If you are a military veteran or active duty, you may be eligible for these scholarships and grants!

Scholarships for veterans can include specific scholarships for military veterans, active duty members of the armed services, and also children and spouses of veterans. It should be noted that these scholarships generally have a requirement that the service person in question was honorably discharged from the military.

Keep on reading to learn more about the various scholarships for veterans that can help pay for college.

Top scholarships for veterans

AFCEA War Veterans Scholarships

• Eligibility: Students must be on active duty or honorably discharged U.S. military veterans who are college sophomores or juniors. Students must also be studying an approved major (there is an extensive list on the scholarship website.
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline: November 15

AMVETS Scholarships

• Eligibility: US Military Veterans and their spouses
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: October 2

FRA Education Foundation Scholarships

• Eligilbity: Students must be full-time college students and veterans of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. If you are the spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran of the aforementioned service branches, you are also eligible
• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: Applications are available from September 1st through April 15th

Lint Center Scholarships

• Eligilbity: There are a variety of scholarships available for students with an interest in a career in national security, including some scholarships specifically for veterans.
• Amount: Up to $2,000
• Deadline: Applications are due in January and July

Veteranpreneur Business Grant

• Eligibility: Must be a service member, veteran, or the spouse of a service member or veteran with interest in a construction trade business
• Amount: $25,000 (four grants are awarded each year!)
• Deadline: November 15

WiseGeek No-Essay Military Appreciation Grant

• Eligibility: Active, former, or future service member of the US military who are U.S. Citizens or permanent legal residents
• Amount: $500
• Deadline: December 31

Scholarships for children and spouses of veterans

Some military scholarships support the children of veterans who have served in the armed forces. This may also extend to students who are the grandchildren (and sometimes even great great-children of a veteran) If you have a parent who was in a branch of the military, you may be eligible for these scholarships:

Army Scholarship Foundation Awards

• Eligibility: US citizens who are school seniors, high school graduates, or registered as undergraduate students with a 2.0 GPA or higher. Applicants can be sons, daughters, or spouses of regular active duty, honorable or medical discharge, or members who were killed while serving in the U.S. Army as well as active duty Reserve/National Guard U.S. Army members in good standing
• Amount: $1,000 per year (and some can be reapplied for each year)
• Deadline: April 15 of each year

AMVETS Scholarships

• Eligibility: US Military Veterans and their spouses
• Amount: $5,000
• Deadline: October 2

FRA Education Foundation Scholarships

• Eligilbity: Students must be full-time college students and veterans of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. If you are the spouse, parent, child, grandchild, or great-grandchild of a veteran of the aforementioned service branches, you are also eligible
• Amount: Up to $5,000
• Deadline: Applications are available from September 1st through April 15th

Google SVA Scholarship

• Eligibility: Open to  to student veterans who are planning to or already pursuing a higher education degree for computer science in the United States
• Amount: $10,000
• Deadline: December 4

Veteranpreneur Business Grant

• Eligibility: Must be a service member, veteran, or the spouse of a service member or veteran with interest in a construction trade business
• Amount: $25,000 (four grants are awarded each year!)
• Deadline: November 15

Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school senior who is the child, grandchild, niece or nephew of an Army Service Woman with a with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: February 2, 2021

What does the GI Bill do?

The GI Bill helps veterans and active duty service people pay for school. If you have served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for the educational benefits!

Notably, the GI Bill may cover the cost of public, in-state tuition and fees. The GI Bill rates for private and foreign colleges and universities is capped (this cap changes from year to year). The GI Bill also provides students with money for housing, books, supplies, and even moving expenses if they are moving from a rural part of the country.

Frequently asked questions

Are there grants for veterans applying for college?

Yes, students who are veterans are eligible for other types of financial aid including Pell Grants. Veterans, like all students, should always apply for financial aid with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Are there other scholarships I can apply for?

Veterans and active duty service members may be eligible for other scholarships including STEM Scholarships, Computer Science Scholarships, and Non-traditional Student Scholarships.

Recently expired Military Scholarships (check back next year!)

Ankin Law Military Scholarship

• Eligilbity: Military veterans and immediate family members (spouses, parents, children) who will be attending college, community college, or vocational/technical school in fall of 2020.
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: July 15th

Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program 

• Eligibility: Applicant must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard or the child of a woman who served honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard
• Amount: $1,000 to 2,500
• Deadline: January 15