The Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) is a prestigious University of Maryland (UMD) award for academically talented transfer students from a Maryland community college. This merit-based scholarship awards 30 full and 15 partial tuition scholarships to students who are selected from a rigorous review and interview process.
Scholarship Details
- 30 full-tuition and 15 partial-tuition scholarships awarded annually
- Merit-based scholarship for academically talented Maryland community college transfer students
- Finalist interviews held in late March or early April
- Recipients notified by the end of April
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualify for in-state tuition status
- Must be a Maryland resident at the time of application
- Must be admitted to UMD or have a submitted and complete fall transfer application
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher from all college coursework
- Must have earned an associate’s degree or be in the process of completing 56 credits with the most recent 30 credits from a Maryland community college
- Credits or degree must be earned by the end of the spring semester in which the application is submitted
Application Process
- Submit a completed transfer application for UMD admission by March 1st
- Submit the online Frederick Douglass Scholarship application by March 1st
- Provide official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Submit a resume or list of extracurricular activities and awards with dates and descriptions
- Write a 500-word, double-spaced essay describing your community and how it shaped your goals and aspirations
- Obtain two letters of recommendation (one from a community college faculty member and one from a person of your choice); letters must be emailed directly to UMD.
Selected students will be invited to campus for an interview in late March or early April as part of the final scholarship review process. Frederick Douglass Scholars will be notified via mail by the end of April. Applicants must maintain a Maryland residence, they must be a US citizen or permanent resident and they must have a 3.5 GPA.
