About CareFirst BCBS 

In its 87th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2023, CareFirst infused $233 million in support of regional community impact to improve overall health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare. Link to Impact Report for CareFirst: CareFirst 2025 Annual Impact ReportCareFirst 2025 Annual Impact Report

Who Is Eligible?

CHP students must be admitted to their major and meet the GPA requirement. This opportunity is available to U.S. and international students. (Non-degree or certificate-seeking students are excluded). Transfer students from institutions with a CSU articulation agreement are also eligible. Awarding is for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Eligible student groups:

• Undergraduate Nursing Majors (GPA: 3.0+)
• Undergraduate Health Sciences Majors (GPA: 3.0+)
• Undergraduate and Graduate Health Information Management Majors (GPA: 3.0+)
• Doctoral Nursing Majors BSN to DNP (GPA: 3.25+), Post masters DNP (GPA: 3.0+)

Please note: Students whose tuition is fully covered through grant aid or third-party scholarships are not eligible to receive this award.

Application Timeline

Application Access

The online application is available through the Coppin Academic Works scholarship portal. Visit: https://coppin.academicworks.com/.

Log in using your Coppin State University credentials to apply.

Please note that there are four different scholarships. Be sure to select the one relevant to your major.

A mandatory 250–300 word essay is required as part of the application process. 

Start Your Application

Renewal

Recipients must maintain good academic standing to be considered for scholarship renewal and meet all program participation requirements.

Community Service

Participants will obtain a minimum of 20 service hours per semester of the academic year as a part of their participation in the program.

Community Service hours will be through CareFirst and Coppin State University, service is not optional.

About CareFirst BCBS 

In its 87th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2023, CareFirst infused $233 million in support of regional community impact to improve overall health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare. Link to Impact Report for CareFirst: CareFirst 2025 Annual Impact ReportCareFirst 2025 Annual Impact Report

Who Is Eligible?

CHP students must be admitted to their major and meet the GPA requirement. This opportunity is available to U.S. and international students. (Non-degree or certificate-seeking students are excluded). Transfer students from institutions with a CSU articulation agreement are also eligible. Awarding is for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Eligible student groups:

• Undergraduate Nursing Majors (GPA: 3.0+)
• Undergraduate Health Sciences Majors (GPA: 3.0+)
• Undergraduate and Graduate Health Information Management Majors (GPA: 3.0+)
• Doctoral Nursing Majors BSN to DNP (GPA: 3.25+), Post masters DNP (GPA: 3.0+)

Please note: Students whose tuition is fully covered through grant aid or third-party scholarships are not eligible to receive this award.

Application Timeline

Application Access

The online application is available through the Coppin Academic Works scholarship portal. Visit: https://coppin.academicworks.com/.

Log in using your Coppin State University credentials to apply.

Please note that there are four different scholarships. Be sure to select the one relevant to your major.

A mandatory 250–300 word essay is required as part of the application process. 

Start Your Application

Renewal

Recipients must maintain good academic standing to be considered for scholarship renewal and meet all program participation requirements.

Community Service

Participants will obtain a minimum of 20 service hours per semester of the academic year as a part of their participation in the program.

Community Service hours will be through CareFirst and Coppin State University, service is not optional.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires educational institutions to develop and comply with a code of conduct that prohibits a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an agent of an institution with respect to Direct Loan Program loans and private education loans. Any Coppin State University officer, employee, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to student educational loans must comply with the code of conduct. The obligations in this Code of Conduct are in addition to any requirements imposed by state ethics laws, federal laws, or Coppin State University policies, i.e., the stricter standard of ethical behavior will apply in all instances.

The purpose of this Student Loan Code of Conduct is to ensure the integrity of the student aid process and ethical conduct of Coppin State University’s officers, employees, and agents with respect to student loan practices.

Administrative Provisions

The Office of Financial Aid will publish this Student Loan Code of Conduct on its Consumer Information webpage and on its Federal Financial Aid webpage.

The Office of Financial Aid will administer and enforce this Student Loan Code of Conduct and will require its officers, employees, and agents with responsibilities with respect to federal program loans and private education loans to be informed annually of the provisions of the code of conduct.

Definition

For purpose of this code of conduct, Lending Institution means:

1. Any entity that itself or through an affiliate engages in the business of making loans to students, parents, or others for purposes of financing higher education expenses or that securitizes such loans; or
2. Any entity, or association of entities, that guarantees or services education loans; or
3. Any industry, trade or professional association that receives money from any entity described above in subsections (1) and (2).

Revenue Sharing

Coppin State University prohibits its employees from entering into any type of revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender, guarantor, or servicer. The term "revenue-sharing arrangement" means an arrangement between an institution and a lender in which:

• The lender provides or issues a loan that is made, insured, or guaranteed to students under the Higher Education Act attending the institution or to the families of such students; and
• The institution recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender in exchange for a fee paid by the lender or in exchange for other material benefits, including revenue or profit sharing, provided to the institution, or to its officer, employee, or agent.

