Top 35 Scholarships for First Responders and their Families in March 2026

The NYS Memorial Scholarship is open to current undergraduates in New York State who are the children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers who have died as the result of injuries sustained in the line of duty in service to the State of New York. Applicants must have graduated from a high school or received a high school equivalency diploma in the United States. Recipients will be granted either the cost of attendance at a state-operated SUNY or the actual cost of attendance at their university, whichever is lower. If you're an undergraduate student in New York State and have lost a guardian or spouse as a result of injuries sustained while serving the State of New York, we encourage you to apply. Honor their legacy today and take a positive step toward your future.Show Less

Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and clergy are important members of our communities who provide leadership and service. If you're the son or daughter of one of these professionals, then you could qualify for the Bright Lights Scholarship! To be eligible for this $2,000 scholarship, applicants must be the child of a firefighter, law enforcement officer, or clergy member and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75. Applicants should also demonstrate financial need and be enrolled (or have plans to enroll) as a full-time student at a two-year or four-year college or university. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, textbooks, or required course-related materials. If you sound like a fit for this scholarship, don't hesitate to cash in on this excellent opportunity to help fund your education! While you're at it, explore other scholarships for high school seniors and scholarships for college students available through Scholarships360.Show Less

The Helen Dyar King Scholarship program awards active, former members, or dependents of personnel in the armed services or law enforcement residing in Arizona. College students and high school seniors who are U.S. citizens are welcome to apply.Show Less

The Sgt. Tim Chapin Memorial Scholarship is offered to graduating high school seniors or current college students from Hamilton County in Tennessee. Students who are 23 years old or younger and whose parents/guardians are active Chattanooga Police officers in good standing and active member of the Rock City FOP Lodge #22 are eligible to apply.Show Less

First responders serve a necessary, and sometimes dangerous, role, being responsible for providing initial help during moments of crisis. If your spouse or guardian has served such a role, as either a firefighter, law enforcement officer, paramedic (or more), and sustained an injury or been left deceased during active duty, Folds of Honor would like to honor their service by providing you an educational scholarship. The Folds of Honor First Responder Scholarships annually awards up to $5,000 to the spouses or descendants of First Responders who sustained a catastrophic injury during their career. Applicants may be in any grade, from K-12 all the way to graduate school, as long as they have a minimum 2.0 GPA. While primary school students may use the scholarship for private tutoring or K-12 tuition, post-secondary students may use it for any tuition-related expense. Bear in mind that the adopted children of First Responders are also eligible. If you'd like to find similar scholarship opportunities, consider checking out these firefighters scholarships and law enforcement scholarships. Keep on reading to learn more, and good luck with your scholarship search!Show Less

The Dearborn Ranch Montana Highway Patrol Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors who are children, biological or adopted, of active Montana Highway Patrol officers. Students who are seeking a professional certification, associate, or bachelor's degree are encouraged to apply.Show Less

The 9/11 Promise Scholarship is awarded to children of fallen first responders/military service members and children of first responders/military service members who are certified as unable to work. Students under the age of 25 are welcome to apply.Show Less

Public safety officers are a crucial part of keeping our local communities safe and healthy. In recognition of the valuable work done by law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs, the Arizona Community Foundation is offering this scholarship to public safety or fire employees and their family members. Worth up to $10,000, the 100 Club of Arizona Scholarship is open to sworn or certified public safety or fire employees of any local, municipal, county, state, federal or tribal agency in Arizona and their immediate family members (including children, spouses, and stepchildren). To be eligible, applicants must also have a minimum GPA of 2.8 and actively participate in community service. If you sound like a fit for this scholarship, we encourage you to apply! Plus, don’t forget to explore Scholarships360 for similar scholarships! There are plenty of other scholarships for Arizona residents and community service scholarships available through our platform. Happy applying!Show Less

Are you a Missouri college student and public safety officer who has been left disabled in the line of duty? Alternatively, are you the child or spouse of a public employee who was left killed or disabled in the line of duty? If so, consider applying for the Public Safety Officer or Employee's Child Survivor Grant Program. The program is open to college students under 24 years of age in Missouri who either have been left disabled themselves or have a relative who was left disabled or killed in the line of duty. Missouri's Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development provides this program to provide support to public employees and their families, especially those who have experienced hardships and challenges. Thus, every year, the Department awards multiple applicants with funding to partially cover their tuition at a Missouri college or university. If you or a family member has been killed or disabled in the line of duty, you may be eligible for this opportunity. Show Less

The Criminal Justice Scholarship Program was established by the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association to assist students who are dependents of law enforcement officials or who are studying in the criminal justice field and express an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement. Applicants must be North Carolina residents enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours in an undergraduate degree granting criminal justice program at one of the institutions of The University of North Carolina or the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. To apply, students must receive a recommendation from their local sheriff and complete and submit an application. If you're a North Carolinian with a passion for keeping the public safe, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more!Show Less

Introducing the UChicago Police and Fire Scholarship, a prestigious opportunity for the children of the U.S.'s public safety officers who are attending the University of Chicago. UChicago is proud to honor their sacrifice by offering full-tuition, four-year scholarships to the children of such officers. This scholarship is open to high school seniors who have been accepted to UChicago and are the children of currently active or fallen professional police officers or firefighters. Students whose parents have lost their lives in the line of duty are also eligible. To be considered, no extra materials are required beyond applying for admission. Keep on reading to learn more!Show Less

Are you a Montana resident and undergraduate student who is the dependent or spouse of a Montana Firefighter or Peace Officer who was killed in the course and scope of employment? If so, you may be eligible for the Montana University System Surviving Dependents of Montana Firefighters/Peace Officers Waiver. Each year, the waiver is awarded to multiple undergraduate students from Montana whose guardians/spouses were Montana Firefighters or Peace Officers who passed away on the job. Recipients may continue to receive these waivers for additional years if they "make reasonable academic progress." If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply. Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

The Hundred Club of Dayton Scholarship program awards need-based scholarships to children of full-time firefighters and police officers who are active, retired, disabled, or deceased. Graduating high school seniors who participate in extracurricular activities, community service, and employment are encouraged to apply.Show Less

The Charles Homer Barton Memorial Scholarship is open to children of active and retired police officers in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Virginia. Applicants should be seeking an associate or bachelor's degree. Students able to demonstrate academic achievement and community service are welcome to apply. Children of police officers killed in the line of duty receive primary consideration.Show Less

The Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship is open to residents of northern Virginia. Applicants must have ties to their local police, fire, or EMT department as a professional, active volunteer, or dependent of a professional or active volunteer. High school seniors who are "active volunteer" first responders receive special consideration.Show Less

First responders such as law enforcement members, firefighters, public safety and emergency personnel have difficult jobs that sometimes require their lives to be put on the line in order to help their communities. To thank first responders, the High on Heroes scholarship offers scholarship assistance to family members of first responders employed in Kalamazoo County, Michigan.  Children or grandchildren of a currently employed or retired certified law enforcement officer, certified firefighter, licensed EMT or first responder, or licensed paramedic employed within Kalamazoo County are eligible for the $1,000-$2,000 High on Heroes scholarship. Eligible applicants should have a minimum 2.5 GPA and be enrolled part or full-time to earn a certificate, associate or bachelor’s degree.  If you do not live in Kalamazoo County, there are additional law enforcement and firefighter scholarships on Scholarships360 as well as general Michigan scholarships. Be sure to apply to as many scholarships as you are eligible for through Scholarships360 to lessen your cost of education! Happy applying! Show Less

The Hyannis Fire Department Educational Scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors and current college students who have a parent serving in the Hyannis Fire Department in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. Students who are seeking an associate or bachelor's degree are encouraged to apply. Applicants planning to prepare for a career in public safety receive special consideration.Show Less

Born and raised in Prince George County, Bobby Owen passed away at the age of thirty-eight as the result of an automobile accident. Because of his willingness to help others in times of emergency, Bobby's family and friends established this $4,000 scholarship to support local students interested in pursuing a career as a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical provider. To be eligible, students must reside in Prince George County, the Enon District of Chesterfield County, or Varina. Students must also express an interest in pursuing a becoming a firefighter, police officer, or emergency medical provider. Applicants who have volunteered as a junior fireman, junior policeman, or an emergency responder are also eligible. Students who are dependents of such professionals are welcome to apply as well. Financial need and academic achievement (minimum 3.0 GPA) are also considered. If you sound like a fit for this scholarship, there are plenty of other similar scholarships you may be interested in as well! Scholarships360 offers many scholarships for firefighters and scholarships for law enforcement studies. Apply today and take the first step toward securing financial aid for your future!Show Less

The Dr. Richard A. Grossman College Scholarship is awarded to children of current full-time employees at the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Graduating high school seniors or GED recipients enrolled or enrolling at a college or university seeking a professional certificate, associate, or bachelor's degree are encouraged to apply. Special consideration is given to applicants who are prior recipients of the scholarship.Show Less

The University of Chicago’s Chicago Police and Fire Scholarship is open to high school seniors who've been accepted to the University of Chicago and are the child (or the legally adopted children) of currently active, sworn Chicago Firefighters, Chicago Police Officers, or University of Chicago Police Officers. Students whose parent lost his or her life in the line of duty are also eligible to apply. Each winner is guaranteed up to full-tuition for four years of undergraduate studies (12 academic quarters), provided he or she makes satisfactory academic progress and remains enrolled full-time in the College. If you have a parent who served as a Chicago Public Safety Officer, we encourage you to apply and honor their legacy today.Show Less

The Oregon Deceased or Disabled Public Safety Officer Scholarship is offered to dependents of public safety officers in the state of Oregon who were killed or disabled in the line of duty. Students who wish to pursue a degree at a 2- or 4-year college or university in the state of Oregon are encouraged to apply.Show Less

Are you a high school senior or graduate who is a child of a California firefighter who died in the line of duty? If so, you may qualify for the Daniel A. Terry Scholarship. In honor of California Professional Firefighters, the scholarship aims to help the children of fallen firefighters fulfill their educational dreams. Every year, multiple college-bound high school seniors and graduates who are the children of fallen California firefighters are awarded a $3,000 scholarship to help them pay for tuition costs. Applicants must also be under 27 years of age to qualify. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years, granting up to $12,000 total to each recipient. If you are a child of a fallen firefighter in California, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

The FLEOA Foundation Scholastic Awards Program is seeking college-bound high school graduates (who graduated in the most recent academic year) who are the children of current, retired, or late members of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. Applicants whose parent/guardian is a current FLEOA member must have been an active member for at least the prior 2 years. Apply for a chance to receive this prestigious scholarship and further your academic pursuits. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to earn funding for your education.Show Less

Are you the child of a first responder? If so, you may be eligible for some of the First Responders Children’s Foundation Scholarships! The scholarships are open to children of police officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 911 dispatchers. However, bear in mind that some of the specific scholarships may have additional, unique eligibility criteria. To see if you're eligible, we recommend checking out the First Responders Children’s Foundation website. If so, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less

Are you the child of a current or former firefighter and are currently or will soon be attending a postsecondary institution? If so, the Fire Family Scholarship may be a great opportunity for you! Each year, the scholarship awards $5,000 to ten (10) children of current or former firefighters who are currently or will soon be attending a postsecondary institution. Applicants must also be under the age of 26, have a minimum 3.2 GPA, and be a Firefighters First Credit Union Member. If this scholarship sounds like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply! Keep on reading to learn more.Show Less