Scholarships funds available this fall for Maine adults

The University of Maine System’s Adult Degree Completion Scholarship has funds available for Maine adults wishing to resume courses this fall toward a college degree. Scholarship aid, combined with expanded credit transfer among Maine’s universities and community colleges and prior learning credit for work experience and military service, could make the path to a college degree fast and affordable.  

Approximately 200,000 adult Maine learners have invested time and money into a college education without earning a credential or college degree. The University of Maine System Adult Degree Completion Scholarship provides as much as $4,000 annually to help adults with demonstrated financial need resume coursework and earn a college degree at any of Maine’s public universities. Applications will be accepted through the start of the fall 2018 semester.   

Interested adults are encouraged to visit maine.edu/adult for application materials and information, or call 207.621.3428. Student support specialists will help adult learners find a path to a degree, including online courses that can be accessed from anywhere to accommodate working adults.  

Any Maine resident who has earned at least 30 college credits toward a first baccalaureate degree and been away from class for at least three years could be eligible for financial support to resume coursework through any of Maine’s public universities. The Adult Degree Completion Scholarship, which does not need to be repaid, is awarded based on financial need and course load.

Since its launch in fall 2014, the University of Maine System Adult Degree Completion Scholarship Program has awarded nearly $1.8 million in scholarship aid, helping more than 450 adult learners get back on track toward a degree. In the last academic year, the scholarship helped fund 366 semesters of college completion work with an average award of $1,386 per semester. To date, 117 Maine adults have earned a college degree with the help of Maine’s Adult Degree Completion Scholarship. Online programming and access points provided by UMA’s centers and sites eliminate proximity to campus as a barrier to earning a degree. Last year’s 190 individual recipients resided in 120 different Maine communities.   

“Far too many Mainers have invested time and money into an education but had to stop short of their goal of graduating with a college degree. Fortunately, it is never too late to finish that degree,” says James H. Page, Chancellor of the University of Maine System. “Adult learners account for one-third of our students at Maine’s public universities, where we make it a priority to provide lifelong, affordable access to public higher education as part of our work to build a stronger Maine workforce.”