Guide for Tuition Waiver for Students with Disabilities
HB104, enacted by the 2011 Maryland General Assembly, redefines the tuition waiver for students with
disabilities as those out of the work force by reason of total and permanent disability and entering
community colleges. HB104 supersedes previous legislation and proposes significant changes to Section
16-106c of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. HB53, effective July 1, 2012, allows for
Workforce Development & Continuing Education students to receive disability waivers for qualifying
classes.
Eligibility:
1. Any resident of Maryland who is out of the workforce because of a permanent disability as
defined by the Social Security Act, the Railroad Retirement Act, or in the case of former federal
employees, the Office of Personnel Management, and enrolls in a community college class that
has at least 10 regularly enrolled students may be eligible for a tuition waiver.
2. The waiver is available for enrolling up to 6 credits per semester without declaring a degree or
certificate program. Students enrolling in 7-12 credits per semester must declare a degree or
certificate program that leads to employment. Letter of Recognition programs are not eligible
for the tuition waiver.
3. Students applying for this waiver must also apply for financial aid; excluding students registering
for qualifying continuing education workforce development classes.
4. Individuals receiving SSI or SSDI benefits as a dependent or survivor of a disabled beneficiary do
not qualify for this waiver.
Student must:
1. Obtain a Certification for Tuition Waiver form from the Cashier’s Office [RCF 200A] or the
college website and take it to the Social Security Administration office that serves your area, or,
if appropriate, to the Railroad Retirement Board or the federal agency from which you retired
due to disability. The Social Security Administration (or Railroad Retirement Board or former
federal employer) will sign and certify that the individual is receiving SSI or SSDI payments and is
permanently disabled.
2. The student must return the completed Certification for Tuition Waiver form to the Cashier’s
Office [RCF 200A]. The waiver is valid for one academic year (July 1 – June 30). Waivers must be
renewed each July for the next academic year.
3. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.gov
and
submit to the college’s financial aid office, preferably by March 1 for the upcoming academic
year.
4. If the student enrolls in credit coursework that exceeds 6 credits per semester, the student must
enroll in a degree or certificate program that leads to employment.
Limitations:
1. Any awarded grants and scholarships will be applied first to pay tuition. The waiver will only be
applied if grants and scholarships do not cover the full semester tuition charge. This does not
pertain to student loans or Federal Work Study funds.
2. The tuition waiver does not apply to fees.
3. The waiver applies to qualifying continuing education workforce development classes.
4. Student may have up to 12 credits covered by the waiver each semester.
5. Colleges reserve the right to discontinue the tuition waiver for a student enrolling in a course
with less than 10 regularly enrolled students.
