STATE OF MAINE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

Finance Authority of Maine (FAME)

5 Community Drive
PO Box 949
Augusta, ME 04332-0949

TEL: (207) 623-3263 or 1-800-228-3734

FAX: (207) 623-0095

TYY: (207) 626-2717

http://www.famemaine.com/Education_Home.aspx

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Maine.

Maine State Grant Program

The Maine State Grant Program is a need-based state grant awarded to Maine undergraduate students. The FAFSA serves as the application for the Maine State Grant Program. To be eligible for an award under the Maine State Grant Program, the Federal Processing Agency must receive your FAFSA by May 1st. This deadline is critical. Notification will be sent in July to first year students, students who provide more than one school on their FAFSA Form and students attending eligible out-of-state schools. However, if you are not eligible to receive an award under this program, you will not receive a notification letter.

Maximum Grant Amounts:

1. In-State Public Institutions: $1,200 (for full-time study)

2. Out-of-State Public Institutions: $600 (for full-time study)

3. In-State Private Institutions: $1,450 (for full-time study)

4. Out-of-State Private Institutions: $1,150 (for full-time study)

A limited number of grants are available for part-time study.

In order to be eligible for an out-of-state private or public Maine State Grant Program grant, you must attend a higher education institution in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania or the District of Columbia.

Educators for Maine Program

The Educators for Maine (EFM) Program is a competitive, merit-based, forgivable loan program for Maine students pursuing careers in teaching, including speech pathology and child development or childcare.

Recipients must intend to work in Maine after completing their education and cannot currently hold state certification to teach or child care provider qualifications, as applicable.

Recipients who do not perform eligible work in Maine at an eligible school or child care facility must repay the loan to FAME.

Graduating high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students accepted into postsecondary degree programs.

Students must be pursuing initial certification as a teacher, including speech pathology or child care provider qualifications

You must be a Maine resident. Your most recent cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

New applications are reviewed by a selection committee. Committee members only review applications that meet the minimum eligibility criteria based on:

• Academic performance
• Awards and special honors
• Relevant activities
• Grammar, style and content of a 500-word essay

To receive renewal funding, the FAFSA must be submitted by May 1 and the renewal application must be complete and postmarked on or before May 1. You must continue to be a Maine resident and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Quality Child Care Education Scholarship

Eligibility

Must be a Maine Resident

File a FAFSA

Need-based (less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines)

Currently work as a childcare provider OR intend to work as a childcare provider.

Award Amount

Maximum of $500 per course up to 2 courses per semester ($2,000 per year)

Notes

Cannot be awarded for the same course a student is receiving the Main Roads Scholarship for.

Applicant must be taking childcare courses or pursuing a certificate, undergraduate or graduate degree that will lead to direct childcare service.

Childcare positions may be in nursery schools, Head Start, before and after school programs, and in programs for pre-kindergarten children with special needs.

Brunswick Naval Air Station Scholarship

Eligibility

Primary, regular, or year-round civilian position at the BNAS

Award Amount

Up to $1,000

Notes:

Student does not need to be matriculated

Must not be in default on any student loan

Funds cannot be set aside for any student

Must be a Title IV school

Tuition Waiver for Children and Spouses of Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

The Tuition Waiver Program provides tuition waivers for children and spouses of firefighters and law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty, or died as a result of injuries received during the performance of their duties. Tuition waivers are valid for these individuals if they are students within the University of Maine System, the Maine Technical College System or at Maine Maritime Academy. Applications for tuition waivers are available from the Finance Authority of Maine.

Tuition Waiver for Foster Children Under the Custody of the Department of Human Services

The Tuition Waiver Program provides tuition waivers for students at the University of Maine System, Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine Technical College System who were foster children under the custody of the Department of Human Services when they graduated from high school. Applications for tuition waivers are available from FAME.

Tuition Waiver for Children and Spouses of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Killed in the Line of Duty

The Tuition Waiver Program provides tuition waivers at the University of Maine System, Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine Technical College system for children and spouses of emergency medical service personnel killed in the line of duty. Applications for tuition waivers are available from FAME.

Medical Education Programs

The Finance Authority of Maine’s Medical Education Programs are designed to help students access and pay for medical education. Maine students may receive help gaining admission to medical schools and veterinary schools participating in the Maine Access to Medical Education Program. Loans are also available to Maine students pursuing a degree in dentistry, optometry and veterinary science.

