The Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship — Up to Half of Tuition, Fees and Board
Maryland pays up to 50% of annual tuition, mandatory fees and room and board — measured against the highest-cost University System institution — for a veteran or serving member who served in Afghanistan or its contiguous air space on or after 24 October 2001, or in Iraq or its contiguous waters or air space on or after March 2003. Reserve and Maryland National Guard members activated for those conflicts are included. The 2025-26 maximums were $8,699 on campus, $5,637 off campus and $5,067 living with parents.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
Maryland pays up to 50% of annual tuition, mandatory fees and room and board — measured against the highest-cost University System institution — for a veteran or serving member who served in Afghanistan or its contiguous air space on or after 24 October 2001, or in Iraq or its contiguous waters or air space on or after March 2003. Reserve and Maryland National Guard members activated for those conflicts are included. The 2025-26 maximums were $8,699 on campus, $5,637 off campus and $5,067 living with parents.
What it's worth: Up to 50% of tuition, mandatory fees AND room and board
- It covers up to 50% of annual tuition, mandatory fees AND ROOM AND BOARD, measured against the highest-cost University System of Maryland institution.
- Room and board being included is unusual — most scholarships stop at tuition and fees.
- The 2025-26 stated maximums were $8,699 on campus, $5,637 off campus, and $5,067 living with parents. The living-with-parents figure exists, which many programmes omit.
- Qualifying service is Afghanistan or contiguous air space on or after 24 October 2001, or Iraq or contiguous waters or air space on or after March 2003.
- CONTIGUOUS WATERS AND AIR SPACE count. Someone who never set foot in either country may still qualify.
- Reserve and Maryland National Guard members activated for these conflicts are included.
- Applications go through MDCAPS. The 2025-26 cycle closed on 1 April 2026, so the deadline is early in the calendar year.
Who is entitled to it
- You served in Afghanistan or Iraq in the qualifying period.
- You are in Maryland.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
Deadline: April 1- 1Apply through MDCAPS, and diary the deadline — the 2025-26 cycle closed on 1 APRIL, which is earlier than most.
- 2If you served in contiguous WATERS OR AIR SPACE rather than on the ground, you still qualify. Say so.
- 3Reserve and Maryland Guard members activated for these conflicts are included — apply on that basis.
- 4Claim the room and board element. It is inside the award and is often the largest part.
- 5If you live with parents, there is a specific maximum for that; do not assume you get nothing.
- Form
- Application through MDCAPS
- File with
- Maryland Higher Education Commission, via MDCAPS
- Documents you will need
- dd214
- Annual
- Claimed once a year.
Sources
- authority · published policyMaryland Higher Education Commission — Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship
- operating · published policyMaryland Department of Veterans and Military Families
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.