Annually, our team compiles a list of credible financial aid opportunities for service members, veterans, military spouses and/or military kids. It is recommended that readers always review eligibility details and deadlines for changes. Know of a scholarship that should be added? Email us at editor@usmilitarypublishing.com.
YEAR-ROUND SCHOLARSHIPS
National Military Family Association
Who’s eligible: Open to spouses of service members who served post-9/11 and are on active duty, reservists, guardsmen, retirees, 100% disabled, or are a fallen service member.
What’s the basics: Awards available for all levels of degrees, professional licenses, and certifications, supervised clinical hours, and business expenses.
Link: https://www.militaryfamily.org/programs/spouses-scholarships/military-spouse-scholarship-faqs/
MyCAA (My Career Advancement Account)
Who’s eligible: Spouses of service members with the rank of E1-E5; W1-W2; O1-O2.
What’s the basics: Maximum tuition assistance benefit of $4000 to be used toward an associate degree, license or certification.
Link: https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/
BRANCH AID SOCIETIES
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Who’s eligible: Spouses and children of qualified Marines and sailors.
What’s the basics: Scholarships and interest-free loans for career & technical education; associate degrees; bachelor degrees; master degrees.
Link: https://www.nmcrs.org/our-services/scholarships
Who’s eligible: Children and spouses of Air Force and Space Force members.
Link: https://afas.org/haparnoldgrant/
Deadline: April 30.
Army Emergency Relief (for military spouses)
What’s the basics: The Mrs. Patty Shinseki Spouse Scholarship Program is a need-based scholarship program established to assist Army spouses in obtaining an undergraduate degree or similar professional certification.
Deadline: Year-round
Link: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/scholarships/spouse/
Army Emergency Relief (for military kids)
What’s the basics: The Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program is a need-based scholarship program established to assist children of Army soldiers in obtaining their first undergraduate degree.
Deadline: April 1.
Link: https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/scholarships/child/
Who’s eligible: Coasties, spouses and their children.
What’s the basics: Interest-free loans for education expenses up to $6,000.
Deadline: Year-round.
Link: https://mycgma.org/programs/education-loan/
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Who’s eligible: Daughter or son of a current or veteran United States Army Special Forces soldier. Read link below for full eligibility requirements.
Deadline: March 15.
Link: https://greenberetfoundation.org/sf-scholarship-fund/
Who’s eligible: College students of active duty, Guard and reserve or retired military commissary customers.
What’s the basics: A total of 500 scholarships are distributed in the amount of $2,000 each.
Deadline: February 14.
Link: https://fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarship-programs/scholarships-for-military-children/
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
Who’s eligible: Appllicant must be the child of an active duty or reserve U.S. Marine, a veteran U.S. Marine who has received an honorable discharge, or who was killed while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Children of U.S. Navy Corpsmen, Chaplains, or Religious Programs Specialists attached to a Marine unit may also qualify.
Application deadline: March 1.
Link: https://www.mcsf.org/apply/
FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program
What’s the basics: The fellowship provides military spouses the opportunity to earn the Accredited Financial Counselor® certification.
Application details: Opens March 1.
Link: https://www.afcpe.org/certification/finra-foundation-fellowship/read-first-then-apply/
Florida Advisory Council on Military Education
Who’s eligible: Active duty, guardsman, reservist, veteran or spouse of someone stationed in Florida, residing in Florida or attending a Florida higher education institution.
Deadline: April 1.
Link: https://www.fla-acme.org/scholarships
What’s the basics: Five different categories of scholarships with application cycles in the spring and fall.
Application details: Fall 2024 application period opens March 1.
Council of College and Military Educators (CCME)
What’s the basics: The organization awards $1000 scholarships with the application process typically running July to November.
Application details: Check back to https://www.ccmeonline.org/scholarships for 2025 updates.
Who’s eligible: Spouses and children of enlisted Coast Guard members; children of fallen Coast Guard members; and enlisted Coast Guard members.
Deadline: (for spouses) March 1; (for dependent children) April 1.
Link: http://coastguardfoundation.org/apply
Who’s eligible: Active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses.
Deadline: The 2024 period is now closed, but you can signup here for the 2025 mailing list.
Link: https://pattillmanfoundation.org/apply/
NATIONAL SPOUSE CLUBS
National Guard Bureau Spouses’ Club
Who’s eligible: NGB spouses and children
Deadline: April 1.
Details: Submit applications to ngbosc.scholarships@gmail.com
Who’s eligible: Up to 31 scholarships awarded annually, with eligibility for spouses/dependents of the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.
Deadline: March 31.
Link: https://navywivesclubsofamerica.org/scholarships/
LOCAL SPOUSE CLUBS
SNCO Spouse Club of Camp Lejeune (North Carolina): https://www.sncospousesclub.org/scholarhips
- Deadline to apply: April 12.
- Who is eligible: dependents of active, retired, and deceased military members (the military member does not have to reside within the local area of Onslow County)
Fort Cavazos Family Scholarship (Texas): https://www.fortcavazosscholarship.org/
JNSA Lackland Spouses’ Club (Texas): https://www.lacklandspousesclub.org/scholarships
Stuttgart Community Spouses Club (Germany): https://stuttgartspousesclub.org/Scholarships
Aviano Air Base (Italy): https://ciaoavianoab.wordpress.com/about/