Health Professions Loan Program

The Finance Authority of Maine also offers a forgivable loan program to Maine residents. Maine postgraduate health professions students are eligible to borrow forgivable loans from FAME. Ninety percent of the funds available are set-aside for medical students; up to 10% of the funds may be awarded to other health professions students. Maine students who gain entry to medical school as a preferred Access Program participant will have priority for need-based loans ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per year. The maximum loan amount for students not participating in the Access Program is $10,000. All loans will be awarded on the basis of need. If you wish to borrow money from FAME, you must apply for financial aid through the normal channels required by the institution you will be attending. The Director of Financial Aid at your school must provide FAME the amount of your estimated family contribution (EFC) before any award can be made. For purposes of the Maine Health Professions Loan, parents’ financial resources will not be included in the assessment of financial need if applicants are age 30 or older or have been independent for financial aid purposes for at least 5 years. Applicants for this loan must provide the financial information that is required by their individual school in assessing financial need. Loans do not accrue interest while in school, residency fellowship or obligated service. Recipients of a loan from FAME will not be required to repay those loans if they are in general primary care practices in designated underserved areas. For each year of eligible practice, the greater of $7,500 or 25% of your FAME loan will be canceled.

Maine Access to Veterinary Education Program

The Finance Authority of Maine has entered into a contract with Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine to provide a preferred Access seat for a Maine resident each year. FAME pays a capitation fee of $12,000 to provide access to a student who expresses a serious interest in practicing large animal veterinary care in an area of the State determined to be underserved. The $12,000 capitation fee is used to reduce tuition and is treated as a loan to the student that is eligible for forgiveness if the student returns and practices large animal veterinary medicine in a designated underserved area in Maine. Underserved areas are determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

Dental Education Loan and Loan Repayment Program

The Maine Dental Education Loan Repayment Program is intended to increase access to dental care to underserved populations in Maine by providing repayment of dental education loans for dental services providers. The loan repayment recipient must provide dental services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. Loan repayment is available at the rate of $20,000 per year of services for up to 4 years for outstanding education loan debt.

The Maine Dental Education Loan Program is also intended to increase access to dental care to underserved populations in Maine by providing need-based dental education loans to Maine residents attending dental school. Dental students may be eligible for forgivable loans of up to ,000 per year for up to 4 years. Loan forgiveness is available at the rate of 25% per year of service. The loan recipient must provide dental services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

A Dental Education Loan or Loan Repayment recipient may receive up to ,000 in the aggregate of either loans or loan repayment through this program.

Doctors For Maine’s Future Scholarship

This program provides scholarships for eligible students who enroll in a qualifying Maine-based medical school program.

Any eligible student who is or will be enrolled in a qualifying Maine-based medical school program. Applicants must have commenced their medical education on or after July 1, 2009.

Priority must be given to students who meet at least two of the following:

• The student has received a high school diploma, or its equivalent, in Maine
• The student has received a baccalaureate degree from a four year college or university in Maine
• The legal residence of the student’s parent or legal guardian is in Maine

You may be awarded up to 50% of the institution’s cost of attendance or $25,000 annually, whichever is less.

Is this award renewable?

Yes, up to four successive years. Contact the institution you are attending to learn about the renewal application requirements.

John R. Justice Grant Program

The John R. Justice Grant (JRJ Grant) Program provides loan repayment assistance for state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain so employed for at least three years

Who Can Apply?

• State and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who agree to remain so employed for at least three years
• Must be “continually licensed to practice law”
• Must be “full-time employees” (at least 30 hrs/wk)
• Eligible prosecutors are full-time employees of a state or unit of local government (including tribal government) who “prosecute criminal or juvenile delinquency cases at the state or unit of local government level”
• Public defenders are either full-time employees of a state or unit of local government (including tribal government) or full-time employees of a nonprofit organization operating under a contract with a state or unit of local government who “provide legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases”
• Full-time federal defender attorneys in a defender organization providing legal representation to indigent persons in criminal or juvenile delinquency cases pursuant to Subsection(g) of section 3006A of Title 18, United States Code
• Attorneys providing supervision, education, or training of other persons providing prosecutor or public defender representation
• Attorney must not be in default on repayment of any federal student loans

Prosecutors who are employees of the federal government are not eligible.

Attorneys who are in private practice (and not a full-time employee of a non-profit organization) are not eligible, even if providing public defense services under contract to the state. This includes the vast majority of Maine’s criminal defense bar.

What are the award amounts?

In Maine, for the first year of the grant, the amount for each recipient shall be at least $5,000, up to an aggregate total of $60,000 lifetime, should federal funding be received in the second and third years of what is expected to be a three-year program. The annual amount may be reduced if the selected recipient does not have $5,000 in annual loan repayment obligations.