FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington has announced a new merit-based scholarship program available for first-year, first-time students.

The scholarships recognize the hard work and commitment many students invest in high school and were instituted to help make a college education more accessible.

Three tiers of scholarships will be awarded to first-time, first-year students with a class rank in the top 30 percent of their high school graduating class while pursuing a rigorous, college-prep curriculum.

These tiers include: the Academic Excellence Scholarship, for students graduating in the top 10 percent of their class; the Academic Distinction Scholarship, for students graduating in the top 20 percent of their class; and the Academic Achievement Scholarship, for students graduating in the top 30 percent of their class.

Students whose high schools do not report rank will be considered for these scholarships on the basis of their high school courses and their grades in academic courses.

This new, broad-based scholarship program is available to both in-state and out-of-state students, including students from the six New England states who qualify for the New England Regional tuition rate. In order to accomplish this, UMF is adding an additional $400,000 to its total institutional financial aid of $2.5 million.

According to recent research provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, people with only a high school diploma earn, on average, more than $400 less a week than a person with a bachelor’s degree and face nearly twice the unemployment rate.

As a public institution, “UMF is committed to finding ways to help as many students as possible achieve their educational goals,” said Roberto Noya, UMF vice president of enrollment management. “Our new merit-based scholarships reward students who have really applied themselves while in high school. Our message to today’s students is, ‘hard work pays off,’ and UMF is here to help you be successful with the next stage of your education.”

Awarding of UMF merit-based scholarships is automatic. No special application is necessary for students to be considered. Once awarded, each scholarship is renewable and available for up to a total of eight semesters, provided the student remains in good academic standing and maintains full-time enrollment of at least 12 credit hours per semester at UMF.

Recipients will be notified of their merit award upon admission. However, UMF recommends that all prospective students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine their eligibility for need-based financial assistance. It is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

More information on specific award amounts of UMF’s new merit-based scholarship program can be found at: www.farmington.edu/merit.scholarships.

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