Cummings Scholars Program

Previously the Baltimore Scholars and Washington, DC Scholars Programs

The expanded cohort program is named after the late Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, who held strong and meaningful connections to the Hopkins community, the Baltimore community, as well as to Washington, DC. Congressman Cummings’ commitment to community, demonstrated personal and positional leadership, focus on expanding opportunity for others, and his strong belief in investing in our nation’s future through our youth, serve as the Program’s guiding foundational elements.

This cohort experience offers a generous, two-tiered financial aid program that recognizes high-achieving Baltimore City and Washington, DC public school, and public charter school, graduates from families that earn up to $150,000 and have typical assets.

“You are the ones that can guide us the rest of the way…”

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, addressing Hopkins graduates at Commencement in 2015

About the Program

Building on the exceptional history and opportunities of the Baltimore Scholars Program, the Cummings Scholars Program will maintain the university’s commitment to Baltimore City Students while adding a cohort of students from Washington, DC, expanding Hopkins’ recognition and amplification of talented students across our local region. The Cumming Scholars Program will leverage the established core elements of the Baltimore Scholars Program to ensure that Scholars from both cities benefit from individual and cohort leadership development opportunities, a guided pathway to pursue their passions, and signature experiences that facilitate meaningful connections with local and national leaders across disciplines.

Scholars selected for the program will enjoy membership in a vibrant community of faculty members, peer Scholars, alumni, and community and industry leaders that will serve students in their years at Hopkins and beyond. True to Congressman Cummings’ vision that young people are the key to our future, the program ensures opportunities for students to develop their gifts and talents in their chosen field, and be poised for future leadership and impact through our Cummings Scholars Signature Experiences:

• Mentoring by world-renowned faculty
• Community through signature programming and connectivity to other Cummings Scholars and alumni
• Access to funding for internships, research, and learning abroad experiences

The Scholarship Award

As part of their selection and full participation as Cummings Scholars, students receive financial aid to support their enrollment and success at Hopkins as follows:

For families making $80,000 or less:

The scholarship covers full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing and meals, fees, books, and other associated costs. Students also receive an annual start-up grant of $1500.

For families making $80,000-$150,000:

Family contribution is capped at 10 percent of total family income.* For example, a Cummings Scholar whose household income was $100,000 would be asked to pay about $10,000 toward their education each year, and the scholarship would meet the remaining cost.

*Assuming typical assets for their income level.

Note: The expanded program also provides additional aid to students who may need time beyond the traditional eight semesters (either in the summer or an additional semester) to support their timely completion of the Scholars’ bachelor’s (BA or BS) degree.

eligibility

To be considered for the scholarship, students must:

• Be graduates of a Baltimore City or Washington, DC public school or public charter school
• Have been a Baltimore City or Washington, DC resident and attended a Baltimore City or DC public school or public charter school for at least 10th, 11th, and 12th grades
• Be a full-time, first-year, and first-time degree-seeking student and submit all required financial aid documents by the deadline (Note: If you would like to request a waiver for the CSS PROFILE, please contact Student Financial Support)
• Meet the income eligibility requirements

A separate application for this program is not required. Students who meet the eligibility requirements and are admitted to Johns Hopkins University will automatically become a Cummings Scholar.

If you have questions about the Cummings Scholars Program, please reach out to Calvin Wise at calvin.wise@jhu.edu.

FAQs

• About
• Eligibility
• Financial Aid

About

Who are Cummings Scholars?

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Cummings Scholars are academic achievers who have demonstrated a commitment to community and leadership embodied by Elijah E. Cummings throughout his life. Students are selected for their demonstrated achievement and also their potential for future leadership and impact.

What majors are offered to Cummings Scholars?

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Cummings Scholars are encouraged to pursue their academic interests among the majors offered at Hopkins. Cummings Scholars represent the variety of disciplines we offer, from the STEM fields to the humanities and social sciences.

How do students take advantage of the Program's offerings?

