As more men and women who serve in our United States military return home from deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq, an increased number of public and private organizations are offering scholarships for veterans to smooth the difficult transition back into civilian life.
Regardless of military branch, academic scholarships for military personnel, veterans, and their families are one of the best ways that the nation demonstrates honor, respect, and gratitude to their service for our freedom. In addition to the standard G.I. Bill and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, the following are 25 excellent scholarships for veterans that give servicemen and women greater access to a low-cost education to reach civilian life goals.
1. AFCEA Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters USMC Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: September 15th
Each year, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational Foundation presents the $2,000 Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters USMC Memorial Scholarship to men and women in the U.S. Marine Corps who are either currently on active duty or honorably discharged veterans. Eligible candidates for the award must be planning to study electrical, aerospace, systems, or computer engineering, computer science, mathematics, or physics at an accredited undergraduate U.S. institution.
Contact
AFCEA Sergeant Jeannette L. Winters USMC Memorial Scholarship
4400 Fair Lakes Court
Fairfax, VA 22033
(703) 631-6149
scholarship@afcea.org
2. Army Aviation Association of America Scholarships
Deadline: May 1st
The Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) offers scholarships and interest-free loans annually to members of the association as well as spouses, unmarried siblings, unmarried children, and unmarried grandchildren of current or deceased members. While some of the scholarships are reserved specifically for warrant officers, enlisted, or Department of the Army civilian members, all eligible candidates must be currently attending or accepted for entry at an accredited institution within the United States.
Contact
Army Aviation Association of America Scholarships
593 Main St.
Monroe, CT 06468
(203) 268-2450
aaaa@quad-a.org
3. Barry J. Barton Vietnam Veteran/Agent Orange Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
At Frostburg State University, the Barry J. Barton Vietnam Veteran/Agent Orange Scholarship is granted to full-time undergraduate students enrolled at the university who are Vietnam veterans or descendants of a Vietnam veteran. In order to be eligible for the renewable scholarship for $1,500 each academic year, candidates must carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, demonstrate financial need, and submit a copy of their DD214 certificate as proof of eligibility.
Contact
Barry J. Barton Vietnam Veteran/Agent Orange Scholarship
100 Braddock Rd.
Frostburg, MD 21532
(301) 687-4301
fsufinaid@frostburg.edu
4. Cumberland Lions Club Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
Sponsored by the Cumberland Lions Club Foundation, this scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen enrolling full-time at Frostburg State University who are veterans and residents of Cumberland, Maryland. As a $1,000 one-time nonrenewable scholarship only offered in the first year of studies, the scholarship is granted to individuals who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, demonstrate financial need, and submit a copy of their DD214 certificate or discharge papers as proof for military service.
Contact
Cumberland Lions Club Foundation Scholarship
100 Braddock Rd.
Frostburg, MD 21532
(301) 687-4301
fsufinaid@frostburg.edu
5. Datatel Angelfire Scholarship
Deadline: January 30th
Sponsored by the leading provider of information management solutions for higher education institutions to students enrolled in client colleges, the Datatel Angelfire Scholarship is awarded to full-time undergraduate students who have served in the military within a combat situation. In the application process for the $1,700 award, eligible applicants must submit an online application, an 800 to 1,000-word scholarship essay responding to an appropriate prompt, information about civic and military involvement, and two letters of recommendations.
Contact
Datatel Angelfire Scholarship
4375 Fair Lakes Court
Fairfax, VA 22033
(801) 257-4233
ceri.jones@ellucian.com
6. Education for Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
Deadline: Varies
Established by the Michigan Trust Fund under Public Act 248, the Education of Children of Veterans Tuition Grant is an undergraduate tuition assistance program for children of certain deceased or disabled members of the Armed Forces of the United States. In order to receive the renewable scholarship for up to $2,800 per academic year depending on enrollment status, eligible students must be between the ages of 16 and 26, have been Michigan residents for over one year, and be the biological or adopted child of a Michigan military veteran.
Contact
Education for Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
P.O. Box 30462
Lansing, MI 48909
(888) 447-2687
osg@michigan.gov
7. Freedom Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Deadline: March 22nd
At Dakota State University, the Freedom Memorial Endowed Scholarship is offered by the DSU Foundation’s Scholarship Office to continuing students enrolled part-time or full-time in a university degree program who are serving in the military or are service veterans with honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces. Eligible applicants for the award must be U.S. citizens, be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and demonstrate continued financial need.
