Looking for military education grants and scholarships for yourself, your spouse, or your children to go back to school? Here is a massive list (over 100) scholarships and grants for military personnel and their families to go to school.
If you know of any I didn't include please let me know.
What’s the difference between a scholarship and a grant? A grant is a gift and does not have to be repaid… a Loan must be repaid…usually after you are no longer in college on at least a half time basis.
However, there are some grants that have some requirement attached to it…such as community service. So, check to see if your grant has any strings.. 95+ have no strings and are a “gift”.
Scholarships may or may not have to be paid back. Again, most are awarded to cover expenses, but be sure you understand the terms.
There are a ton of organizations that offer help to military and their families, and we have found too many to list here, so we’ll start with the basics:
First, go to the school you are interested in attending and find out what they have through their financial aid office. They may have military or veteran special scholarships and grants that may not be well known.
Then, look at your GI bill. Post 9/11, the GI bill has allowed the military to transfer some of not all of their educational benefits to members of their family.
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Download The complete List as a PDF
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Next, look at these basic storehouses of information and resources to find out what you may be eligible for and their application process. Educate yourself first on what is out there and what you can do for yourself:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the required application from the Department of Education to determine eligibility for any form of federal financial aid. More information is available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov
- Federal Pell Grant. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Typically, Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant. More information is available at http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell
- Direct Stafford Loans. Direct Stafford Loans are low-interest loans for eligible students to help cover the cost of higher education at a four-year college or university, community college, or trade, career, or technical school.
- PLUS Loans. Parents of dependent students may apply for a Direct PLUS Loan to help pay their child's education expenses as long as certain eligibility requirements are met. Graduate and professional students may apply for PLUS Loans for their own expenses. More information is available at: http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/plus
- Federal Perkins Loans. A Federal Perkins Loan is a low-interest loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. More information is available on the http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell, and look under “types of aid” for more specific opportunities.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program. The FSEOG Program provides need-based grants to help low-income undergraduate students finance the costs of postsecondary education. Priority is given to those who are also Federal Pell Grant recipients. More information is available at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fseog/index.html
- Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. This grant is intended for students whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. This program is for students who do not qualify for a Federal Pell Grant. More information is available on the http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/loans/plus and look under “types of aid” for more specific opportunities.
Bonus: Here is an entire website dedicated to researching scholarships for military and their families:
http://aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do
Next, look at more specific websites. We found these that are well established and have other resources as well. Follow the threads and see what each has to offer:
AMVETS Scholarship for High School Seniors:
http://amvetsnsf.org/scholarships.html
FRA Education Foundation at http://www.fra.org
Scholarships for Military Children:
http://www.militaryscholar.org/sfmc/index.html
Online degrees from cal state:
http://www.caluniversity.edu/admissions/military/military-scholarship-program/
Scholarships for Air Force Dependents:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/sites/default/files/scholarships-for-military.pdf
Scholarships For Military Spouses:
http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/military-spouse-scholarships/
To share GI bill with family members:
For those families impacted by autism:
http://www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org/apply_autism_grant.aspx
AFCEA Educational Fund:
www.afcea.org/education/scholarships
Air Force Aid Society General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP):
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/military/Family-education-resources/air-force-assistance/afas/george-brown-stap.html
Air Force Aid Society General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program:
http://www.afas.org/education-grants
The Air Force Aid Society General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant
American Legion Auxiliary Department Scholarship
American Legion Legacy Scholarship
Check with your local American Legion for additional scholarship opportunities.
America's Child – Higher Education Assistance:
http://www.americaschild.org/html/founders.htm
AMVETS has all kinds of information for vets:
- Dr. Aurelio M. Caccomo Family Foundation Memorial Scholarship
- National Scholarship Program
- General Scholarships
At http://www.amvetsnsf.org/scholarships.html
Armed Forces Crossroads Scholarships for Military Children:
www.afcrossroads.com/education/coll_scholar.cfm
Army Aviation Association of America Scholarships (AAAA):
Army Emergency Relief: Dependent Children Scholarship Program – The MG James Ursano Scholarship program
Army Emergency Relief: Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program – The Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program
Army Scholarship Foundation:
www.armyscholarshipfoundation.org/scholarships.html
Army Women's Foundation:
http://www.awfdn.org/programs/legacyscholarships.shtml
Chief Petty Officer Scholarship Fund:
Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship Program:
http://www.uscg.mil/worklife/scholarship.asp
Dolphin Scholarship Foundation:
www.militaryscholar.org/index.html
Horatio Alger Military Veterans Scholarship:
http://www.scholarships4students.com/horatio_alger_military_Veterans_scholarship.htm
Incentive Scholarship:
http://www.che.sc.gov/AccessEquity/ACCESS/GISGuidelines.pdf
Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA):
www.military.com/…/military- spouse-career-advancement-accounts-financial-aid.html
National Military Family Association (MNMFA) MILITARY SPOUSE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:
http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/military-spouse-scholarships/
Navy League of the United States:
http://www.navyleague.org/corporate/donate/scholarship.html
NBCC Foundation:
Operation Mom:
http://www.operationmom.org/scholarship.html
Paralyzed Veterans of America Scholarship:
http://www.pva.org/site/c.ajIRK9NJLcJ2E/b.6305559/k.FBA1/Scholarship_Program.htm
Pat Tillman Foundation:
http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/tillman-military-scholars/
Ranger Memorial Foundation Scholarship Fund:
www.rangermemorial.com/forms/scholarship_application.pdf
Reserve Aid:
http://reserveaid.org/get-help/
Retired Enlisted Association:
http://www.trea.org/Committees/Scholarship.html
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans and Service Members:
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/factsheets/CDDV.pdf
Society of the Daughters of the United States Army (DUSA):
www.dodea.edu/students/dusa.htm
Society of the First Infantry Division – Scholarships & Grants:
www.1stid.org/scholarships.php
Special Operations Warrior Foundation College Scholarship:
www.specialops.org/?page=collegescholarship
Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP):
www.afas.org/Education/STAP.cfm
Here are some other military sites that will be helpful in your search:
http://www.imagine-america.org/grantsformilitary
http://www.schoolconnection.com
http://www.militaryfamily.org/
http://www.vfw.org/Assistance/Family-Assistance/
http://ourfamilyforfamiliesfirst.org
http://www.military.com/military-report/scholarships-grants-for-military-families
http://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/military
As you can see, there are many organizations that are set up to help military families get a higher education and help in other ways, too. Check out these site and any other you may find in your search, but remember to first check out your GI Bill, the school you want to attend and the basic Federal, State, and local organizations that are readily available to you.
If you are well educated in the terms and financial obligations each scholarship or grant, you can go ahead with confidence and get that education for yourself, your spouse, or your children.
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