Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant (WSSAG)
Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), Office of Student Financial Assistance
$1,000 to $4,000 a year for Maryland students in shortage fields (child care, human services, teaching shortage areas, nursing, PT/OT, law, social work, public service) who commit to work in Maryland.
- How much
- $4,000/yr full-time at a four-year school ($2,000 part-time); $2,000/yr full-time at a community college ($1,000 part-time)
- Who qualifies
- Maryland resident (parents too, if dependent). Full- or part-time (6+ credits; or 12 undergraduate / 9 graduate credits per year) degree-seeking student at a Maryland two- or four-year college in an eligible major. Service obligation in Maryland in the eligible field.
- For students starting college, undergrads, grad students
- For child care / early childhood, human services, teacher education (shortage areas) students
- Partly need-based: your FAFSA can affect whether you get it or how much.
- When to apply
- Opens later Annual; opens January 15, closes October 15 (2026-27: Jan 15 - Oct 15, 2026).
- How to apply
- Apply online through the MHEC One-App in MDCAPS and upload your transcript (used for GPA ranking) and any major-specific documents
- Filing the FAFSA is optional but used to rank need
- What you'll need
- state application + transcript
- Last checked
- October 20, 2026, against the official page (mhec.maryland.gov) and page 2
The details
Awards by occupational field, ranked by GPA and then financial need (FAFSA optional but used for ranking). 2026-27 fields: A) Hattie N. Harrison Memorial Scholarship: child development / early childhood education (serve as a director/senior staff in a licensed child care center or licensed family daycare provider, not as a teacher); B) Ida G. and L. Leonard Ruben Scholarship: human services programs (aging, counseling, disability, mental health, nursing, OT/PT, psychology, rehabilitation, social work, special education, etc.) with service in licensed community-based or residential programs; C) Sharon Christa McAuliffe Scholarship: teacher education in critical shortage fields (chemistry, Chinese, computer science, earth/space science, ESOL, family and consumer sciences, math, physical science, physics, Spanish, special education, technology education; elementary education is not eligible); D) Parren J. Mitchell Public Service Scholarship - Nursing; E) physical/occupational therapy and assistants (serving children with disabilities in schools or state hospitals); F) William Donald Schaefer Scholarship - Law (public-service legal work for low-income residents); G) Ruth M. Kirk Public Social Work Scholarship; H) Parren J. Mitchell Public Service Scholarship - Other. Award: community college $2,000 full-time / $1,000 part-time; four-year institution $4,000 full-time / $2,000 part-time (undergraduate or graduate). Renewed automatically for up to five years while eligible. Recipients must work in Maryland in the eligible field after graduating (service obligation) or repay.
More money from Maryland
- Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) GrantUp to 100% of financial need; maximum $18,000 for 2026-27 (minimum $100)
- Delegate Scholarship (Maryland legislative scholarship)$200 to $14,086 for 2026-27
- Senatorial Scholarship (Maryland legislative scholarship)$400 to $14,086 for 2026-27
- Graduate & Professional Scholarship Program$1,000 to $5,000 per year
- Maryland Community College Promise ScholarshipUp to $5,000 per year (remaining tuition and mandatory fees after other aid)
Keep looking
- Answer a few questions to see every program you qualify for
- Nearby states: District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
- 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.