Coppin State University will not accept material benefits including revenue or profit sharing to the institution, or to an officer or an employee of the institution or an agent.

Gifts

Employees of the Office of Financial Aid are prohibited from soliciting or accepting any gift or anything of more than a de minimus value from a lender, guarantor, or education loan servicers.

• Gifts include any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan or other item. This includes transportation, lodging, or meals, or a gift of service whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has incurred.
• This provision shall not be construed to prohibit any officer, employee, or agent of Coppin State University who has responsibility with respect to educational loans from conducting non-college business activity with any lending institution or prevent Sinclair from holding membership in any nonprofit professional association.
• Gifts to family members of a Coppin State University employee are considered to be a gift to the employee if the gift is given with the knowledge and acquiescence of the employee and there is reason to believe the gift was given because of the official position of the Coppin State University employee.

Family members include a person's: (1) Parent or stepparent, sibling or stepsibling, spouse, child or stepchild, or grandchild or step-grandchild; (2) Spouse's parent or stepparent, sibling or step-sibling, child or stepchild, or grandchild or step-grandchild; (3) Child's spouse; and (4) Sibling's spouse.

A gift does not include:

• Standard materials, activities or programs related to a loan being provided
• Food, refreshments, training, or other informational material furnish as an integral part of a training session that is designed to improve the service of the lender if such training contributes to the professional development of the agent
• Favorable terms, conditions or borrower benefits provided to a student employed by Coppin State University if comparable terms are provided to all students of Coppin State University
• Entrance and exit counseling services provided to borrowers as long as the institution's staff is in control of the counseling session, and it does not promote the products and services of any specific lender
• Philanthropic contributions to the Coppin State University unrelated to education loans or made in exchange for any advantage related to private education loans; or
• State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds.

Preferred Lender Status

Coppin State University participates in the following loan programs that provide student and parent loans through the U.S. Department of Education: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

Coppin State University provides a preferred lender list from which to select a lender for a private education student loan. The list is available on FASTChoice and provides a list of preferred lenders based on low interest rates, no origination fees, timely processing, total loan volume, and electronic funds transfer capabilities. Coppin State University will certify private loans from any lender. Terms, fees, and borrowing limits of private loans differ. Borrowing a private loan is a decision that should be made with careful consideration.

Contract Arrangements

Coppin State University prohibits any employee, officer or agent employed by the Office of Financial Aid who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to federal or private education loans from accepting from any lender or affiliate any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of the lender.

Directing Borrowers or Delaying Certifications

Coppin State University prohibits the assignment of a first-time borrower to a particular lending institution through award packaging or other methods. Coppin State University will not assign a borrower's private student loan to a particular lender. All decisions shall be made by the borrower in his/her independent review of borrower benefits and lender services. Further, Coppin State University will not refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.

Opportunity Pool Loans

Coppin State University prohibits any employee, officer or agent from requesting or accepting from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans including an opportunity pool loan to students in exchange for concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with:

• A specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed
• A specified loan volume of such loans or
• A preferred lender arrangement for such loans.

Private education loans include an opportunity pool loan which means a private education loan made by a lender to a student or family member of the student attending the institution that involves a payment, directly or indirectly, by such institution of points, premiums, additional interest, or financial support to such lender for the purpose of such lender extending credit to the student or the family.

Staffing Assistance

Coppin State University prohibits accepting or soliciting staffing assistance from a lending institution, including but not limited to call center staffing or financial aid office staffing. However, this does not prohibit requesting or accepting professional development training for aid officers, or requesting or accepting counseling, financial aid literacy, or debt management materials for borrowers, if the material discloses that the lender prepared or provided the materials.

Advisory Board Compensation

Employees of the Office of Financial Aid who serve on an advisory board, commission or group established by a lender or guarantor, must not receive anything of value from the lender or guarantor except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred for serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires educational institutions to develop and comply with a code of conduct that prohibits a conflict of interest with the responsibilities of an agent of an institution with respect to Direct Loan Program loans and private education loans. Any Coppin State University officer, employee, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to student educational loans must comply with the code of conduct. The obligations in this Code of Conduct are in addition to any requirements imposed by state ethics laws, federal laws, or Coppin State University policies, i.e., the stricter standard of ethical behavior will apply in all instances.

The purpose of this Student Loan Code of Conduct is to ensure the integrity of the student aid process and ethical conduct of Coppin State University’s officers, employees, and agents with respect to student loan practices.

Administrative Provisions

The Office of Financial Aid will publish this Student Loan Code of Conduct on its Consumer Information webpage and on its Federal Financial Aid webpage.

The Office of Financial Aid will administer and enforce this Student Loan Code of Conduct and will require its officers, employees, and agents with responsibilities with respect to federal program loans and private education loans to be informed annually of the provisions of the code of conduct.

Definition

For purpose of this code of conduct, Lending Institution means:

1. Any entity that itself or through an affiliate engages in the business of making loans to students, parents, or others for purposes of financing higher education expenses or that securitizes such loans; or
2. Any entity, or association of entities, that guarantees or services education loans; or
3. Any industry, trade or professional association that receives money from any entity described above in subsections (1) and (2).

