State and college scholarships highlighted as route to paid short-term certificates

Yanira Rodrguez said the Maryland Higher Education Commissions College Promise scholarship (referred to on-air as MD Caps/College Promise) and Montgomery College Foundation funds can help eligible students cover certificate costs. She described eligibility and application support and said the foundations Workforce Development and Continuing Education awards can subsidize tuition but may not cover the whole cost.

Rodrguez explained that the Maryland program and the colleges foundation awards expand access by reducing paperwork barriers. According to her on-air explanation, some scholarship pathways "do not require applicants to provide Social Security numbers or citizenship information," which she presented as widening eligibility for immigrant residents. Rodrguez gave a rough cost example: if a class costs $1,000, a foundation award might cover roughly $500, though exact amounts depend on the scholarship and availability.

She urged listeners to apply early and to contact the college for assistance assembling application materials.