Scholarships for Retired Military Dependents

Scholarships for retired military dependents personnel can help them defray the costs of a college education.

Military dependents include children and spouses of personnel serving on active duty, in the reserves, or in the National Guard. Children of active-duty personnel change schools frequently as they grow up.

According to the USO, some military dependents attend 6-9 schools from kindergarten to high school graduation.

Scholarships for retired military dependents help students pay for their college education and reduce some of the barriers to higher education.

The requirements vary considerably, and some scholarships are restricted to a particular branch of the Armed Forces. Check each scholarship proposal carefully for requirements and due dates.

A copy of the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for receiving financial aid at any school of higher education.

The United States Army

The US Army sponsors a variety of scholarship including Scholarships for retired military dependents and grant programs designed to help the families of service-members find the necessary funds for college. These programs are intended to help the spouses and children of army personnel achieve their college ambitions. The following financial aid programs are currently being supported by the United States Army.

• The Survivors & Dependents Assistance Program offers financial assistance to children, aged 16 – 26, of army personnel who have been disabled or killed in the line of duty. The program is also open to the children of service-members who have been declared missing in action, or who have been detained as a prisoner of war. The program offers up to 45 months of educational benefits to eligible students who are enrolled in approved undergraduate, graduate, or vocational studies.
• The Spouse Education Assistance Program provides grant money to the eligible spouses of active-duty or retired Army personnel. Applicants must be enrolled at least part-time in an accredited college or university. Scholarship funding is available for fall and spring semesters only.
• The Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program supports the educational ambitions of Army spouses who are currently stationed overseas. Applicants must be enrolled in approved college or university, and must take a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. Full time students are eligible for 4 years of financial support.

Scholarships for Retired Military Dependents

Valuable Scholarships for retired military dependents are supported by every branch of the military for the spouses and children of active-duty and retired personnel.

Additional scholarship programs are dedicated to the dependents of military personnel who have been disabled or given their lives in the service of their country. These scholarship programs provide much needed financial assistance to the families of those men and women who have sacrificed so much in the defense of our freedom.

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

Scholarships for retired military dependents offered by MOAA requires that applicants must have a parent eligible for MOAA membership or be children of active duty, Reserve, National Guard, or retired enlisted military personnel.

If the applicant served in a uniformed service before completing college, his or her maximum age for eligibility will be increased by the number of years he or she so served, up to five years.

General Eligibility: Applicants must be under 24 years old.

• Applicants must have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Children attending U.S. military academies and academy prep schools are not eligible.
• The sponsoring parent must have a paid MOAA membership

For additional information about our programs and The MOAA Scholarship Fund, please click here to visit the MOAA Charities website.

American Legion Legacy Scholarship

The American Legion provides a variety of scholarships including scholarships for retired military dependents to support higher education for youth.

General Eligibility: Dependent of military personnel who died while on active duty on or after September 11, 2001

• To qualify and apply for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship, you must be able to answer YES to the following 3 questions.
• Are you currently a high school senior and/or accepted at or attending an institution of higher education?
• Is your institution of higher education a nonprofit and regionally-accredited institution? (If you are unsure, contact your institution’s admission office. Regional accreditation applies to the whole school not a program.)
• Does at least one of the following statements apply to you?

a. A legal parent of mine died while serving on active duty, U.S. military service on or after September 11, 2001. (Does not have to be a death out-of-country or in combat.)

b. A legal parent of mine is a Post-9/11 veteran of the U.S. military, who has been given a disability rating of 50% or higher by the Veterans Administration.

If you can answer YES to the previous 3 questions, you may fill out the online application.

Dependents in Escambia Or Santa Rosa County (FLA.) or Baldwin County (ALA.)

The Pensacola Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (PMOAA) has a long history of awarding scholarships to eligible beneficiaries.

Scholarships of $2,000 are awarded to children, stepchildren, spouses or grandchildren of active military or veterans who have completed at least one year of college with a minimum 3.2 GPA in undergraduate courses or 3.5 in graduates courses.

General Eligibility: The applicant and/or military sponsor must be, at the time of application, a resident of the area served by PMOAA, i.e. Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties of Florida and South Baldwin County of Alabama.

• Applicants for the program must have completed their first year of attending an undergraduate accredited college or university as full-time students during the current academic year.
•  Scholarships are awarded to the same recipient for no more than three (3) school years, retroactive.

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Education Assistance Program

The NMCRS Education Assistance Program is designed to help eligible Navy and Marine Corps families pursue their academic goals by providing scholarships and interest-free loans. Awards are provided based on the applicant’s financial need, and in accordance with policies established by the Society’s Board of Directors.

Financial assistance includes interest-free loans and grants for dependents of active-duty or retired Sailors or Marines.

General Eligibility:  Applicants must enroll as a full-time student and be registered in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System. S

• Students need a 2.0 GPA or higher, demonstrate financial need, and military children must be under age 23.
• Spouses of active duty or retired Sailors and Marines
• Active duty Sailor or Marine enrolled in a MECEP/MECP program is eligible for the loan

Interest-free loan and grant amounts vary from $500-$3,000.

