Over 100 Scholarships for Military Kids

A new year is underway which means it is time to jump into scholarship season! Organizations and foundations are eager to provide funding for your military child to pursue further education. The first quarter of a new year is when most of the applications for military scholarships open and deadlines will approach quickly, so encouraging your child to be on top of each application is vital!

We hope this list of over 100 scholarships for military kids will be a help to your family. Best of luck to your soon-to-be graduate this scholarship season!

jumping graduate military scholarship dependent

American Legion Auxiliary Children of Warriors National Presidents’ Scholarship – Three $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually per geographic division, for a total of 15 scholarships. These scholarships are for undergraduate study only at a four-year accredited college or university, and may be used for tuition, books, fees, room, and board. [clear]

AMVETS’ Scholarships – Two scholarships are specific to children/grandchildren of Veterans, Active Duty, Guard/Reserves who are currently High School seniors.

Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship – Awarded to daughters of career commissioned officers in the United States armed services. Selection based on both merit and financial need.

Delta Dental Grants – Funded by a grant from Delta Dental, this program provides scholarships and grants to military spouses, military dependents, and transitioning service members for the advancement of oral health and wellness. Eligible applicants may be pursuing a wide range of programs such as dentistry, nursing, home healthcare aid, or caregiver training. Five grants in the amount of $2,000 each will be awarded.

Military Child of the Year Award – The annual awards will recognize seven outstanding young people ages 13 to 18. Six of them will represent a branch of the armed forces — the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard — for their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, extracurricular involvement, and other criteria while facing the challenges of military family life. The seventh award is the Military Child of the Year® Award for Innovation presented by Booz Allen Hamilton. This award goes to a military child who has designed a bold and creative solution to address a local, regional or global challenge.

Military Commanders Scholarship Fund – a scholarship program to assist children of select active duty, reserve, National Guard or retired members of the United States military who plan to continue their education in college. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice. If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $5,000 award. Provided there are qualified applicants, two awards will be given per branch of service (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard). Awards are one time only and not renewable.

National Youth Achievement Program – Jewish War Veterans – The National Youth Achievement Program is for high school seniors who are direct descendants of members of the Jewish War Veterans of U.S.A. Applicants must be accepted by an accredited college, university or hospital school of nursing entering into the freshman year in the Fall Semester.

NCOA Scholarship Fund – Established in 1970, its single purpose is to help dependents of NCOA members continue their education beyond high school. To date, the Scholarship Fund has awarded nearly $1.5 million in non-repayable scholarships.

Scholarships for Military Children – The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize the contributions of military Families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the commissary in the military Family community. If your mother or father is active duty, reserve/guard, or retired military personnel or you are the survivor of a deceased member, and you have a military dependent I.D. card you can apply!

Thanks USA Scholarship – Must be a dependent child, age 24 and under (as of application deadline). Must be current high school senior or graduate who plan to enroll or student who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university, or vocational or technical school for the academic year. Need to have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale or its equivalent on their relevant academic record (e.g., high school record for incoming freshmen or post-secondary school record for those already enrolled in a college, university, or vocational or technical school).

The Bonsai Finance Veteran’s Scholarship – The scholarship celebrates veteran and dependent students who strive for excellence in their lives and provides a one-time payment of $2,500 for current or future education costs.

BlueStar Scholarship Program from Lendlease – Seniors from Military Families can receive up to $5,000 in scholarship to further their education. Students living in Lendlease’s Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, Campbell Crossing, Knox Hills, Fort Hood Family Housing, Fort Drum Mountain Community Homes, Soaring Heights Communities, Tierra Vista Communities, Island Palm Communities, Hickam Communities and North Haven Communities are welcome to apply.

Scholarships for Military Kids that are Branch Specific

Army

MG James Ursano Scholarship Fund – The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program is a need-based scholarship program established to assist children of Army Soldiers in obtaining their first undergraduate degree. Applicants must reapply each year and may receive assistance for up to four academic years as long as they meet the eligibility criteria explained in the document below.

Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association Scholarship – The Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association Scholarship has been established to recognize relatives of Army Service Women. This scholarship is based upon academic achievement and leadership as expressed through co-curricular activities and community involvement. A $1500.00 scholarship will be given annually.

Visit the Association of the United States Army page for a full list of AUSA scholarships that include opportunities for active duty personnel and spouses, plus some of the above for children of Army service members.

Air Force

AFAS Merit Scholarship – Each year, Air Force Aid Society awards a minimum of 10 Merit Scholarships. These $5,000 scholarships are available to dependent children and spouses of active duty and retired Airmen who demonstrate outstanding academic potential based on GPA.

Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship – The Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship was established to aid minor dependents of (officer or enlisted) Active Duty, veteran, or retired service members; reservists; or National Guard members of all branches pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university. Priority is given to dependents whose parent or guardian served for eight or more years, who have had a parent die while serving on Active Duty, or who have a parent classified as a wounded warrior through the Air Force Wounded Warrior program. One scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded annually.

Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship – This scholarship is made possible by a bequest from the estate of Lt. Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti, and was established for minor dependents of Air Force Active Duty, Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree. A committee will award $5,000 to a student based upon several factors, including academics, character, and financial need.

General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant – The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant program is the centerpiece of AFAS education support. The application process for the Arnold Education Grant serves as the platform for other key education support opportunities at the Society. The Arnold Education Grant is competitive in its needs-based selection criteria and is uniquely tailored to recognize the proper weighing of family income and education costs. Grants ranging from $500 to $4,000 are awarded to eligible Air Force dependents each year. The specific amount awarded correlates to a student’s particular level of financial need.

John C. and Blanche Lee Lindsay Memorial Scholarship – This scholarship was made possible by a bequest from Mrs. Elizabeth L. Lindsay, widow of Lt. Col. John Lindsay, in memory of their children John C. and Blanche Lee Lindsay who passed away before Lt. Col. and Mrs. Lindsay. One $2,500 scholarship will be awarded annually to a child of members of the United States Air Force who are pursuing a college degree.

Dr. Sydell Perlmutter Gold Memorial Scholarship – Provides a renewable $5,000 annual scholarship (for a total possible award of $20,000) to the daughter of Active, Guard, or Reserve Air Force or Space Force members pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field.

Visit the Air Force Association Scholarships page for a full list of AFA scholarships that include opportunities for active duty personnel and spouses, plus some of the above for children of Air Force Members.

Navy

Anchor Scholarship Foundation – Anchor Scholarship Foundation provides scholarships to eligible family members (children and spouses) of active duty, retired, and honorably discharged Surface Navy personnel. In the past 37years , Anchor Scholarship Foundation has awarded over $1,000,000 in scholarships to over 1,000 recipients. Anchor scholarships are awarded based upon an equal weighting of academic performance, character, extracurricular activities and financial need.

Dolphin Scholarship – Dolphin Scholarship Foundation grants are available, on a competitive basis, to high school or college children/stepchildren and spouses of members or former members of the submarine force or those who have served in submarine support activities.

EOD Warrior Foundation Scholarship – EOD Warrior Foundation Scholarships are awarded to EOD family members to assist with tuition, books and fees at two- and four-year colleges. Priority is given to family members of fallen and wounded EOD warriors and remaining scholarship funds are awarded competitively to eligible students, based on academic merit, community involvement and other criteria.

Fleet Reserve Association Education Foundation (Navy & Marines) – FRA believes that educating our service members, veterans and their families is important for their futures, as well as the future of our country. In addition to FRA’s longstanding advocacy for enhanced DoD and VA education benefits, the FRA Education Foundation was established to support the needs of individuals pursuing higher education. FRA’s Education 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 individuals pursuing college and graduate degrees.

Naval Enlisted Reserve Association NERA/USAA Scholarship – NERA/USAA College Scholarship Program recognizes the service to the United States and sacrifices by Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve component members, retirees and their families. These scholarships are made possible by generous grants from USAA and additional donations from NERA and its members.

Navy League Foundation – College should never be out of reach for a family member of the sea services. The Navy League Foundation guarantees this support by awarding scholarships to high school seniors who will attend college in the fall. Navy League Foundation scholarships are available to children and grandchildren of veterans or active duty sea service men and women, as well as members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

Navy Seal Foundation – The Navy SEAL Foundation is pleased to offer scholarship opportunities to NSW active duty service members, their spouses and dependent children, children of qualifying former NSW service members, as well as our SEAL and SWCC post-9/11 veterans. These scholarships are provided as an effort to bridge the gap between the desired level of education and the current level of education of NSW service members. The scholarship opportunities include one to four-year grants for education, vocational, certificate and leadership programs. The educational scholarships are to post-secondary programs, such as Bachelors or Associates Degrees, and also include graduate degree scholarship opportunities for qualifying applicants.

Navy Supply Corps Foundation – The scholarship program, which was the basis for the Foundation’s formation three decades ago, was established to provide children of qualifying Supply Corps personnel financial assistance to pursue a college education. Today, any family member (child, grandchild or spouse) of a qualifying Supply Corps officer and child or spouse of a supply enlisted member (active duty, reservist, or retired) is eligible for consideration to receive financial assistance for undergraduate studies at an accredited two or four-year post-secondary school institution.

