Active — 2026-27 application open through October 15, 2026; MHEC does not state a closing clock time on the current program pageAtlas Opportunity Score 89/100
Maryland 2026-27 Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant — Healthcare & Human Services Fields
Maryland's 2026-27 Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant is open through October 15, 2026 for eligible Maryland students in shortage fields including nursing, behavioral health, social work, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Awards range from $1,000 to $4,000 annually depending on institution and enrollment status.
FundingMaryland community college: $2,000 per year full-time or $1,000 part-time. Maryland four-year institution: $4,000 per year full-time or $2,000 part-time. Awards may renew for up to five years while eligibility and satisfactory academic progress continue.
DeadlineOctober 15, 2026; 2026-27 application is open through the MHEC One App in MDCAPS; MHEC does not state a closing clock time on the current program page
Last verifiedSeptember 27, 2026
Required next actionConfirm Maryland residency, enrollment at an eligible two-year or four-year Maryland college or university, degree-seeking status in an eligible shortage-field major, and the applicable post-graduation service obligation. Complete the MHEC One App through MDCAPS and submit any major-specific documentation by October 15, 2026. Filing the FAFSA is not required for basic eligibility, but MHEC uses financial need within GPA groupings when ordering awards, so applicants seeking need-based priority should ensure the FAFSA is on file.
Broad Eligibility
Maryland residents enrolled as qualifying undergraduate or graduate students at a two-year or four-year Maryland college or university may apply if they are degree-seeking in an eligible workforce-shortage major and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Healthcare and human-services pathways for 2026-27 include nursing, mental health and counseling, psychology, rehabilitation, social work, physical therapy, physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy, occupational therapy assistant and related human-services fields. Awards carry field-specific Maryland employment or service obligations after graduation.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score 89/100. This is a useful Maryland healthcare-workforce pipeline grant because it directly supports students preparing for shortage occupations that feed hospitals, nursing homes, public-health agencies, home-health providers, behavioral-health and developmental-disability programs, therapeutic hospitals, schools, and nonprofit human-services organizations. The strongest healthcare tracks include nursing, behavioral and mental health, social work, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Employers and educational institutions are not the direct applicants but can promote the program as a recruitment and retention resource for eligible students and trainees.
The Maryland Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grant supports Maryland residents preparing for designated shortage occupations. For the 2026-27 academic year, the MHEC One App is open through October 15, 2026. Eligible healthcare and human-services fields include nursing, mental health and counseling, psychology, rehabilitation, social work, physical therapy, occupational therapy and related shortage disciplines.
Awards vary by institution type and enrollment status. Community-college students may receive $2,000 per year full time or $1,000 part time; students at Maryland four-year institutions may receive $4,000 per year full time or $2,000 part time. Awards may renew for up to five years while eligibility and satisfactory academic progress continue.
This program carries field-specific Maryland service obligations after graduation, so applicants should review the employment requirements before accepting an award. Hospitals, health systems, behavioral-health providers, rehabilitation organizations and educational institutions should treat WSSAG as a pipeline and recruitment resource rather than a direct organizational grant.
Source verificationOfficial government source · mhec.maryland.govAtlas last verified this record September 27, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
