Scholarships and Financial Aid

Financial Aid and Graduate Assistantships Overview

The University of Maryland offers several pathways to students needing financial assistance, including financial aid, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and graduate assistantships. The Office of Student Financial Aid is the main resource for loans and other aid. Below are some of the offerings through the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. 

Need-Based Scholarships

Need-based scholarships provide support for students based on their level of financial need. Not all students are eligible for need-based scholarships. 

The following scholarships are need-based:

• TerpStart Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
• William J. Bonstra Endowed Scholarship
• Glenn Birx Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
• University of Maryland Endowed Scholarship in Architecture for the Advancement of Innovation in the Arts
• Metzner Family TerpStart Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
• Kibel Endowed TerpStart Scholarship
• Richard and Stefanie Vogel Endowed TerpStart Scholarship in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
• Dennis and Kathleen Jankiewicz Endowed TerpStart Scholarship in the School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation

Eligibility

Read about eligibility details related to FAFSA.

Merit Scholarships

Architecture: 

The architecture program offers endowed and annual scholarships that recognize extraordinary academic achievements of students. These merit scholarship funds are available on a competitive basis and are available to continuing students in the Architecture Program.

• Charles Kibel Endowed Fellowship
• John and Sarah Steffian Fellowship
• John W. Hill Endowed Scholarship
• Grimm and Parker Endowment
• Potomac Valley Brick and Supply Company Endowed Scholarship
• Architecture Faculty/Staff Endowed Scholarship
• Potomac Valley American Institute of Architects Scholarship
• Maryland Architecture, Planning and Preservation Dean's Scholarship
• Architecture Pioneers Endowed Scholarship in Architecture
• Architecture Undergraduate Scholarship
• Herbert Edward Rycroft II Memorial Fund
• The School of Architecture Endowed Scholarship 

Eligibility

To be eligible for this category of scholarship students must:

• be a student in good standing in the Architecture Program;
• be enrolled in the undergraduate or graduate program in Architecture during the upcoming fall semester;
• have minimally completed either ARCH 400 or ARCH 404 by the end of the spring semester in which applications are solicited.

All eligible Architecture students are automatically considered for these scholarships. There is no need to apply or reach out for information. The primary impact on your candidacy for a scholarship is related to your holistic student experience (participation in student orgs, in-class contributions, outstanding work, need based aid, etc.).

Real Estate Development:

Trade Association Scholarships: Opportunities from associations like Commercial Real Estate Women. Check websites for deadlines and criteria. 

MRED Scholarships: Limited funds cover 10-30% of tuition for incoming students, paid upon course completion with a grade of B or higher.

For more information or to apply, contact Ashley Skipper at askipper@umd.edu.

Education Abroad Scholarships

The School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation offers competitive endowed scholarships for students interested in attending Education Abroad programs during spring, summer, and winter. Visit the education abroad page for additional programs and deadlines.

Graduate Architecture Internship-Scholarships

Each year, local firms offer paid internships and significant scholarships to architecture graduate students. To learn more about these opportunities, visit our professional development page. 

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistants (GAs) work in teaching, research, or administrative roles across our programs. Roles include Teaching Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs), or Administrative Assistants (AAs).

Architecture Program:

• Positions: Limited teaching, administrative, and research roles, typically for Master of Architecture students.
• Assignment Determination: By Director Mohammad Gharipour, based on qualifications.
• Compensation: ~$5,000/semester stipend for 10 hours/week, five credit hours of tuition assistance, in-state tuition rates, and health benefits.
• Qualifications: Good academic standing, full-time enrollment (9 credit hours/semester or higher).
• Application Process: Forms sent late March; decisions in early April; assignments notified mid-May.
  Contract and Orientation: Review contract thoroughly; orientation attendance mandatory.
• TA/GA Job Descriptions (PDF)

Real Estate Development Program:

• Positions: Limited assistantships offered each semester, including teaching assistantships (part-time and full-time) for undergraduate courses. Additional administrative hourly positions are available to help support the real estate development program. These positions are typically for Master of Real Estate Development students.
• Assignment Determination: By director of the Real Estate Development Program.
• Qualifications: Good academic standing, full-time enrollment (9 credit hours/semester or higher).
• Policies: Graduate School Assistantship Policy
• Contact: Ashley Skipper, Program Coordinator at askipper@umd.edu

Urban Studies & Planning Program:

• Positions: Limited assistantships each fall, including TAs for undergraduate courses and GAs for faculty projects, notably at the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education (NCSG).
• Assistantships: Part-time (10 hours/week, 5 hours tuition assistance), Full-time (20 hours/week, 10 hours tuition assistance), with in-state tuition rates for credits above 5 or 10. Second-year students can apply for paid, full-time (20 hours/week, 10 hours tuition assistance) internships with local and state planning agencies, with in-state tuition rates for credits above 10.
• Policies: Graduate School Assistantship Policy
• Contact: Clara Irazábal at irazabal@umd.edu. GA positions are also available through other UMD departments; check https://umd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com under "Graduate Assistants."

Historic Preservation Program:

• Positions: Offered each semester based on qualifications.
• Benefits: Stipend, tuition assistance (5 credits for 10-hour assistantships, 10 credits for 20-hour assistantships), in-state tuition rates, optional state health insurance.
• Additional Information: Stipend rates found on The Graduate School website and tuition policies found on the University Human Resources website.
• Scholarships and Awards: Provided internally and via ScholarshipUniverse.

PhD Program:

• Funding: Limited to 1-3 students annually, with additional support through teaching and faculty research projects.
• Assistantships: Stipend rates available on The Graduate School website; tuition assistance (5 credits for 10-hour assistantships, 10 credits for 20-hour assistantships).
• Additional Policies: Found on University Human Resources website.
• Contact: Delaney West, Senior Program Coordinator at dmwest@umd.edu.