The Nonresident Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates, also known as the Maryland Dream Act, allows non-immigrant aliens, specifically undocumented students, who graduated from a Maryland high school the opportunity to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in Maryland. Students must meet certain eligibility requirements and submit required documentation to be considered.
The Nonresident Tuition Exemption request and all required documentation must be submitted by the last date of late registration in the semester for which you wish to be awarded the exemption. Nonresident Tuition Exemption cannot be requested or approved retroactively for previous semesters.
Please be aware the NTE requires three years of Comptroller’s certified copies of Maryland tax returns.
How to Submit Request:
Expand sections for more details.
2. Request the submission instructions
Submit an RT Help Ticket to Residency to request additional instruction for uploading the NTE request form and supporting documentation. Include the semester in which you are seeking the exemption in your request.
NTE Requests and supporting documentation are submitted electronically. A secure link will be provided in your RT Help Ticket instructions. Please do not attach any files to the RT Help Ticket. Requests made by mail or in-person will not be accepted.
3. Complete the NTE Request
4. Submit all forms and documentation
Submit your completed form and supporting documentation via the secure upload link included in your RT Help Ticket by the posted deadline. Once your upload is complete, remember to respond to the RT Help Ticket.
Redact all Social Security Numbers and Employee Identification Numbers before submission.
Petitions submitted after the posted submission deadline will not be reviewed.
NTE Request forms, along with all required documentation, must be submitted by the last date of registration in the semester for which you wish to be reclassified.
The review of the Nonresident Tuition Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates and a determination may take up to six (6) weeks from the time a completed request is received. While requests are under review, student petitioners are required to make full tuition payment at the out-of-state rate. If the University determines that the student meets all requirements for the exemption, the student’s billing rate will be changed to in-state and a refund or account credit will be issued as appropriate for the current semester. This overview does not supersede or amend any part of the USM Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes.
| Deadlines |
Submission Begin Date |
Deadline to Submit |
| Winter 2024 |
October 16, 2023 |
January 5, 2024 |
| Spring 2024 |
October 30, 2023 |
February 9, 2024 |
| Summer 2024 |
March 1, 2024 |
May 31, 2024 |
| Fall 2024 |
April 1, 2024 |
September 11, 2024 |
If approved, to retain the exemption and the corresponding resident tuition rate for future semesters, students are required to provide evidence that you use an address in the State on your Maryland income tax return annually, or your parent or legal guardian’s Maryland income tax return annually, until you are awarded a degree from our institution of higher education. To satisfy this requirement, you will be required to provide a Comptroller’s certified copy of your, or your parent or legal guardian’s, Maryland income tax each year that you are enrolled at UMBC.
Students who hold Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status should not complete the Nonresident Tuition Exemption request. Students with DACA status may seek residency reclassification through the USM Residency Policy petition process.
Questions? Submit a Help Ticket to Residency.