For Current and Interested Maryland Pay It Forward Fund Students
The Maryland Pay It Forward Fund (MD PIFF) is a new loan program to help more Marylanders pay for nursing school. It’s funded in part by the State of Maryland and administered in partnership with Ascent Funding (Ascent), a national student loan originator, and Social Finance, a national nonprofit organization.
Interested in applying for a loan? Reach out to the Financial Aid Office at CCBC (443-840-1105) for more details.
What is the Maryland Pay It Forward Fund?
The MD PIFF helps eligible students cover tuition gaps and living expenses while they complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at a participating community college. The loan is issued by Ascent, MD PIFF’s loan origination partner, under terms set by the State of Maryland – with 0% interest, no student fees, and no required loan payments while students are enrolled in the ADN program.
Repayments from graduates are recycled to fund loans for future students, which is where the program gets its name: Pay It Forward.
What are the terms of the loan?
- 0% interest – you never repay more than the amount you borrow
- No fees are charged to students
- Fixed monthly payments once repayment begins
- 3-month grace period after graduation or withdrawal from your ADN program before repayment begins
- Income-based deferment available if you are earning below the minimum income threshold, set at $50,000 annually
What can I use the loan for?
You can apply for a loan for living expenses, tuition gaps, or both.
| Loan purpose | Loan amount | Loan usage |
| Living Expenses | Up to $6,000/year | Used for living expenses while enrolled in ADN program |
| Tuition Gaps | Up to $5,000/year (or $15,000 for two years of the program) | Used for tuition or school fees after grants and financial aid have been applied |
When Do I Repay?
Repayment begins 3 months after you graduate or leave your program. If you’re earning below $50,000/year, you can request income-based deferments to reduce your payment — including to $0 — until your income rises above that threshold. Deferment must be requested and approved — it is not automatic.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible if you:
- Are enrolled in, or accepted to, the ADN program at participating community colleges
- Are a Maryland resident
- Are authorized to work in the U.S.
- Are 18 years or older
- Meet basic credit requirements: no more than $15,000 in collections (not counting medical or student debt) and no active bankruptcy.
- Can provide proof of a FAFSA application, or proof of FAFSA ineligibility verified by CCBC
Eligibility is confirmed by Ascent.
How does the MD PIFF work?
Here’s how it works:
- Enroll in the ADN program at participating community college.
- Apply for a MD PIFF loan through Ascent’s secure online platform.
- Complete the ADN program. *
- Begin working.
- Repay the 0% loan over time — helping fund the next cohort of students. If you’re earning below the minimum income threshold, you can request income-based deferment.
*Even if you don’t complete the program, you still enter repayment and must make payments.
Participating Colleges
MD PIFF currently partners with the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC). Additional colleges may be added as the program expands.
About the Pay It Forward Model and the partners
Pay It Forward is a student-centered financing approach, backed by public and philanthropic funding, that endeavors to:
- Link repayment to your actual earnings after you complete the program
- Keep payments affordable through income-based deferment
- Recycle repayments to fund future students
The goal is to expand access to nursing education while strengthening Maryland’s healthcare workforce.
The Maryland PIFF is made possible through funding from the Maryland Department of Labor’s Talent Innovation Fund and other philanthropic support in partnership with Ascent, the Maryland Department of Labor, and Community College of Baltimore County.