Veterans and their family members may be eligible for college scholarships. Scholarships for veterans may add onto other funding such as GI Bill benefits and Pell Grants. They also make college more affordable to those who served and continue to serve the nation.
Veterans scholarships are available to those who have served in the following:
Army
Navy
Air Force
Marines
National Guard
Coast Guard
Where Can You Find Scholarships for Veterans?
There are four main places to look for military scholarships for veterans. Nonprofits, your service branch, federal and state government programs offer scholarships for veterans. We’ll unpack these resources to give you a sense of where to look and how to apply.
Service Branch
Your branch may know about scholarships that line up with your service experience. Many nonprofits may offer scholarships for current/former members of a specific branch. This may also help you pinpoint the perfect options.
The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program is one example. It provides grants to women soldiers, past and present and to some family members.
Nonprofits and Charities
Also, other nonprofits and philanthropic foundations support veterans seeking financial aid. For instance, there’s the Pat Tillman Foundation. Recipients are military veterans and spouses who show strong leadership skills.
Another option is the Veterans United Foundation. It is for family members of service members and veterans. They award 10 scholarships each year of up to $50,000.
Military Federal Aid for Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs also offers education and training benefits. These extend to veterans, service members and their families.
Per the VA, 25% of those benefiting from VAs education programs are non Veterans. This may include spouses and family members who may benefit.
The following programs are not scholarships in name, but they serve the same function. Providing gift money for college that unlike loans, you do not have to pay back.
Post 9/11 GI Bill
One program put in place by the VA is the Post 9/11 GI Bill. It provides up to 36 months of education benefits for approved programs. In state residents who attend public school receive full tuition and fees paid right to the college.
To be eligible, you need at least 90 days of total active duty service after September 10, 2001. These benefits also apply to those on active duty or a veteran who received an honorable discharge.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP) is a feature of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Schools who participate in this program may offer additional funds. It also may not interfere with your GI Bill benefits.
To receive benefits under the YRP, you must be eligible for the full benefit rate under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Montgomery GI Bill
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is also available to those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. There are two main MGIB programs.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD). For active duty members who enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months. This entitles them to receive a monthly education benefit after completing some service
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR). For Reservists with a six-year obligation in the Selected Reserve who are actively drilling
Do Veterans Qualify for a Pell Grant?
Veterans in financial need may also qualify for Federal Pell Grants. The Federal Pell Grant is available to eligible undergraduate students.
To know the amount that you are eligible to receive, you need to fill out and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Currently, the most one can get from a Federal Pell Grant award is $6,195.
Like social security, veterans’ education benefits are entitlements. So, they do not affect the Expected Family Contribution on the FAFSA form.
Do Universities Offer Scholarships to Military Veterans?
Some colleges and universities offer scholarships for veterans. They may also waive certain fees. Many of these schools charge a discounted tuition for veterans and service members too.
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is also a possible source. It offers a range of merit based scholarships in exchange for a service agreement.
These often work in collaboration with various colleges and universities. Some cover full tuition. Others may provide extra funding for books, fees and housing.
Why Consider Scholarships for Military Veterans?
The cost of college keeps increasing ever year. Scholarships may be perfect to make college more affordable and decrease a student’s school debt. There are a few reasons that make scholarships valuable to veterans.
The cost of attending college is on the rise: Recent data shows that the average cost of attending a public in-state college is $16,757. That’s 34% higher than it was a decade ago!
Military scholarships for veterans often pay above average amounts: The total amount undergraduate aid recipients received averages around $12,300. Those who received federal veterans’ education benefits got an average of $15,300.
Validation for service: Such awards often pay tribute to a veteran’s service record. They honor the sacrifice of time spent away that may have interrupted studies. One example is the Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship. It is available to Purple Heart recipients.
State funding for education is lower: State funding for public two- and four-year colleges is $9 billion below compared to a decade ago. This often means higher tuition for public colleges.
Scholarships may allow veterans to earn a degree online: The Post-9/11 GI Bill reduces the benefits for monthly housing if you only take online courses.
