the term before current entitlement exhausts to ensure continuity in getting payments. All scholarship recipients MUST begin using their awards within 6 months of approval. 

As with Chapter 33:Post 9/11 entitlement, recipients of the STEM Scholarship MUST also complete the enrollment verification process at the end of each month to receive an entitlement stipend.

For more information or to apply go to Apply for the Rogers STEM Scholarship

Students with military affiliation could consider these other funding options to help pay for their education. The listing below offers a few local and state options for review.  

The Douglas J.J. Peters (VAIC) Scholarship

The Veterans of Afghanistan/Iraq Conflict Scholarship is a State of Maryland scholarship managed by the Office of Financial Aid and funded through the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  This scholarship is awarded to eligible US Armed Forces service members who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts. Eligible dependents may also apply who are attending any post-secondary institution within the State of Maryland. 

For more information and eligibility requirements, visit the Maryland Higher Education Commission website. 

Pentagon Victims Scholarship Program 

This scholarship was created to provide financial support to the families of service members who were killed during the September 11th attack on the Pentagon. The application process is ongoing.

Major General James Ursano Scholarship Program for Dependent Children 

This scholarship was designed to assist the dependents of servicemembers, who are completing their first technical certification or first undergraduate degree.  Awards are based on meeting eligibility requirements and can extend for up to four years of academic full-time study. 

Maryland Military Department - Scholarships

As a ROTC cadet, you are eligible to apply for any of the three VES Scholarships: the VES Tuition Assistance Scholarship, VES Book Assistance Scholarship, or VES Housing Assistance Scholarships offered to our student veterans. The same eligibility and scholarship parameters apply. For more scholarship information and details go to VES Online forms.

In addition, the ROTC Program also has a host of scholarship and funding opportunities that could assist a cadet with paying for your college education.

Richard W. Collins III Leadership with Honors Scholarship - For more information and scholarship details go to ROTC Scholarships and Other Funding Opportunities

ROTC Bridge Grant - The ROTC Bridge Grant is an institutional fund awarded to participating ROTC Cadets to offset their room and board costs.

Grant parameters:

• Cadets must be in good standing with the ROTC Program.
• MUST have a 2.0 GPA or above
• MUST have a passing APFT, Labs, and Field Training exercises
• MUST be registered in the MISC course for grade level
• MUST be maintaining at least a "B" average in the military science program overall

Additional Requirements: 

• Maryland In-state Residency status
• Cadets must also have submitted a FAFSA application
• Submit a request for funding before the semester starts
• Approved housing assignment with room and board contract for upcoming term
• Provide proof of housing to the CADRE or PMS

Traditionally, Cadets with the assurance of good stewardship of university funding may be awarded based on need and availability. For additional information and eligibility requirements, visit the Department of Military Science personnel.

Army Scholarships - (Contracted - Binding)

There are 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year merit-based Army Scholarships available. All scholarships are contracted and binding. Students can apply for scholarships with the assistance of their CADRE while attending Morgan State University or even before college during their High School years. 

Scholarship parameters:

• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be at least seventeen years of age by October 1 of the year of enrollment as a scholarship cadet
• Be under twenty-seven years of age on June 30th of the calendar year eligible for appointment as a second lieutenant
• Satisfactorily explain any record of arrest and/or civil conviction (no felony convictions)
• Pass a medical exam reviewed by the DoD Medical Examination and Review Board
• Pass an Army Combat Fitness Test
• Have minimum qualifying SAT/ACT scores: SAT: 920 composite ACT: 19 composite
• Be a high school graduate or possess an equivalent certificate
• Be accepted for enrollment by the Morgan State University Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Have at least two academic years remaining at Morgan State University (may include graduate study)
• Two-year and three-year scholarship applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater
• Agree to accept a commission as an officer in the Regular Army, Army National Guard, or Army Reserve
• Pursue a Department of the Army-approved academic discipline
• Have no moral obligations or personal conviction that will prevent you from:
  • Supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic
  • Conscientiously bearing arms

Additional scholarship opportunities are available based on career goals, availability, and application criteria. For more information schedule a consultation with a ROTC Cadre member or Mr. Leon Carr (443) 885-3264 for assistance.