Coast Guard Supplemental Education Grant Program

This program supports Coast Guard military dependents enrolled in college or approved vocational and technical training. The funding helps pay for books, supplies, or equipment required for a course of study, but it does not pay for tuition. The program provides funding on a first-come, first-served basis.

General Eligibility: All CGMA Clients are eligible to participate in the Supplemental Education Grant (SEG) Program on behalf of themselves and/or their Eligible Family Members where the student is:

• Enrolled in a college or university undergraduate or postgraduate degree program.
• Pursuing a multi course Vocational and Technical Training (VoTech) program approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Education, and designed to prepare the student for entry into a career field.
• Seeking a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
• Completing a correspondence course that is part of a college or university degree program or VoTech certificate program.
• May not be used for dependents in high school or grade school

Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation

Wings Over America honor service of Navy aviation families through educational scholarships.

Wings Over America Scholarship Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender expression, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion or sexual orientation in the administration of any of its educational policies, programs, and operations.

General Eligibility: Spouses of active-duty or retired Navy aviation personnel may apply. The applicant must be seeking a first undergraduate degree at an accredited college or technical school.

MyCAA Scholarship Program

The MyCAA Scholarship Program amount up to $4,000. In addition to tuition assistance, the program includes career coaching to develop an education and training plan.

General Eligibility: Spouses of active-duty, reserves, or National Guard service personnel in specified pay grades who are on Title 10 military orders may apply for the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship.

Army Aviation Association of America Scholarship (AAA)

The AAAA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation established to render financial assistance for the college-level education of members of the Army Aviation Association of America, Inc. (AAAA).

The spouses, unmarried siblings, children and grandchildren of current and deceased AAAA members are also eligible.

100% of every dollar donated to the Scholarship Foundation goes to a scholarship or endowed principal based on the AAAA paying all overhead expenses for the Scholarship Foundation.

General Eligibility: In order to apply for an AAAA Scholarship you must meet one of the following criteria:

•  You must be a current member of the Army Aviation Association of America, or
•  the spouse of a current AAAA member or deceased member, or
•  the son or daughter of a current member or deceased member, or
•  the grandchild of a current member or deceased member, or
•  the unmarried sibling of a current member or deceased member.

Note: Spouses of association members or deceased members may apply. The scholarship criteria include academic performance, an essay, and reference.

Folds of Honor Foundation

The Folds of Honor Foundation scholarship awards are up to $5,000…not to exceed $2,500 (minimum payment of $100) per term. Applications are accepted each year.

All application information must be submitted through the Folds of Honor online portal.

General Eligibility: The spouses and dependents of service members killed, wounded, or disabled due to their service may apply.

• Funding helps pay any outstanding fees or tuition for a student’s first bachelor’s degree. Recipients may reapply each year for up to four years of funding.
• Applicants must reapply each year they are interested in receiving funds from Folds of Honor.

Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Scholarship

FRA Foundation sponsors a generous scholarship program that helps deserving students reach their educational and professional goals by presenting awards of up to $5,000 to students pursuing trade school, community and four year college, and graduate degrees.

The Foundation presents approximately $90,000 each year to recipients based on financial need, academic standing, character and leadership qualities.

General Eligibility: Students may apply for Foundation scholarships if they are affiliated with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard through their own service or that of a spouse, parent, grandparent or great-grandparent.

• Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel and their families are eligible
• Students must be full-time
• Students must be U.S. citizens

Pat Tillman Foundation

The Pat Tillman Foundation identifies remarkable military service members, veterans and spouses, empowering them with academic scholarships, lifelong leadership development opportunities and a diverse, global community of high-performing mentors and peers. These scholars are making an impact as they lead through action in the fields of healthcare, business, public service, STEM, education and the humanities.

General Eligibility: Dependents of service members (children between the ages 19-28, or spouse)

• Those whose benefits are not transferable from their mother/father/husband/wife
• Those who are survivors of a service member
• Those whose transferable benefits are not sufficient

What is the mission 43 scholarship?

Mission43 Entrepreneur Course – Mission43 provides scholarships for up to 25 military members, veterans, and their spouses a year to attend the Entrepreneur Course, in partnership with College of Western Idaho, and learn the foundations of entrepreneurship and building/growing their businesses

How to apply for a scholarship to the US military?

Application is done online by creating an account at the Army ROTC page. Interested Applicants can proceed to the Army ROTC scholarship official website and apply for scholarship or download application form online through the link provided. Available for: International Students.

Can military spouses fill out the FAFSA?

Anyone planning to attend a college, university, community college, or vocational college should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form often marks the first step in applying for federal, state, or institutional financial aid. You should never pay to complete a FAFSA. Make sure you file through the U.S. Department of Education.

FAFSA results help schools determine how much a family can contribute toward educational costs and the amount of any unmet need. Schools use this information to develop a student aid report. Many scholarships consider financial circumstances and may require a copy of the student aid report from your school.