There are many possibilities if you are a student searching for school grants in Maine so that you can pursue your educational goals. The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) can help you find and get the state grants and scholarships that you may be eligible for. FAME can also help with pairing you up with special loan forgiveness programs in Maine .
The State of Maine Grant Program awards between $500 and $1,500 per year, and you can apply for this grant by filling out the FAFSA form . You must be a resident of Maine who has financial need, enroll in a Maine public or private university or college; or enroll in an eligible out of state university in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, or New Hampshire .
The University of Maine offers many scholarships. For the 2009/2010 year, scholarships in excess of $1 million were given to freshman and transfer students who attended University of Maine. The awards varied from $500 up to the full tuition amount (University of Maine, 2010).
Many of Maine’s scholarships are based on merit.
The Top Scholar Awards can be given to top graduating high school seniors in the amount of $7,200 USD (University of Maine, 2010). The Presidential Distinguished Scholar Awards is given to Maine high school graduating students who show talent and academic achievement. The award amount is $3,000 per year, and it may be renewed for as many as seven semesters of college (University of Maine, 2010). The Presidential Scholars Award is open to out-of-state students in the amount of $10,000 per year, as well as to New England Board of Higher Education Regional Students Program high school seniors in the amount of $5,000 per year.
The awards are based on students who show academic merit. The Dean’s Scholar Award is open to out-of-state students in the amount of $6,000 per year, as well as to New England Board of Higher Education Regional Students Program high school seniors in the amount of $3,000 per year. The awards are based on students who show academic merit, but the academic rank for the high school seniors is less strict as in that of the Presidential Scholars Award (University of Maine, 2010).
The National Merit Finalists and Outstanding Academic Students Award amount varies for the different type of students as follows: Maine residents may receive $8,000 as an award; students in the New England Board of Higher Education Regional Students Program may receive $11,000 as an award; and nonresidents may receive $21,000 (University of Maine, 2010). The National Merit Stipend provides an award amount from $1,000 to $2,000 per year (renewable for up to seven semesters). Those eligible are National Merit Scholarship Finalists (University of Maine, 2010). Additional scholarships and information about them can be found at the website for the University of Maine at .
Maine School Grants for 2012
Grants in the state of Maine can make going to college or university less of a financial drain on your resources. If you have been pushing aside thoughts of attending a postsecondary institution in Maine then it is time to look at the grant opportunities that await you.
Barking Foundation Grants
The Barking Foundation Grant is a $3,000 grant that is awarded to approximately 25 undergraduate and graduate students on a yearly basis. Students must be residents of the state of Maine to apply. The eligibility for this particular grant is determined on the basis of financial need as well as residency. In this instance a resident is an individual who has lived in the state for at least four years before applying for the grant. This grant is for a one year time period. The student must reapply for the grant the following school year.
When deciding who is most eligible for this grant the Foundation looks at academic performance, residency and financial need. They also consider the responsibilities of the student, the application essay and the references that the student provides. A student can only be awarded the Barking Foundation Grant twice during their college years.
NextGen Student Grant Program
The NextGen Student Grant Program is awarded to a select number of undergraduate students who are residents of the state of Maine every calendar year. The money awarded from this grant ranges from $400 per student to $1,000. This grant program is available to undergraduate students. It is a college savings program which qualifies as a Section 529 savings account.
The NextGen Student Grant Program has gone through some changes over the years. Now in 2011 it is better than ever and has so much to offer the students that apply for it. It is further subdivided into two grants- the Harold Alfond College Challenge Grant and the Initial Matching Grant.
The Harold Alfond College Challenge Grant is awarded to Maine residents whose parents open a NextGen account for them before they reach the age of one. The Initial Matching Grant is available to families who choose to open a NextGen account. This account can be opened with a minimum of $50. Both of the grants under the NextGen Student Grant Program are administered by the Financial Authority of Maine (FAME).
In summary, Maine provides one of the best handful of merit based scholarships and grants available.