The State of Maine Grant program is a need-based program that provides grants to undergraduate students.  This program is funded primarily by funding from the State of Maine, but also receives supplemental funding from the NextGen® College Investing Plan.

Who can apply?

Any Maine resident who files the FAFSA by May 1 is automatically considered for the grant.

You must be enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program at an eligible institution. Because this is a need-based grant, your EFC must not exceed the maximum EFC.  For the 2010-2011 academic year, the maximum EFC is 4000.

You must file the FAFSA by May 1 to be considered for the grant.  There are no other application forms required.

The FAFSA must be filed by May 1.

The college/university you attend will determine if you are eligible for the grant based upon your enrollment status and EFC.

The award amounts vary depending upon the type of institution you attend and your enrollment status.  The annual amounts range from $500 to $1,250.

Maine Public Institution (enrolled full-time): $1,000

Maine Public Insitution (enrolled part-time): $500

Maine Private Institution (enrolled full-time): $1,250

Maine Private Institution (enrolled part-time): $625

Out of State Public Institution (enrolled full-time): $500

Out of State Public Institution (enrolled part-time): $250

Out of State Private Institution (enrolled full-time): $1,000

Out of State Private Institution (enrolled part-time): $500

You must file the FAFSA by May 1 each year you plan to attend college. The institution will review your information and determine if you are eligible each year.

Disbursement of funds is made directly to the institution for credit to your student account.

You must attend an eligible college/university in Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont or the District of Columbia.

The Educators for Maine Program is a competitive, merit-based, forgivable loan program for Maine students pursuing careers in teaching, including speech pathology and child development, who intend to work in Maine after completing their education and who do not currently hold state certification. Recipients who do not work as an educator in Maine at an eligible school or child care facility must repay the loan to FAME.

Graduating high school seniors and students accepted into undergraduate college programs and who are residents of Maine.  Students pursuing initial certification as a teacher, including speech pathology or careers in child development are eligible to apply.

All applicants must be Maine residents.  Your most recent cumulative GPA must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Applications are available online by February 1 of each year. Renewal applications are mailed to current recipients by the end of February. In addition to the application, you must complete the FAFSA.

The FAFSA must be submitted by May 1.  The completed FAME application must be postmarked on or before May 15.

New applications are reviewed by a selection committee. Committee members only review applications that meet the minimum eligibility criteria based on:

• Academic performance
• Awards and special honors
• Relevant activities
• Grammar, style and content of a 500-word essay

The maximum amount you can be awarded is $3,000 annually.

To receive renewal funding, the FAFSA must be submitted by May 1 and the renewal application must be complete and postmarked on or before May 15. You must continue to be a Maine resident and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Disbursement of loan funds is made directly to the institution for credit to your account. 

You must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university.

One year's worth of your loan will be forgiven for each year of return service in which you are a full-time teacher, speech pathologist or child care provider with appropriate credentials at an eligible Maine school or child care center. Two years' worth of your loan will be forgiven for each year that you are a full-time teacher in an eligible Maine school working in an underserved subject area. Partial loan forgiveness is also available on a pro-rated basis under certain circumstances. Refer to the State of Maine Loans section of our web site for more information.

If you do not become an educator at an eligible Maine school or child care center, you must repay the loan to FAME with interest. Currently, the interest rate is equal to the Federal Stafford Loan repayment interest rate plus 1.75%. The interest rate is determined at the time you are selected as an Educators for Maine recipient.

This program provides free tuition to certain foster children, adopted children/wards under subsidy from the Department of Health and Human Services, and children of firefighters, law enforcement officers or emergency medical services persons killed in the line of duty. The student must be attending a Maine public institution.

Graduating high school seniors and students accepted into undergraduate college programs and who are residents of Maine.

You must be a Maine resident and meet one of the following three conditions:

• Student is a child or spouse of a firefighter, law enforcement officer or emergency medical services person killed in the line of duty.
• Student was a foster child under the custody of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services when graduated from high school or equivalent.
• Student is an adopted person or minor ward of a permanency guardian whose adoptive parent or guardian receives a subsidy from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.

Applications are available online by February 1 of each year. Renewal applications are mailed to current recipients by the end of March. In addition to the application, you must complete the FAFSA.

