Free College Scholarship

To qualify, you must:

• Have earned a high school diploma or equivalent (HiSET/GED) in 2026 or later
• Have lived in Maine for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment
• Enroll in an eligible associate degree or certificate program at Central Maine Community College
• Complete a Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA)
• Accept all state and federal grants and scholarships
• Remain on-track for on-time completion (you must stay on track to complete your program within 150% of the normal timeframe)
• Participate in academic planning and advising to stay on track for on-time completion

New students who have never applied to CMCC:

• Fill out an admissions application
• Complete a FAFSA (if eligible)
• Be a Maine resident and have lived in Maine for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment

Students who have already applied and been accepted:

• Complete your FAFSA (if you haven’t already)
• That’s it! We’ll take care of the rest. There’s no need to reapply

Current students:

• Complete your FAFSA (if you haven’t already)
• That’s it! We’ll take care of the rest. There’s no need to reapply

There is no separate application for the Maine Free College Scholarship, if you’re eligible, CMCC will apply it to your account.

Class of 2026 and beyond: Covers 100% of tuition

The scholarship does not cover fees, books, housing, or other personal expenses.

No. Students may attend full-time or part-time. Funding will continue as long as you remain eligible and make satisfactory academic progress toward completing your degree or certificate within 150% of the program’s standard completion time (for example, up to 3 years for a 2-year degree program).

Students Must:

• Be a Maine resident, and
• Have lived in Maine for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrolling

If you’re not eligible for federal or state financial aid, or you’re unable to complete the FAFSA, reach out to the Financial Aid Office. Any available federal and state aid is applied first, and then the Maine Free College Scholarship is used to cover eligible tuition costs.

No. Eligible students have a limited window after graduating to enroll at CMCC and use the scholarship. We recommend applying and enrolling as soon as possible to take full advantage of the benefit.

Enrollment deadlines by graduating class:

• 2026 grads – Enroll no later than Summer 2029

Prospective students can schedule a campus visit to tour campus, meet staff, and learn more about CMCC.