Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) Grant

Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: University of Maryland
Last Updated: January 18, 2026

Summary

The Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) at the University of Maryland is a prestigious merit-based scholarship targeting academically talented transfer students from Maryland community colleges. Established to honor the legacy of Frederick Douglass, it offers 30 full and 15 partial tuition scholarships. Eligible students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and meet specific residency requirements. This scholarship aims to empower students through transformative educational experiences, contributing to their academic and professional growth.

Overview

The University of Maryland College of Education is a nationally recognized leader in education. Situated near the nation’s capital, we offer unparalleled opportunities for students to engage in transformative academic, professional and research experiences that address the world’s most pressing challenges. With more than 100 years of excellence and a network of more than 40,000 alums, our college is a powerful community. Frederick Douglass Scholarship The Frederick Douglass Scholarship (FDS) is a prestigious University of Maryland (UMD) scholarship for academically talented transfer students from Maryland community colleges. This exceptional merit-based scholarship honors the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass, who made lasting contributions to American history through his work as an abolitionist, suffragist, author and agent of positive change. 30 full and 15 partial tuition scholarships are awarded to students who are selected from a rigorous review and interview process.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. In order to be eligible for the Frederick Douglass Scholarship, students must:Be an admitted UMD student for the current spring semester or a transfer applicant with a completed and submitted application (including all required documents) for the upcoming fall semester with no previous degree-seeking status at the university. Be a Maryland resident at the time of applying. This is determined by the applicant's response to the residency questions on the admission application. UMD adheres to the Board of Regents' residency classification policies. Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or qualify for in-state status by way of the non-resident tuition exemption status at the time of applying.Have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for all college work, including work from institutions other than Maryland community colleges.Earned an associate’s degree from a Maryland community college, have completed, or be in the process of completing 56 college credits with the most recent 30 credits earned at a Maryland community college.The degree or credits must be earned by the end of the spring semester during which the application is being completed.Students completing their 56th credit at the time of applying must reflect that courses are in progress on their transcript or on the transfer application.Show English language proficiency, as demonstrated through a review of all materials submitted with the application.