First-Year Merit Scholarships for UMaine Online Students

Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Available Annual Award Range: $2,000-$5,000

UMaine is pleased to offer the Online Flagship Award for out-of-state first-year students enrolling in one of UMaineOnline’s undergraduate degree programs. For in-state online first-year students, please visit our Maine Residents page. Students will be awarded based on the combination of their academic credentials, and enrollment as a degree candidate in one of UMaineOnline’s undergraduate degree programs.

To qualify for an Online Flagship Award first-year students must submit a completed admission application. Filing a FAFSA is not required to receive the Online Flagship Award, but students are encouraged to file a FAFSA by the incoming first year student Priority FAFSA filing deadline of March 1 in order to be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid funds.

Please note: Any change to a student’s tuition rate will result in adjustment of financial aid, including scholarships. This includes any waiver program or reciprocity agreement that results in non-resident students being charged the online or resident tuition rate.

Eligibility Criteria

Accepted into a UMaineOnline eligible major.
Based on the student’s academic performance, including GPA and rigor of coursework.
Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative college GPA in order to qualify for admissions-based scholarships.

2025-2026 Scholarship Terms and Conditions

First-year students are highly encouraged to file a FAFSA by March 1 in order to be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid funds. Filing a FAFSA is not required to receive merit-based scholarships at the time of admission.
Scholarship amounts are a financial commitment made to students by the University of Maine. Some or all of the commitment funds may be replaced on the financial aid offer by other Federal, University, and Endowed scholarships and/or grants.
Awards are renewable for up to 8 semesters over 4 years, or 120 credits, whichever comes first, provided that the student meets specific renewal criteria.
Scholarship amount is determined at the time of admission and will remain fixed throughout the student’s undergraduate career, provided the student meets renewal eligibility requirements.
Student must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (see Office of Student Financial Services for more information).
Student must maintain at least part-time enrollment (no fewer than 6 graded credit hours per semester) leading to an undergraduate degree at UMaine.
Students are required to meet a minimum cumulative GPA each academic year in order to maintain eligibility for admissions-based scholarships. Students will be sent a formal letter with the required GPA that they must meet.
Maine Top Scholar Awards and UMaine National Merit Award require students to maintain full-time enrollment (no fewer than 12 graded credit hours per semester) leading to an undergraduate degree at UMaine.

Enrollment Based Adjustments

UMaine’s initial financial aid offers are based on the assumption that a student will enroll in 15 credits per semester. Some types of aid, including merit scholarships and institutional grants, are adjusted for students who enroll in fewer than 15 credits.