Montgomery College has reached its goal of offering 1,000 Raptor Ready Scholarships to recent Montgomery County high school graduates for the fall 2026 semester, helping students begin college with reduced financial barriers.
The scholarship provides eligible spring 2026 graduates of Montgomery County public, private and homeschool programs with $1,000 toward fall tuition and fees. Students can use the award toward Montgomery College credit programs or select Workforce Development and Continuing Education programs.
This marks the first time Montgomery College has reached its goal of offering 1,000 Raptor Ready Scholarships in a single year. Since the 2022-23 academic year, the college has offered the scholarships to more than 4,000 recent Montgomery County high school graduates.
“Reducing financial barriers can make a meaningful difference for students as they take their next step after high school,” said Dr. Kimberly McNair, associate senior vice president for student affairs. “This scholarship helps make Montgomery College even more accessible while giving students an opportunity to begin working toward a degree, transfer pathway or workforce credential.”
To qualify, students must be Montgomery County residents, be admitted to Montgomery College and register for and attend at least six credit hours during the fall semester, or enroll in an eligible Workforce Development and Continuing Education program. Eligible programs include clinical medical assistant, certified nursing assistant and early childhood education.
Scholarship awards are applied directly to students’ accounts for fall tuition and fees, and recipients are protected from registration cancellation due to nonpayment. A FAFSA or Maryland One-App financial aid application is not required, although students are encouraged to apply for additional financial assistance.
Montgomery College will confirm final scholarship recipients after fall enrollment is completed. If students who received scholarship offers do not enroll, awards may be extended to eligible students on the wait list.