Scholarships may help you transition to a new career: The Army Nurse Corps Association is an example. Funding is for persons enrolled in bachelor or graduate nursing or anesthesia programs. One criterion for eligibility is to be serving or have served in any branch. This includes any rank of the U.S. Army.
Some scholarships for veterans may also be for their children and grandchildren. There are also scholarships for active duty service members. The two main GI Bill programs that offer tuition help to survivors and dependents of veterans are:
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship): This scholarship is for children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001
The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program: This offers education and training to qualified dependents of Veterans. This includes those who are disabled because of a service related condition. As well as those who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition.
While you may be eligible for both the Fry and DEA programs, you can only use one of them.
Outside the V.A. there are scholarships for spouses and dependents of service members. Folds of Honor is one example. They offer a Higher Education Scholarship. It aims to help spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.
Another is a federal program called the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. It is for those whose parent or guardian died in service in Afghanistan or Iraq after 9/11. To be eligible, you were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death. You must be enrolled at least part time at a college or career school.
Are there any Scholarships for Grandchildren of Veterans?
There are two V.A. scholarships for children and/or grandchildren of Veterans, Active Duty, Guard/Reserves who are currently High School seniors.
AMVETS Scholarship: This is a $4,000 scholarship. It pays $1,000 per year over four years. There are 6 recipients each year
JROTC Scholarship: This is a $1,000 scholarship paid in one installment. There is one recipient each year. With the application, one needs to submit proof from JROTC instructor
List of Scholarships for Veterans
There are 24,652 awards worth $66M below. Apply now to our list of scholarships for veterans.
This scholarship is available for U.S. military veterans who have been injured on duty. Selected scholars will receive full tuition in the Colorado Technical University online program.
The Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) is a non-profit, volunteer-managed organization established to help meet the financial needs of Korean-American students seeking higher education.
The Korean American Scholarship Foundation (KASF) – Eastern Regional Chapter (ERC) offers a new scholarship program in honor and recognition of 1.6 million American Veterans who served in the Korean War during the Korean War era (June 25, 1950–January 31, 1955). These men and women answered the call to fight for a country and people they never knew and never met. More than 54,000 Americans died and 103,000 were wounded. To express their gratitude to these Veterans for their sacrifices, KASF-ERC will offer their descendants an opportunity to apply for a scholarship. KASF-ERC scholarship program will recognize outstanding students who have demonstrated outstanding talents and potential for success. Awardees will receive a check of $2,000 scholarships from KASF and be able to attend the KASF-ERC Award Ceremony & Banquet in Washington, D.C.
This scholarship is open to military veterans of the United States Armed Forces and to their immediate family members (parents, children, and grandchildren) who will be enrolled full time in an accredited community college, college or university, trade, or vocational school in the fall of 2020.
This scholarship is open to college sophomores and juniors who are U.S. Armed Forces and National Guard personnel, currently on active-duty or honorably discharged veterans, or reservists who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. Students must major in fields related to the mission of AFCEA and have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
This scholarship is open to veterans of the United States Army who are entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of undergraduate study or will be enrolled in a graduate program for the upcoming academic year. Students must enroll full time and be committed to their chosen field, and their community.
This scholarship is available to any qualified active duty, reservist, honorably discharged or retired veteran of a United States military service branch for attendance at a participating career college. Students must demonstrate financial need.
The Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military veterans. U.S. veteran or active military service members, or the spouses of veteran, active or deceased U.S. military servicemembers are eligible to apply for this award. Students must enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program and demonstrate financial need.
This scholarship is open to surviving spouses and children of fallen active-duty or veteran members of the United States Armed Forces. The student must be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university in the upcoming semester to pursue a trade or professional certificate, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, graduate, post-graduate or doctoral degree; the student must also demonstrate financial need.
This award is available for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are a Purple Heart recipient OR are the spouse, child, grandchild, or great-grandchild (natural or adopted) of a Purple Heart recipient. Students must also have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
