Are you a veteran or active-duty military member thinking about going to college?
First of all, thank you for your service. Secondly, there are plenty of amazing opportunities for people like you to cover most (if not all) expenses. You have plenty of options — even if you didn’t have the best GPA or aren’t entering college straight out of high school.
We’ve researched the most popular military and veterans scholarships. We’ll do our best to answer your questions about eligibility requirements for scholarship programs.
Whether you’re a former Coast Guard member, a disabled veteran, or a Purple Heart recipient, you’ll find a scholarship program that matches your needs.
The best places for veterans to find scholarships
This page covers the best military and veterans scholarships; however, here are some sources to check out if you want to look at additional options or do your own research:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All prospective undergraduate students fill out the FAFSA to determine their eligibility for federal aid and scholarships depending on financial need.
- The school’s financial aid office. If you already know where you want to go to school, you can contact the school’s financial aid office directly. They should have some good information for you.
- U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The U.S. DOL has a free scholarship search tool you can use to find financial aid.
- Federal and state agencies. Several federal agencies offer financial aid in addition to state grant providers.
- Military tuition assistance. The military offers a tuition assistance program for active-duty military personnel and National Guard and Reserve Component service members. You can also check into programs offered by Student Veterans of America (SVA).
- GI Bill. Some military veterans receive education benefits through the GI Bill.
- ROTC scholarship. Those who participated in a high school Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program may qualify for a scholarship.
Military scholarship foundations
So many wonderful organizations offer financial support for military members thinking about attending school full time or part time. Here are a few foundations that are great resources for information about military scholarships.
One thing you’ll notice is that many of these foundations provide support for military family members. Perhaps you haven’t served but have a parent or spouse who did. If so, you may qualify for several of these dependent scholarship programs.
The Army Scholarship Foundation
The Army Scholarship Foundation provides scholarships for spouses and dependents of current and former active-duty military members.
Potential applicants who meet all the requirements must submit a scholarship application by April 15 of the year they’re applying for aid.
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation has offered more than 50,000 scholarships over the past 60 years. The foundation averages 2,600 scholarships per year, adding up to over $10 million in support.
Children of former marines can apply for scholarships that will help them earn their associate or bachelor’s degrees. You can also request aid if you’re thinking about career or tech schools.
Navy League of the United States scholarships
Children and grandchildren of former Navy members can apply for scholarships from the Navy League of the United States.
The application submission deadline is usually in March, and the program offers several scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The $10,000 scholarships normally spread out over four years.
Air & Space Forces Association scholarships
Airmen and their families can qualify for financial aid from the Air & Space Forces Association. In 2022, the association offered around $230,000 in scholarship money for Air Force veterans and active-duty service members.
In a typical year, the association accepts applications through the end of April and announces winners in July. Scholarship amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000.
8 best scholarships for veterans and active-duty military
In addition to these foundations, we have a few more scholarships to share. These programs are designed for veterans and active-duty U.S. armed forces service members.
Keep reading to learn which ones you (or your family) might be eligible for.
CCME scholarships
Each year, the Council of College and Military Educators (CCME) offers $1,000 scholarships to active service members, veterans, and their children and spouses. Last year, CCME gave out 50 $1,000 scholarships to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Those interested must fill out an application form and submit an essay before the deadline. Applications should include two reference letters and answer all the scholarship committee’s questions.
Pat Tillman Foundation scholarships
Each year, the Pat Tillman Foundation offers scholarships to active-duty military members, veterans, and their spouses. The foundation chooses scholarship recipients based on their dedication to service, scholarship, and humble leadership.
Tillman Scholars are usually announced in June. Join the foundation’s mailing list to stay in the loop about when the foundation begins accepting applications for the next year.
U.S. Army Health Care Enlisted Commissioning Program
The U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) provides an opportunity for Regular Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard members to go through up to 24 months of nursing school without losing their rank, grade, or military benefits. After graduating and passing your National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN), you’ll become a Regular Army nurse officer and serve at least four years.
Applications are due at the beginning of August, and the board makes their selection in mid-September. Scholarship winners start school the following year.
Marines’ Memorial Tribute Scholarship
The Marines’ Memorial Foundation offers nine Marines’ Memorial Tribute scholarships every year, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. Applicants for this memorial scholarship must have honorably served in the military and ended service (or moved to reserve status) within the past three years.
Applications are normally due in mid-March for the following academic year. Your application must include an essay response between 250 and 500 words.
AMVETS Scholarship
AMVETS scholarships are available to veterans, active-duty military members, and their families. Military spouses, children, and grandchildren can apply for one of the $4,000 annual scholarships. AMVETS also awards two $12,000 scholarships each year, but these scholarship funds are reserved for veterans and active-duty military.
What makes AMVETS scholarships unique is that they are need-based scholarships designed for people who have exhausted all other options for financial assistance. This is a great option for anyone struggling to find other scholarships or financial assistance from the federal or state government.
Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship
The Army Women’s Foundation offers a Six Triple Eight scholarship of $2,500 each year to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Women who have served in the U.S. Army and direct descendants of women who have served in any Army component are eligible to apply.
Each application requires two letters of recommendation and a short essay (two pages or less). In your essay, you’ll need to describe how the army has impacted your life or future goals.
Wings Over America scholarships
Each year, Wings Over America sponsors 50 $5,000 scholarships for spouses and dependent children of current and former Navy personnel. Scholarship recipients can use it at a trade school, community college, or four-year university.
Eligible applicants must submit an application by the deadline (usually the beginning of February). Applicants must write two short essays and submit one recommendation letter if they are a Navy spouse and two if they’re the child of a current or former enlisted Navy member.
Imagine America’s Military Award Program
If you’re a former military service member who was honorably discharged or if you’re a retired veteran, you may qualify for the Imagine America’s Military Award Program (MAP). MAP recipients receive a $1,000 tuition discount.
Applying is free and only takes a few minutes. To apply, you must be enrolling at a participating school. Those who’ve received an Imagine America Foundation scholarship in the past can’t apply again.
Discover how College Rover can help you find the best school for you
Veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families have a long list of financial support options as they think about going to school. Hopefully, you can pursue one or more scholarships or programs on this list.
In addition to finding financial aid, one of the toughest parts of applying for college is choosing the right school. There are so many options, and narrowing down your list can feel overwhelming.
We know what that’s like, and we want to help. College Rover has a full database of colleges and universities, including information about each school’s undergraduate degree programs and average costs.
You can even create a spreadsheet of your top choices to share with friends and family. We think you’ll find that College Rover makes the enrollment process a little more awesome.
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