Academic Common Market
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Welcome to the Academic Common Market (ACM) resource page for Maryland residents!
The ACM is a tuition-savings program that operates on the premise that if public institutions (not including private institutions) in a student's home state do not offer a degree program major (undergraduate or graduate) that a student intends on pursuing, then the student may attend a participating ACM out-of-state institution offering the degree of interest through the ACM and be granted a waiver of out-of-state tuition charges. Click on Participating Institutions to find the state you are researching. (NOTE: North Carolina does not participate in the Academic Common Market.)
Who is eligible for the ACM?
To be eligible for the ACM, you must be:
Prior to applying for the ACM, you must be admitted to your academic program. MHEC does not conduct "pre-evaluations" prior to admittance.
There are three different opportunities to apply to the ACM each academic year. When can I apply?
The ACM application and accompanying documents must be submitted to the ACM State Coordinator through the OneStop portal within the dates listed below, based on the semester in which the student will enroll. These deadlines are held firm and cannot be appealed.
Important Tasks to Complete
- Confirm that your acceptance letter includes your academic major and area of concentration (if required)
- Complete the “Contact Page" on the SREB website with the student's complete contact information
Application Process for UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS and UNDER AGE 24
(Graduate Students and Students 24 and older go to GRADUATES or AGE 24 or OLDER below)
ACM applications are accepted only through the ACM Application on the OneStop portal.
Important Note: Be sure to select the semester that you will enroll in the academic program.
The following documents must be uploaded to the application in a single PDF:
- Copy of parents' Maryland income tax return. Please do not include the federal tax return.
- Form 502 and Form 502B only
- Copy of official university letter of admission (for new students) or program verification letter (matriculating students or change of major) on letterhead stating “full" admission to major and concentration (if applicable) NOTE: Provisional or conditional acceptance and certain "pre-majors" are not eligible for the ACM.
- Copy of student's Maryland motor vehicle operator's license or identification card - must include current address
- Both parents' Maryland motor vehicle operator's license - must include current address
- Copy of parent's or student's Maryland Vehicle registration
- Completed and manually signed ACM Student-Parent Affirmation.pdf
Military Students must attach a copy of the earnings statement and military orders signed by their commander in addition to the documentation above.
Transfer Students only: You may submit an ACM application while your admission to the university is pending; HOWEVER, your application will not be deemed complete, reviewed, or processed until you login to your OneStop application and upload your acceptance letter.
Application Process for GRADUATE STUDENTS or STUDENTS AGE 24 OR OLDER
● ACM applications are accepted only through the ACM Application on the OneStop portal.
Important Note: Be sure to select the semester that you will enroll in the academic program.
The following documents must be uploaded to the application in a single PDF:
- Copy of student's Maryland income tax return. Please do not include the federal tax return. Form 502 and Form 502B only
- Copy of official university letter of admission (for new students) or program verification letter (matriculating students or change of major) on letterhead stating “full" admission to major and concentration (if applicable) NOTE: Provisional or conditional acceptance and certain "pre-majors" are not eligible for the ACM.
- Copy of student's Maryland motor vehicle operator's license or identification card - must include current address
- Copy of parent's or student's Maryland Vehicle registration
- Completed and manually signed ACM Student-Parent Affirmation.pdf. Only the student is required to sign the Affirmation.
Military Students must attach a copy of the earnings statement and military orders signed by their commander in addition to the documentation above.
Transfer Students Only: You may submit an ACM application while your admission to the university is pending; HOWEVER, your application will not be deemed complete, reviewed, or processed until you login to your OneStop application and upload your acceptance letter.
Important Information - Once your application has been approved and your certification has been processed, you may view or download your ACM Certification from your OneStop account. The Maryland ACM Coordinator will forward your Certification to your University's ACM Coordinator for processing. Your institution may send notification via email and/or update your student account once the certification has been processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources and Links - Find helpful information by clicking the links below:
