What Military Spouse Scholarships are Available for College?
Military spouse scholarships are one of the benefits available to military dependents. Scholarships for military spouses go to the husband or wife of a member of the nation’s armed forces. Also, while there are many military scholarships, they are not all for spouses too. There are active duty spouse scholarships for military students who want to transition into a civilian career.
Scholarships for military spouses are a valuable source of aid. They often help a military spouse pursue a post secondary degree and fulfill their career goals.
Unlike a loan, one usually does not have to pay back the funds. But one does have to abide by the terms that the scholarship comes with. Others may provide financial aid for college in return for service.
What is a Military Spouse?
A military spouse is the wife or husband of a service member. They can be spouses of active duty and veteran military members.
That said, there are a few forms that a scholarship for a military spouse might take. Some scholarships may offer to wives and husbands of currently serving military personnel. Others are scholarships for widows. These are for spouses of service members who died or became disabled while in service.
The U.S. Navy Marine Corps Relief Society grants one such award. The Gold Star Scholarship Program is for the dependent children and spouses of Navy and Marine personnel killed in the line of duty. Awards range from $500 to $2500 per academic year. The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society also provides education scholarships.
Many scholarships for military spouses will look at your financial need and GPA if you qualify. There are seven Uniformed Services which may have scholarships set aside for military spouses:
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Public Health Service
Navy
Do Military Spouses Receive Free College?
There are many resources in place to help military spouses pay for college. But whether college is ‘free’ depends on two main factors such as cost of attendance and amount of financial aid received.
One is the net cost of attending (COA) college or career school. Another, the amount of aid received. This varies between scholarships and other benefits that spouses may be eligible for.
Yes, it is possible to apply for several military spouse scholarships at once. But the amount of aid received cannot exceed the COA.
Can Military Spouses Get Tuition Assistance?
Each branch of the military offers education assistance programs. These are for their branch’s service members and dependents.
One example is the Spouse Education Assistance Program. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Army and offers a need based scholarship. It is for the spouses of Army soldiers who are pursuing an undergraduate degree.
Do Military Spouses Get College Benefits?
There are a range of college benefits for military spouses. One example is the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Program. MyCAA is an employment assistance program.
It provides up to $4,000 of financial help to eligible military spouses. Spouses must be pursuing a license, certification or Associates degree. It must be in a portable career field and occupation. There are lists of approved schools in each state. Many schools also offer a reduced tuition. Military spouses may enjoy this benefit too.
What does the GI Bill Cover for Military Spouses?
Military members may transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or dependent. It usually cover tuition, housing, books, and supplies. Then, the Department of Defense either approves or denies the request.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) also extends other benefits. These education benefits may go to dependents and survivors. They are also called Chapter 35 benefits. There are two main programs.
Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) assists military spouses. It is for children and spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. This military spouse scholarship may cover tuition, housing, books and supplies.
Another is the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program. It offers education and training to qualified dependents of Veterans.
Veterans who are disabled in a permanent and total way because of a service related condition or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition.
Who Offers Military Spouse Scholarships?
Many entities honor the service and sacrifices military members and their families make. Many state and federal governments, nonprofits and colleges may offer scholarships for military spouses.
At last check, 87% of dependents of service members and veterans receive financial aid if they qualify. Most were pursuing a degree at the undergraduate level. A wide range of military spouse scholarships come from branches of the military such as the Army, Navy and Marines. Others may also come from Federal and State governments.
You need to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It may award from $4,498 to $7,152.
Charitable foundations also extend scholarships to military spouses. The National Military Family Association offers military spouses who hold a valid military ID. Awards range from $500 to $1,000. Scholarship funds may be used towards degrees, certifications, and licensures.
Private donors, and individual colleges are yet another option. These may provide scholarships that also pertain to specific fields of study. One example is the Army Nurse Corps Association (ANCA) Scholarship. Military spouses who are also nursing or anesthesia students may apply.
List of Military Spouse Scholarships
Scholarships for military spouses may help the husbands and wives of enlisted service members and veterans. Check out our list of 7,692 awards worth $18M.
This award is available for Florida undergraduate students who are attending an eligible college or university in Florida. Students must be the dependent child or spouse or un-remarried widow(er) of a Florida veteran or service member who died as a result of service-connected injuries, diseases, or disabilities sustained while on active duty OR has been verified by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs as having service-connected 100 percent total and permanent disabilities OR is classified as a POW or MIA.
This scholarship is open to spouses of active duty or retired Army soldiers and widow(er)s of soldiers who died on active duty or in retired status to pursue their first undergraduate degree. Students must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher; scholarships are based on financial need.
This scholarship is available for current U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who are spouses of Air Force, Air National Guard, or Air Force Reserve members. Students must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
The Spouse/Caregiver Scholarship Program identifies, recognizes, and rewards post-9/11 spouses/caregivers for their strength, fidelity, and resolve despite adversity. Scholarships aid in continued education at a reputable, accredited university, college, or trade school. They are for spouses/caregivers.
The Pat Tillman Foundation unites and empowers remarkable military veterans. U.S. veteran or active military service members, or the spouses of veteran, active or deceased U.S. military servicemembers are eligible to apply for this award. Students must enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program and demonstrate financial need.
This award is for students attending vocational-technical classes at an accredited vocational-technical school. Students must be current members of American Military Retirees Association (AMRA), their spouses or dependent children, or their grandchildren (who can be claimed as dependents on their parents’ income tax return).
This scholarship is open to surviving spouses and children of fallen active-duty or veteran members of the United States Armed Forces. The student must be currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a college or university in the upcoming semester to pursue a trade or professional certificate, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, graduate, post-graduate or doctoral degree; the student must also demonstrate financial need.
The Chief Petty Officer Scholarship Fund is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity organization. Candidates eligible for scholarship awards are non-uniformed spouses and dependent children (natural born, adopted or stepchildren) of all Chief Petty Officers of the United States Navy.
Up to $5,000 are awarded to enlisted members of the U.S. such as Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pursuing college and graduate degrees. students must be full-time at accredited institutions. Military dependents such as spouses, children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of current or deceased may also apply.
These military dependent scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit through an application process that is evaluated by a committee. Gruber and Miller scholarships for veterans’ dependents are for one year only. But recipients can re-apply and receive the award up to four times. Click to learn more and apply today!
