First-Year Merit Scholarships for NEBHE RSP Tuition Rate

Spring 2025

Criteria Scholarship Programs Terms and Conditions Adjustments

The UMaine NEBHE Distinguished Scholarship Program provides admissions-based scholarships to high achieving out-of-state students who qualify for the NEBHE tuition status.

The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) has established the Regional Student Program (RSP) under which qualified residents of the region may receive reduced tuition rates when attending college in another New England state. The major chosen must be one that has been approved for the tuition reduction by the institution the student plans to attend. For a current listing of qualifying majors by state, please visit the NEBHE factsheet. Awarded scholarships are in addition to the special tuition rate that students receive as part of the RSP.

No additional application is required to be considered for admissions-based scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Accepted into a NEBHE RSP eligible major
  • Based on the student’s academic performance in high school, including GPA and rigor of coursework. 
  • Applicants must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in order to qualify for admissions-based scholarships.
  • Standardized test scores, such as the SAT and ACT, are optional for admissions.
  • Any change to a student’s tuition rate will result in an adjustment of financial aid, including scholarships. This includes any waiver program or reciprocity agreement that results in non-resident students being charged the resident tuition rate.

Specialized Scholarship Programs

UMaine National Merit Award

Eligibility Criteria:  Semi-finalists and finalists with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

Award Amount: 100% tuition and mandatory fees, up to 30 credits per academic year (renewable for four years with a maintained 3.3 GPA)

Spring 2025 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.
  • Student must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (see Office of Student Financial Services for more information).
  • 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 maintain at least part-time enrollment (no fewer than 6 graded credit hours per semester) leading to an undergraduate degree at UMaine.
  • UMaine National Merit Award require students must maintain full-time enrollment (no fewer than 12 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.

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.