Montgomery College offered a record 1,000 Raptor Ready Scholarships for fall 2026, each worth $1,000 toward tuition for recent county high school graduates.

The milestone, reported Wednesday, Aug. 26, by The MoCo Show, marks the first time the college has hit the 1,000-scholarship mark in a single year. Spring 2026 graduates of Montgomery County public, private and homeschool programs are eligible, including students from Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Walt Whitman and Walter Johnson high schools.

No FAFSA or Maryland One-App financial aid application is required. That detail matters: families who haven't completed the federal aid form can still claim the money.

"Reducing financial barriers can make a meaningful difference for students as they take their next step after high school," Dr. Kimberly McNair, associate senior vice president for student affairs, said in the college's announcement.

The scholarship launched in the 2022-23 academic year at $500 per student. The award has since doubled to $1,000. Since the program began, Montgomery College has offered Raptor Ready Scholarships to more than 4,000 county graduates.

To qualify, students must be county residents admitted to Montgomery College and must register for at least six credit hours in the fall 2026 semester. Students enrolling in select Workforce Development and Continuing Education (WDCE) programs, such as clinical medical assistant, certified nursing assistant or early childhood education, also qualify.

Awards are applied directly to student accounts, and recipients are protected from registration cancellation due to nonpayment. At the college's in-county tuition rate of $5,394 per year for full-time students, the $1,000 covers roughly 18.5% of annual tuition.

Students who received offers but do not enroll may have their awards extended to others on a wait list. Montgomery College said it will confirm final recipients after fall enrollment closes.

Fall classes begin Monday, Aug. 31. Students still interested can find eligibility details on the college's financial aid page.