There is no deadline; however funds are limited so you are encouraged to apply early.

FAME selects the students who qualify on a first come, first served basis.  

The award is the amount of tuition at the college/university that you attend.

Is this award renewable? 

Renewal applications are mailed to current recipients by the end of February. In addition to the application, you must complete the FAFSA.

All of the University of Maine schools, all of the Maine Community Colleges and Maine Maritime Academy.

Waivers for foster/adopted/ward children are limited to 30 annually and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

The QCC program is a need-based scholarship for postsecondary early childhood education or child development study for current and future child care professionals.

Any Maine resident who has graduated from an approved secondary school or successfully completed a general education development (GED) examination or its equivalent may apply.

You must be attending a participating institution (see list below) and must be enrolled in an eligible degree program or taking an eligible course of study as a non-degree student.  In addition, you must be a Maine resident and file a FAFSA.  The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) cannot exceed the annual limit determined by FAME.  For the 2010-2011 academic year, the EFC limit is 6600.

Matriculated students must apply through a participating institution. Applications for non-degree students are available online.

There is no deadline for the QCC program; however, funding is limited and awarded on a first come, first served basis.  Apply early.

For students enrolled in a degree program at a participating institution, the college/university you are attending selects the students who qualify for the scholarship. For non-degree students applying through FAME, FAME selects the students who qualify on a first come, first served basis, based on the availability of funds.

Eligible students are awarded $500 per course; not to exceed the tuition costs certified by the institution. In addition, eligible students are awarded a maximum of two courses per semester and no more than $2,000 per year.

Is this award renewable? 

Students must qualify each year. Non-degree students MUST reapply through FAME to qualify.

Because funds are limited, be certain to apply early.

The Byrd Scholarship is a merit-based, highly competitive scholarship that is funded by federal dollars.

Graduating high school seniors who are residents of Maine.

You must demonstrate academic rigor and community service during your high school career.

Applications are available online by February 1 of each year. Renewal applications are mailed to current recipients by the end of March. In addition to the application, you must complete the FAFSA.

The FASFA must be submitted by May 1.  The complete FAME application must be postmarked on or before May 1.

New applications are reviewed by a selection committee. Committee members only review applications that meet the minimum eligibility criteria based on:

• Academic performance
• Awards and special honors
• Community involvement
• Grammar, style and content of a 200-word essay

The award is $1,500 per year.

Payment is made directly to the college/university you attend for credit to your student account. 

Is this award renewable? 

To receive renewal funding, the FAFSA must be submitted by May 1 and the renewal application must be complete and postmarked on or before May 1. You must continue to be a Maine resident and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

You must attend an eligible U.S. institution.

The number of scholarships awarded each year is dependent upon federal funding.  Generally, between 16 and 18 new scholarships are granted each year.

The BNAS scholarship is a program for primary, regular and year-round employees of the Brunswick Naval Air Station who have lost their jobs because of the base closure. 

Anyone who worked on the base and has lost their job due to the base closing.

You are not required to be enrolled in a degree program; however, you must attend a Title IV eligible institution and you must not be in default on any student loan.

Applications are available from the Maine Department of Labor.  Contact Christine Greenleaf at 207-623-7986 or via e-mail at christine.l.greenleaf@maine.gov.

There is no deadline for the BNAS scholarship; however, funding is limited and awarded on a first come, first served basis.  

You must meet the criteria as outlined above.  The Maine Department of Labor determines who may receive the scholarship funding.

Eligible students are awarded up to $1,000. 

Payment is made directly to the college/university you attend for credit to your student account. 

Is this award renewable? 

No, the maximum amount of award funds you may receive is $1,000.

You must attend an eligible U.S. institution.

FAME administers the scholarship funds on the behalf of the Maine Department of Labor.  FAME does not determine a student's eligibility.

This program is a tuition subsidy for eligible students who enroll in a qualifying Maine-based medical school program.

Any Maine resident who will enroll in a participating institution.  Applicants must be commencing their medical education on or after July 1, 2009.

Criteria is established by each participating medical school and will include, at a minimum, the following:

• The student is or will be enrolled in a qualifying Maine-based medical school program;
• The student has a substantial connection to the State of Maine as evidenced by factors such as prior education in Maine and parent/legal guardianship residence in Maine;
• The student has at least one year of residence in Maine for purposes other than education.

