Guide to Veteran & Dependent Scholarships by State

Created in 1944, the GI Bill helps veterans and their family members cover most of the costs of college, graduate school, and training programs. However, this program sets limitations. To become eligible for GI Bill benefits, learners must attend an approved school. While students can easily find approved schools through the GI Bill search tool, many institutions do not qualify learners for benefits.

Benefits also vary depending on how learners study, with enrollees who study part time or online receiving smaller benefits. The GI Bill also only helps cover educational costs for a limited time, so part-time learners who take longer to complete a program must find other ways to pay their tuition.

Military scholarships only accept applicants who either served in the military or are related to a veteran or active military member. These scholarships honor the service of military members and veterans by extending financial awards to them and their family members.

Like other scholarships, military scholarships award learners with free money. However, many military scholarships extend much better awards than non-military scholarships. Some military scholarships award money that recipients can apply toward tuition, fees, housing, meals, other educational expenses, and living costs. Most regular scholarships only help cover tuition and fees.

Veterans and military members gain valuable leadership experience and develop decision-making skills while serving. Many industries desire professionals with these qualities and a degree.

Military scholarships allow veterans to continue learning and developing new skills, helping them secure high-level positions within various organizations. Some scholarships help veterans find work within public service to continue serving the people. Others aim to transition veterans into civilian careers within the private sector, bringing their training and skills into the workplace. Some military scholarships may require veterans or dependents to pursue a career in either the public or private sector.

While the GI Bill helps veterans cover a degree’s costs, the benefits do not always extend to their family members. However, military scholarships work differently. Family members and dependents support military members while they serve, so many military scholarships support family members when they attend college.

Scholarships for dependents may set specific requirements. For example, the scholarship may require that only children of active military and veterans apply, Other scholarships may accept spouses or even grandchildren of veterans. Spouses and children of veterans can also secure more than one military scholarship.

By only allowing military members, veterans, spouses, and dependents to apply for military scholarships, these scholarships offer far less competition than other scholarships. Despite offering large financial awards to learners, military scholarships accept a relatively low number of applicants.

Military scholarships also prioritize service time and individual character over other factors like GPA, academic merit, or previous education. This makes military scholarships more accessible to all veterans and dependents. Many organizations offer military scholarships, so veterans can apply to plenty of different scholarships, increasing their chances of winning an award.

A domestic section of the Army that serves the entire country and local communities, the National Guard allows members to serve part time. Many members work full time or attend college. To reward members for their service, the National Guard organizes several scholarships to cover some or all of learners’ costs.

Dedicated Army National Guard (DEDNG) Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This award helps National Guard members cover the cost of their tuition, room and board, books, and miscellaneous fees with multiple awards. Learners can use this award for up to four years, though the award does not combine with the GI Bill’s Chapter 1606/MGIB-SR or Chapter 1607/REAP.
Amount: Full tuition or $10,000

Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty (GRFD) Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Created for learners entering their junior year of college, this scholarship awards students for up to two years. Winners choose between a full-tuition scholarship or $10,000 toward room and board. Students also win money for books, an allowance for 10 months of the year, and drill pay.
Amount: Full tuition or $10,000

School choice plays a pivotal role in scholarships for veterans and their dependents. Some schools maintain close connections with the military and offer special scholarships to learners who served. Many schools of interest could already be schools of interest, too.

Georgetown University – Mujica Graduate Student Veteran Stipend

Who Can Apply: Technically a grant that works similarly to military scholarships, this stipend awards a veteran (not a family member) with a one-time payment. Applicants must be enrolled in at least six credits in a graduate program through Georgetown’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Amount: $2,500

Texas A&M University – Anna and S. Ray Huffiness ’74 Military Appreciation Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Available to spouses and dependent children of veterans who lost their lives or became disabled during their service, this scholarship awards students annually. Applicants must apply for the scholarship each year they attend Texas A&M University.
Amount: Varies

University of Maryland, University College – Veterans Assistance Fund

Who Can Apply: This fund helps enrolled veterans cover costs beyond those covered by the GI Bill and federal financial aid. Applicants must be military veterans, complete at least nine undergraduate credits or six graduate credits, and maintain a 2.5 GPA.
Amount: Up to $3,000

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a nonprofit composed entirely of veterans and military service members, works to help members in various ways, including securing financial aid and compensation for veterans. Learners can find scholarship opportunities through their local VFW organization.

Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This scholarship recognizes veterans for their service through financial assistance. The scholarship awards up to $5,000, and the VFW only selects one winner each semester. Applicants must be veterans or active-duty military members who demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
Amount: Up to $5,000

Chartered by Congress in 1919, the American Legion aids patriotic veterans by developing a sense of patriotism and honor among the youth and communities. The organization relies heavily on volunteerism, and dependents with relevant volunteer experience could win a scholarship.

Legacy Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Only dependents whose military member parent died while on active duty after 9/11 or have been assigned a disability rating of 50% or greater may apply. Applicants can win this award up to six times.
Amount: $20,000

Samsung Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This scholarship awarded over $6.5 million since its creation in 1996. Only undergraduate students at the junior level who are descendants of veterans and attended Boys State or Auxiliary Girls State may apply. All finalists receive at least $1,250 in scholarships.
Amount: $1,250-$10,000

Veterans and active military from specific military branches could qualify for some military scholarships. These scholarships might also extend to dependents of those from specific military branches. Each branch organizes its own set of scholarships, including the opportunities below.

Airman Scholarship and Commissioning Program (ASCP)

Who Can Apply: Offered by the U.S. Air Force, this program awards active-duty Air Force members who enlist in the Force Reserve. Applicants may study toward a degree at any level.Amount: Up to $15,000

Spouse Education Assistance Program

Who Can Apply: Available to Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve members, this program helps spouses of active-duty military or veterans receive an undergraduate degree. Specific qualification requirements depend on the Army member’s services and current status.
Amount: Based on need

Aside from colleges, military branches, and veteran associations, some nonprofits dedicate themselves to supporting active military members, veterans, and family of service members. These military scholarships could help both those who serve and their dependents. Degree-seekers can explore dozens of these kinds of awards.

Air Force Association – Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Created to help minor dependents of active duty, veteran, reserve, or National Guard members of all branches (beyond just the Air Force), this program awards one scholarship to a single winner each year. The scholarship prioritizes applicants whose parent or guardian served for eight or more years, or whose parent died while serving on active duty.
Amount: $1,000

AMVETS – The AMVETS Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This scholarship looks for veterans, active duty, Guard or Reserve members, spouses, and dependents currently enrolled in high school. Applicants must plan on pursuing a full-time undergraduate, graduate, or technical degree. AMVETS selects winners based on academic merit and financial need.
Amount: Up to $12,000

FRA Education Foundation Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This scholarship awards roughly $90,000 each year to applicants based on academic merit, financial need, and leadership qualities. Applicants must be veterans or dependents of members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard.
Amount: Up to $5,000

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation – Undergraduate & Associate Degree Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Available to undergraduate learners, including those pursuing a non-degree certificate, this scholarship awards children and stepchildren of active duty, reserve, or veterans of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.
Amount: Based on financial need

National Military Family Association – Military Spouse Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Awarded one time per year, this scholarship helps spouses of active-duty military members and veterans further their education. Applicants may pursue nearly any type of education, including a degree, certificate, continuing education credits, and licensure.
Amount: $500-$2,500

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society – Education Assistance Grant

Who Can Apply: Offered either as grants or interest-free loans, this award helps students pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree pay for their education. Applicants must be children or spouses of active duty, retired, or deceased Sailors or Marines.
Amount: $500-$3,000

ThanksUSA – Helping Hand Scholarship

Who Can Apply: This one-time award helps cover educational costs for dependents or spouses of active-duty, discharged, or retired military members. Applicants need a 2.0 GPA on their most recent academic record. They may pursue a degree at any two-year, four-year, vocational, or trade school.
Amount: $3,000

Unlike nonprofits, for-profit organizations offer awards to military members even though the organization’s line of work may be unrelated to veterans. While more difficult to find than nonprofit scholarships, veterans and dependents can still find military scholarships through for-profit organizations.

Bonsai Finance Scholarship

Who Can Apply: Veterans, active-duty military members, and direct dependents may apply for this scholarship. Applicants must plan on pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational/technical degree and must not already hold a bachelor’s degree. Bonsai Finance issues a one-time award to one winner each year.
Amount: $1,000