Revenue Sharing

Coppin State University prohibits its employees from entering into any type of revenue-sharing arrangement with any lender, guarantor, or servicer. The term "revenue-sharing arrangement" means an arrangement between an institution and a lender in which:

• The lender provides or issues a loan that is made, insured, or guaranteed to students under the Higher Education Act attending the institution or to the families of such students; and
• The institution recommends the lender or the loan products of the lender in exchange for a fee paid by the lender or in exchange for other material benefits, including revenue or profit sharing, provided to the institution, or to its officer, employee, or agent.

Coppin State University will not accept material benefits including revenue or profit sharing to the institution, or to an officer or an employee of the institution or an agent.

Gifts

Employees of the Office of Financial Aid are prohibited from soliciting or accepting any gift or anything of more than a de minimus value from a lender, guarantor, or education loan servicers.

• Gifts include any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan or other item. This includes transportation, lodging, or meals, or a gift of service whether provided in kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance, or reimbursement after the expense has incurred.
• This provision shall not be construed to prohibit any officer, employee, or agent of Coppin State University who has responsibility with respect to educational loans from conducting non-college business activity with any lending institution or prevent Sinclair from holding membership in any nonprofit professional association.
• Gifts to family members of a Coppin State University employee are considered to be a gift to the employee if the gift is given with the knowledge and acquiescence of the employee and there is reason to believe the gift was given because of the official position of the Coppin State University employee.

Family members include a person's: (1) Parent or stepparent, sibling or stepsibling, spouse, child or stepchild, or grandchild or step-grandchild; (2) Spouse's parent or stepparent, sibling or step-sibling, child or stepchild, or grandchild or step-grandchild; (3) Child's spouse; and (4) Sibling's spouse.

A gift does not include:

• Standard materials, activities or programs related to a loan being provided
• Food, refreshments, training, or other informational material furnish as an integral part of a training session that is designed to improve the service of the lender if such training contributes to the professional development of the agent
• Favorable terms, conditions or borrower benefits provided to a student employed by Coppin State University if comparable terms are provided to all students of Coppin State University
• Entrance and exit counseling services provided to borrowers as long as the institution's staff is in control of the counseling session, and it does not promote the products and services of any specific lender
• Philanthropic contributions to the Coppin State University unrelated to education loans or made in exchange for any advantage related to private education loans; or
• State education grants, scholarships, or financial aid funds.

Preferred Lender Status

Coppin State University participates in the following loan programs that provide student and parent loans through the U.S. Department of Education: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program.

Coppin State University provides a preferred lender list from which to select a lender for a private education student loan. The list is available on FASTChoice and provides a list of preferred lenders based on low interest rates, no origination fees, timely processing, total loan volume, and electronic funds transfer capabilities. Coppin State University will certify private loans from any lender. Terms, fees, and borrowing limits of private loans differ. Borrowing a private loan is a decision that should be made with careful consideration.

Contract Arrangements

Coppin State University prohibits any employee, officer or agent employed by the Office of Financial Aid who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to federal or private education loans from accepting from any lender or affiliate any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of the lender.

Directing Borrowers or Delaying Certifications

Coppin State University prohibits the assignment of a first-time borrower to a particular lending institution through award packaging or other methods. Coppin State University will not assign a borrower's private student loan to a particular lender. All decisions shall be made by the borrower in his/her independent review of borrower benefits and lender services. Further, Coppin State University will not refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.

Opportunity Pool Loans

Coppin State University prohibits any employee, officer or agent from requesting or accepting from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans including an opportunity pool loan to students in exchange for concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with:

• A specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed
• A specified loan volume of such loans or
• A preferred lender arrangement for such loans.

Private education loans include an opportunity pool loan which means a private education loan made by a lender to a student or family member of the student attending the institution that involves a payment, directly or indirectly, by such institution of points, premiums, additional interest, or financial support to such lender for the purpose of such lender extending credit to the student or the family.

Staffing Assistance

Coppin State University prohibits accepting or soliciting staffing assistance from a lending institution, including but not limited to call center staffing or financial aid office staffing. However, this does not prohibit requesting or accepting professional development training for aid officers, or requesting or accepting counseling, financial aid literacy, or debt management materials for borrowers, if the material discloses that the lender prepared or provided the materials.

Advisory Board Compensation

Employees of the Office of Financial Aid who serve on an advisory board, commission or group established by a lender or guarantor, must not receive anything of value from the lender or guarantor except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred for serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

Financial Aid Forms

View More Financial Aid Forms & Documents

The Student Perkins Loan Department is happy to help answer any of your student loan questions! Our Office of Financial Aid can help students and families secure federal financial aid. Our office helps student and families manage student loans and keep them in good standing. The staff in the Student Perkins Loans office also:

• Conducts Perkins Loans exit interviews
• Checks your loan status
• Discuss available options for loans in default, including
  • Forbearance
  • Hardship Deference
  • Loan Repayment Cancellation