Tuition Waiver Program (Public Servant)
Finance Authority of Maine (FAME)
Free tuition at Maine's public colleges for children and spouses of Maine firefighters, police officers or EMS providers killed in the line of duty.
- How much
- The actual amount of tuition at the participating Maine public college
- Who qualifies
- Child (under 21 at the parent's death) or spouse of a Maine firefighter, EMS provider or law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty
- Maine resident. Undergraduate degree program at UMS, MCCS or Maine Maritime Academy.
- For students starting college, undergrads
- When to apply
- Apply any time No deadline; application accepted year-round.
- How to apply
- Complete the Tuition Waiver (Public Servant) application from FAME and mail it (postmarked) to FAME, PO Box 949, Augusta, ME 04332-0949 with proof of acceptance/enrollment in an undergraduate degree program, legal proof of the relationship, the death certificate, and a notarized statement from a local government official confirming the line-of-duty death
- File the FAFSA
- What you'll need
- state application + FAFSA
- Last checked
- October 5, 2026, against the official page (famemaine.com) and page 2
The details
Waives the actual tuition at all University of Maine System schools, all Maine community colleges and Maine Maritime Academy. Eligible: the Maine-resident child (under 21 at the time of the parent's death) or the Maine-resident spouse of an active Maine firefighter, emergency medical services provider or full-time law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Usable for fall and spring terms; summer only for full-time attendance. Renewable for up to five years of full-time enrollment or the equivalent, before a bachelor's degree, with an annual renewal application, the FAFSA and good academic standing.
More money from Maine
- Doctors for Maine's Future Scholarshipup to 50% of cost of attendance or $25,000 per year, whichever is less
- Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP)up to $10,000 per year full time; up to $5,000 per year part time
- Maine State Grant Programup to $2,500 per year (2026-27); up to $1,250 for half-time to less-than-full-time students
- Maine Free College Scholarship (Maine Community College System)100% of tuition after federal and state grants (class of 2026+); 100% of tuition and mandatory fees (2024 and 2025 graduates)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: New Hampshire
- Federal aid and national scholarships (open to students in any state)
- The FAFSA in plain English (2027-28)
- Should I file the FAFSA if I don't think I'll qualify?
- FAFSA deadlines by state (2027-28)
- The FAFSA for parents: what you need to do
- How to save on textbooks: free, rented and cheaper options
We list programs; we don't decide who gets them. Always check the official page before you apply. Spot something wrong? Tell us.