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MARYLAND LOAN ASSISTANCE REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR POLICE OFFICERS, PROBATION AGENTS AND CORRECTION OFFICERS
The purpose of the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police Officers, Probation Agents and Corrections Officers is to provide state assistance in the repayment of educational loans to individuals in eligible law enforcement and parole and probation employment fields serving the state of Maryland.
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Application Timeline:
Opening Date: The 2026-2027 academic year application opens October 15, 2026
Closing Date: The 2026-2027 academic year application will close on March 15, 2027.
Notification Date: While specific notification dates are not provided, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and applicants are advised to submit all required materials promptly to ensure timely processing.
Eligibility Requirements:
Individuals who received a graduate, professional, or undergraduate degree from a public college or university in the State and now working as a police officer or probation agent for at least 2 years.
“Police Officer” meaning those that are authorized to enforce general criminal laws of state and are a member of one of law agencies listed under the additional information section.
“Probation agent” meaning an individual serving as a parole and probation
agent, supervisor (that supervise a caseload of individuals sentenced to a period of supervision via the Courts (Probation) or Maryland Parole Commission (Parole/Mandatory Release).They do not have any employees reporting to them.,) or regional administrator for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
*NEW for the 2027-2028 Application: "Corrections Officer" meaning correctional administrator means a correctional officer who has been promoted from a supervisory rank to first–line administrative duties.
“Correctional officer” means a member of a correctional unit whose duties relate to the investigation, care, custody, control, or supervision of incarcerated individuals and individuals who
- have been placed on parole or mandatory supervision;
- have been placed on probation; or
- have received a suspended sentence.
- the head or deputy head of a correctional unit; or
- a sheriff, warden, or superintendent or an individual with an equivalent title who is appointed or employed by a unit of government to exercise equivalent supervisory authority.
“Correctional supervisor” means a correctional officer who has been promoted to first–line supervisory duties.
“Correctional unit” means a unit of State, county, or municipal government that is responsible under a statute, ordinance, or court order for the investigation, care, custody, control, and supervision of incarcerated individuals and individuals who:
- have been placed on parole or mandatory supervision;
- have been placed on probation; or
- have received a suspended sentence.
“Correctional unit” includes those facilities as set forth in § 9–226 of the Human Services Article and other facilities as designated by the Secretary of Juvenile Services.
“Department of Juvenile Services employee” means a youth supervisor, youth counselor, direct care worker, direct education staff member, or other employee of the Department of Juvenile Services whose employment responsibility is the investigation, custody, control, or supervision of minors, juvenile delinquents, and youthful offenders who are committed, detained, awaiting placement, adjudicated delinquent, or are otherwise under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Services.
“Department of Juvenile Services employee” includes an employee of any nonprofit or for–profit entity under contract with the Department of Juvenile Services whose employment responsibility is the investigation, custody, control, or supervision of minors, juvenile delinquents, and youthful offenders as described under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
* “Permanent appointment” means an appointment that has permanent status.
Application Process & Requirements:
Applicants must submit the online application through the MHEC One App in MDCAPS by visiting
https://mdcaps.mhec.state.md.us. The online application and all required documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the closing date.
*Note: All required documents will be requested and submitted online through each applicant's MDCAPS account.
Required Documentation:
Applicants must submit the following documentation by the established deadline:
•Student Maryland Signed Income Tax Return
The annual gross salary cannot exceed $85,000. If married, your annual gross salary cannot
exceed $85,000, and your combined salaries cannot exceed $170,000.
•Employment Verification form
Document the applicant’s employment at an eligible law enforcement or agency
•Lender Verification Form
Document the applicant’s loan debt
•Documentation of Degree Completion
Applicants are required to provide documentation of degree completion from a graduate, profession, or undergraduate degree from a public college or university in Maryland.
Renewal Requirements:
A recipient is eligible to receive a renewal award for up to three years.
Recipients of awards are required to submit annual employment, lender, and tax documentation by the established deadline for each year that they received funding Failure to submit required documentation by the deadline or failure to report changes in your employment status and/or salary level throughout the service/award years will make you ineligible for the award.
Employment Obligation Requirement:
Applicants are required to remain employed as probation agent, police officer or corrections officer at an eligible agency throughout the application cycle.
Award Amount:
Awards in the MLARP Police Officer program shall be determined by the applicant's overall reported debt at the time of application as follows:
The award is calculated with the applicants annual salary (*) % of the loan debt. The percentage of the
loan debt is based on the applicant’s annual salary.
Total Debt Percentage of loan Debt to be paid
Below $15,000: 10%
$15,000-$40,000: 20%
$40,000- $75,000: 30%
Over $75,000: 40%
*Payment amount cannot exceed total debt; amount will be adjusted.
For Example: If John Does annual salary is $64,000 and the loan debt is between $15K - $40K; the formula
would be $64000 (*) .20 = $12800.
The award would be $12,800
Additional Information:
Frequently Asked Questions
The Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Police and Parole Agents regulations have been published online under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). (TBA)