Navy Wives Club of America – Scholarship Foundation of the Navy Wives Clubs of America, Inc. – up to 30 scholarships granted annually. The grants are presented with the knowledge that no repayment is expected from the recipient. Those eligible for the grants are the natural born, legally adopted or stepson or daughter of an Enlisted member of the Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard on active duty, or retired with pay or the son or daughter of a deceased member of these categories. Applicants must have a valid dependent’s I. D. card (United States Uniformed Services Identification and Privileges Card). Applicants must show basis of need for financial assistance, have a scholastic standing of at least a 2.5 grade point average (GPA), and be a graduate of an accredited high school or its equivalent or will qualify for graduation prior to beginning eligibility for assistance. The grants may be used for tuition, room and board, fees and books. The grants are for tuition, room and board, fees and books.

Tailhook Ed ucation Foundation – TEF awards over 100 scholarships annually ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 per year. A number of our TEF grants are awarded to students pursing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math) curriculum. All TEF grants assist Naval Aviation legacy undergraduate students obtain a higher education.

Wings Over America Scholarship – Our mission is to provide college scholarships to dependent children and spouses of all US Navy personnel – officer and enlisted – active duty, retired, honorably discharged or deceased who served within Naval Air Forces. Recipients are selected on the basis of scholastic merit, community service, extra-curricular activities and character. Wings Over America annually sponsors fifty scholarships to students who have chosen to continue their education. Our scholarships include community college, trade & technical school as well as traditional college scholarships. We have annual and renewable scholarships and also administer scholarships for other naval aviation groups.

Marines

Force Recon Association Scholarship – Applicant must be a Member of the Force Recon Association in good standing or be a family Member of a Member in good standing, or in the family of a deceased member.

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation – Applicants must be the child of one of the following: Active duty, reserve, or veteran U.S. Marine, a Marine killed while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Active duty, reserve, or veteran U.S. Navy Corpsman who is/was attached to a U.S. Marine unit, A Navy Corpsman attached to a Marine unit that was killed while serving in the U.S. Navy. Additionally, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria: GPA of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and Family adjusted gross income for the tax year that does not exceed $100,000.

Marine Corps Tankers Association Scholarship – The Marine Corps Tankers Association, as one of its core functions, offers a college scholarship program for Marines and Sailors who served in Marine Corps Tank Battalions and their eligible dependents. Service members or a former service member must be able to establish their assignment and service with Marine Corps Tank Battalion by official records. To be eligible, dependents must be able to establish a parent or grandparent who served in a Marine Corps Tank Battalion. Relationships beyond grandparents are not considered for awards.

MGYSGT George T Curtis Scholarship – USMC/Combat Helicopter & Tiltrotor Association has established its’ own scholarship program for children/grandchildren of current POPASMOKE members and for spouses of active duty who are paid members.

Women’s Marines Association Scholarship – Its purpose is to award grants to qualified applicants sponsored by WMA MEMBERS. These grants may be used at any accredited college, university or college level trade school.

Coast Guard

Captain Ernest W. Fox Perpetual Scholarship – This application is intended for qualified active duty Coast Guard, civil service employee personnel or their dependents at the Coast Guard Aviation Logistic Center. The scholarship will be used for preparatory, collegiate, postgraduate, professional and vocational education, formal or informal training which develops the talents and potential of the beneficiary.

Coast Guard Exchange Scholarship Program – Scholarships to students who are dependents of Coast Guard active duty, reserve, and military retired members, current civilian NAF and APF employees, and current Coast Guard Auxiliarists that meet eligibility requirements.

Coast Guard Foundation’s United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Reserve Scholarship – The Coast Guard Foundation’s United Services Automobile Association (USAA) Reserve Scholarship provides education support to both Reservists and their family members who are pursuing higher education opportunities. Our assistance helps to make up the difference to pay for things like books, lab fees, and technical equipment opening the doors of opportunity to so many Coast Guard families. Expensive textbooks and other out-of-pocket fees can put a college degree out of reach for many Coast Guard families, especially those who are supporting children. We award scholarships based not only on an applicant’s financial need, but also on scholastic promise, motivation, moral character, good citizenship and leadership qualities.

Children of Enlisted Coast Guard Members – If you are the child of an active duty, retired, or active reserve Coast Guard member you are eligible to apply. Successful applicants can expect awards ranging between $1,000 to $5,000.

John A. Keller Scholarship – Available to dependents of members in good standing of the Chief Warrant Officers Association.

Dependent of Deceased or Disabled Veteran

Children of Fallen Coast Guard Heroes – A college education is the key to the American Dream, opening the door to a world of opportunities. This is why the Coast Guard Foundation’s education support is one of the most meaningful ways we show Coast Guard families we value their service, and there is no program which highlights this more than the Fallen Heroes Scholarship.