You must contact the medical school directly. The institution will provide you with the information necessary to apply for the scholarship.

Each medical school determines the deadline at their institution.

Priority is given to a student who meets at least two of the following:

• The student has received a high school diploma, or its equivalent, in Maine.
• The student has received a baccalaureate degree from a four year college or university in Maine.
• The legal residence of the student's parent or legal guardian is in Maine.

You may be awarded up to 50% of the institution's cost of attendance or $25,000 annually, whichever is less.

Is this award renewable? 

Yes.  Contact the institution you are attending to learn about the renewal application requirements.

Funds are disbursed twice per year as established by the medical school, typically in the fall and spring semesters.

• Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine Medical School Program (MMC-TUSM)
• University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

The number of scholarships offered by each institution varies and is limited by available funds.

The Maine Dental Education Loan is a forgivable loan program for Maine residents pursuing postgraduate dental education. To receive loan forgiveness, dentists must practice general dentistry in underserved areas of the State and accept all patients regardless of ability to pay for services.

Any Maine resident who is pursuing a career as a dentist and intends to practice primary dental care in an underserved area in Maine.

You must be a Maine resident, for purposes other than education, for a minimum of two years prior to matriculation into dental school. You must be admitted to a program of dentistry at an accredited institution of dental education.

Applications are available online by February 1 of each year. Renewal applications are mailed to current recipients by the end of February. In addition to the application, you must complete the FAFSA.

The FAFSA must be submitted by May 30.  The completed FAME application must be postmarked on or before May 30.

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee.  If you are selected as a finalist, you may be requested to participate in an interview. 

You may receive up to $20,000 per year. The maximum aggregate amount is $80,000.

To receive renewal funding, the FAFSA must be submitted by May 30 and the renewal application must be complete and postmarked on or before May 30.

Disbursement of loan funds is made directly to the institution for credit to your account. 

You may attend any U.S. accredited institution of medical education.

One year's worth of your loan will be forgiveness for each year of return service in which you are practicing at an eligible public or private dental care facility in an underserved population area in Maine. You must complete an application process to be considered for loan repayment. Refer to the State of Maine Loans section of our web site for more information.

This loan program is highly competitive. The number of loans awarded each year is dependent upon available funding.

This program provides loan repayment assistance for dentists practicing general dentistry in underserved areas of the State of Maine.

Any dentist licensed to practice in Maine who is employed in or intends to establish a qualified practice, has qualifying outstanding dental education loans and is not under an agreement for loan repayment from a program funded by the National Health Service Corps. The dentist does not have to be a Maine resident but must be licensed to practice in Maine.

You must:

• Agree to serve all patients regardless of ability to pay for services, accept MaineCare patients and provide a sliding fee-scale for payment of services;
• Be eligible for licensure to practice dental medicine in Maine;
• Have qualifying outstanding dental education loans.

Applications are available online by February 1 of each year. Renewal applications are mailed to current recipients by the end of February.

Priority consideration is given to completed applications received by FAME with a postmark on or before May 30.

Applications are reviewed by a selection committee.  If you are selected as a finalist, you may be requested to participate in an interview. 

You may receive up to $20,000 per year. The maximum aggregate amount is $80,000.

To receive renewal funding, the renewal application must be complete and postmarked on or before May 30. The signed contract term is for two years with an option to renew for an additional two years.

Funds are disbursed directly to the lender for payment toward your outstanding principal balance.

This loan program is highly competitive. The number of loan repayments awarded each year is dependent upon available funding.

This is a need-based forgivable loan program for Maine residents pursuing postgraduate medical, dental and veterinary education. Forgiveness is granted for practitioners who provide return service in Maine as a primary care physician or as a physician in a designated underserved specialty; general dentist in underserved area of the State; and large animal veterinarian.

You must:

• Be a resident of the State of Maine, for purposes other than education, for a minimum of one year prior to matriculation into medical school.
• Be admitted to a program of allopathic, osteopathic, veterinary medicine or dentistry at an institution of medical education that has been accredited by the appropriate accreditation agency.