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The Cummings Scholars Program makes it easy for students to fully engage in leadership development and signature experiences, through the program staff who ensure students are able to participate fully in at least three experiences in their time at Hopkins (e.g. internship, research, study abroad). Students will also be able to participate in “behind the scenes” opportunities with faculty, city officials, industry leaders, and future employers.

What is faculty engagement like as Cummings Scholars?

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In addition to the cohort network, students engage with, and are also supported by, a faculty mentor, who they begin meeting with during their first semester at Hopkins.

How many Cummings Scholars are there in each entering class?

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The new Cummings Scholars program will invite a cohort of approximately 15 students into its community each year, building to a community of approximately 60 Scholars over four years.

What are the benefits of participating in the Cummings Scholars Program?

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Cummings Scholars receive the benefit of scholarship support as well as the foundational experiences, connections, and membership in a cohort that ensure they are poised to succeed in college and professionally in their chosen field following graduation.

Hopkins invests in programming to make it easy for students to manage their academic loads, while at the same time developing their leadership by engaging with high-profile and well-established local, state, and national leaders across fields of study, government, and industry, and establishing a portfolio of curated experiences important to gaining job and educational opportunities post-graduation.

All Cummings Scholars are welcomed into lifelong membership of this incredible cohort of Scholars and leaders who support current Scholar and alumni success now and into the years to come.

Eligibility

How do I know if I've been chosen as a Cummings Scholar?

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Students receive information about their award at the time of decision notification. If students meet the eligibility requirements and are admitted to an undergraduate program at Hopkins, they are automatically a part of the Cummings Scholars Program. No additional application is needed.

Admitted students who do not qualify for the financial or residency requirements of the scholarship will receive the standard financial aid notification with their admitted student materials.

What are the requirements for retaining the scholarship throughout my time as an undergraduate

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The scholarship continues as long as the student maintains a 2.0 cumulative GPA, completes at least 12 credits per semester, and remains in good standing.

I graduated from a Baltimore City public school a couple of years ago and have attended another college. If I transfer to Hopkins, am I eligible for the Cummings Baltimore Scholars Program?

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No. The program’s focus is on students applying directly out of high school as first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students. Transfer applicants will be considered for aid through the regular financial aid process.

Are private high school students eligible for this program?

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Ultimately, the Cummings Scholars Program represents a partnership between Johns Hopkins University, the cities of Baltimore and Washington, DC, and their public schools, and is not available to students in private high schools.

Though these students are not eligible for the Cummings Scholars Program, the university has a commitment to making Hopkins an affordable option to all admitted students. All admitted students who apply for financial aid will receive a package that meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need.

What happens if my family moves out of Baltimore or DC while I am a Cummings Scholar?

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Once you are designated a Cummings Scholar, that designation does not change, even if your family moves out of Baltimore or Washington, DC.

Financial Aid

What happens if my family income changes after I’ve been admitted as part of the Cummings Baltimore Scholars Program?

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Financial eligibility is determined at the time of admission and the scholarship is awarded for all four years of undergraduate study. If you have questions about how any change in your family’s situation would impact your financial aid award, as part of the Cummings Scholars Program or in general, please speak with your financial aid adviser.

What happens if I win an additional scholarship from an outside source? Would it be added to my Cummings Scholars award?

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Federal and Maryland State grants will reduce your award; however other scholarship awards can be combined with the Cummings Scholars award but only up to the level of the cost of attendance at Hopkins (including room and board and expenses) for students in the $80,000-$150,000 tier. After the total cost of attendance is met, funds from your Cummings Scholars award would be reduced to bring your scholarships in line with actual cost.

I have a parent who works at the university. Would I receive the full Cummings Baltimore Scholars Program grant in addition to the tuition grant benefit my parent receives?

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No. We will adjust Cummings Scholars award to ensure that total tuition scholarship assistance from all sources is not greater than the cost of tuition at Hopkins.

how to apply for financial aid

From important deadlines to application instructions and resources, get the information you need to understand and begin the financial aid process.

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