Folded Flag Foundation – Eligible recipients must be the spouse (all ages) or child (under the age of 26) of a member of the U.S. military who died as a result of hostile action or in an accident related to U.S. combat operations or an employee of the U.S. Government who died as a result of hostile action or in an accident related to U.S. combat operations.

Folds of Honor Scholarship – Scholarships are used to subsidize the costs of tuition, school books, fees, on-campus room and board, approved educational tutoring, and other approved educational expenses that a student’s school may deem appropriate. Scholarships are awarded up to $5,000. Award amount is based on the “unmet need” calculated on the Financial Need page of the application.

Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund– Students are eligible if they are the dependent child of an active duty Service Member who was killed or permanently disabled (100%) rating as the result of an operational mission or training accident, or who is currently certified as POW or MIA.

Heroes’ Legacy Scholarships– Open to dependent unmarried children under age 23 of those who have died or have become disabled through their active military service on or after September 11, 2001.

Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship – Blind Veterans of America – Spouses, dependent children, and grandchildren of blinded veterans are eligible for the annual Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship to assist them with their higher education tuition. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit through an application process that is evaluated by a committee. Gruber scholarships are for one year only but recipients can re-apply and receive the award up to four times. The blinded veteran family member is not required to be a BVA member for the spouse or child to receive a scholarship.

Marine Corp Scholarship Foundation: Heroes Tribute Scholarship – Our Heroes Tribute Scholarship Program for Children of the Wounded provides scholarship support to every eligible child of a wounded, ill, or injured Marine and Navy Corpsman—from all conflicts and wars—ensuring that an education for their children is not an additional sacrifice they must make.

MOAA Scholarship Fund Educational Assistance Program – Applicants for our programs must be planning to attend an accredited college or university during the school year as full-time students. All loans, scholarships, and grants are for students seeking their first undergraduate degree and are awarded for no more than five school years. No loans, scholarships, or grants are available for graduate-level studies.

No Greater Sacrifice – No Greater Sacrifice (NGS) is dedicated to the children of our nation’s fallen and wounded Service members (post 9/11/01) by delivering scholarships and resources to improve their quality of life through the pursuit of higher education. NGS defines “higher education” as advanced learning through a bachelor’s degree or associate’s degree from an approved institution or certificate from a trade school.

Patriot Legacy Fund– provides post-secondary educational scholarships for the dependent children of service-disabled veterans. Scholarships are awarded in the amounts of $2,500 and $5,000 to eligible applicants.

Purple Heart Scholarship – The Purple Heart Scholarship Programis a competitive scholarship program that awards scholarships to Purple Heart recipients and their spouses, children, and grandchildren each year.

Special Operations Warrior Foundation – We ensure full financial assistance for post-secondary scholarships for every child who loses a parent serving in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps special operations. We make sure each child has the resources to attend the best college for which he or she qualifies.

Veterans United Foundation Scholarship – The Veterans United Foundation Scholarship creates opportunities for family members of service members and Veterans to achieve their educational dreams. The scholarship program, launched in 2012, is funded by contributions from Veterans United Home Loans and its employees. The Veterans United Foundation Scholarship will be awarding up to 10 one-time scholarships for up to $50,000 for this upcoming semester.

Location Specific Military Child Scholarships

Many (but not all) of the scholarships in this portion of our list are offered by spouse clubs at specific bases. If the base nearest you is not listed, please reach out the military spouse club in your area to see if they offer a scholarship!

While this list is vast, it is not all inclusive! New scholarship opportunities are created every year. Many universities also offer scholarships for military children. Make it a point to talk to the financial assistance coordinator at your chosen institution and ask about military specific scholarships and grants. Finally, be sure to apply to as many scholarships as possible – it is worth the time and effort!

college scholarships military dependents kids air force navy marines coast guard army

If you know of a scholarship for military children we have missed, please feel free to contact Military With Kids at [email protected] so that we may add it to our list!

All links to military scholarships in this post are current and functional to date. Scholarship funding amounts may vary annually.

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3 Comments

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Elizabeth says:

July 27, 2023 at 11:16 pm

Thank you for this list. I have a son who is going to college in the fall and we applied to a lot of these. He has the first year covered! Also, there is Chapter 35 benefits, administered by the VA for 100 percent disabled, total and permanent veterans. (Not really a scholarship but it provides a monthly stipend for 3 years of school.) I will bookmark this list when we need to do this again next year!

1. Jill says:
  
  September 20, 2023 at 12:28 pm
  
  I am so glad you found this list helpful! Having the first year of college covered is amazing!!!

Over 100 Scholarships for Military Kids

Scholarships for Military Kids that are Branch Specific