Contact
Freedom Memorial Endowed Scholarship
820 North Washington Avenue
Madison, SD 57042
(605) 256-5141
scholarships@dsu.edu
8. General Emmett Paige Scholarships
Deadline: November 1st
The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational Foundation offers up to 20 General Emmett Paige Scholarships annually for $2,000 each to students who are on active duty in the uniformed military service, military veterans, and/or dependent on a person currently on active duty. Eligible candidates for the award must be planning to study electrical, aerospace, systems, or computer engineering, computer science, mathematics, or physics at an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Contact
General Emmett Paige Scholarships
4400 Fair Lakes Court
Fairfax, VA 22033
(703) 631-6149
scholarship@afcea.org
9. Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver
Deadline: Varies
The Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver is awarded annually to Montana residents who are military service veterans and are undergraduate or graduate students enrolled full-time at one of the campus locations within the public Montana University System. To qualify for the full tuition waiver award, candidates must have received an honorable discharge, have at one time qualified for veteran benefits under Title 28, be classified as an in-state student with Montana residence, demonstrate financial need, and have served during a time of war.
Contact
Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver
Lommasson Center 218
Missoula, MT 59812
(406) 243-5373
faid@mso.umt.edu
10. Japanese American Veterans Association Memorial Scholarships
Deadline: May 1st
Each year, ten Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) Memorial Scholarships are given in the amount of $1,500 each to high school graduates of Japanese ancestry who are direct lineal descendants of a military service member who served in the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team or U.S. Military Intelligence Service during or after World War II. Along with the application, applicants must submit a copy of a letter of admission at an accredited institution, a 500-word essay, high school transcript, letters of recommendation, and documentation of extra-curricular involvement.
Contact
Japanese American Veterans Association Memorial Scholarships
2111 Robin Way Court
Vienna, VA 22182
(703) 229-3198
brucehollywood@gmail.com
11. John Ringlbauer UCLA Veteran’s Scholarship
Deadline: May 15th
At the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the John Ringlbauer Veteran’s Scholarship is offered as an annual award for full-time enrolled student veterans who honorably served the United States through enlistment in the Armed Forces. With preference given to those who made the strongest dedication or sacrifice during their service, eligible candidates must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program, demonstrate financial need, submit a FAFSA form, provide a letter of recommendation, and compose a 500-word essay.
Contact
John Ringlbauer UCLA Veteran’s Scholarship
233 Covel Commons
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 206-2875
faoscholarships@saonet.ucla.edu
12. Lest We Forget POW MIA KIA Scholarship
Deadline: May 1st
Presented by the Maine Community Foundation to assist Vietnam veterans or other military veterans and their descendants in reaching their college education dreams, the Lest We Forget POW MIA KIA Scholarship is designed for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who are legal residents of Maine. Offered at any undergraduate level from freshman to senior year, the award is only granted to military veterans with honorable discharge who are taking post-secondary level training or education at an accredited institution.
Contact
Lest We Forget POW MIA KIA Scholarship
245 Main St.
Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207) 667-9735
jwarren@mainecf.org
13. Marine Corps League of Dixon Scholarship
Deadline: June 1st or October 15th
At Sauk Valley Community College, the Marine Corps League of Dixon Scholarship is available to enrolled students who are honorably discharged veterans, reservists, and members of the active duty military services of the United States Armed Forces. With the $350 award granted for both the fall and spring semesters to cut the costs of tuition, the scholarships is only intended for veterans who are currently attending classes at SVCC on a part-time or full-time basis.
Contact
Marine Corps League of Dixon Scholarship
173 Illinois Route 2
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 288-5511
foundation@svcc.edu
14. Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship
Deadline: February 13th
For members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) who have received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds suffered in combat, this scholarship is offered to high school graduates who are accepted for full-time undergraduate enrollment at a U.S. institution and have demonstrated advanced academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 2.75 or better. In addition, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship is granted to spouses, widows, or direct lineal descendants of service members killed in action.
Contact
Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship
5413-B Backlick Rd.
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 642-5360
scholarship@purpleheart.org
15. Munith Fitchburg Veterans Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: April 1st
The Munith Fitchburg Veterans Memorial Scholarship is provided by the Jackson Community College Foundation for student veterans or immediate descents of military veterans who are legal residents of Michigan. For enrolled JCC students who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, the application process involves the submission of an essay briefly explaining academic goals, the most recent grade transcript, a FAFSA form, and the DD214 certificate as proof to military veteran status.
Contact
Munith Fitchburg Veterans Memorial Scholarship
2111 Emmons Rd.
Jackson, MI 49201
(517) 787-0244
robinsobrigetta@jccmi.edu
16. New York State Veterans Tuition Awards
Deadline: May 1st
For Vietnam, Persian Gulf, or Afghanistan military veterans, the New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) offers the Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) program to provide tuition assistance for an approved program at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution within the state. In order to be eligible for the awards up to the maximum of $5,895 annually, candidates must be legal New York residents, be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and be charged at least $200 tuition per year.
Contact
New York State Veterans Tuition Awards
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12255
(518) 473-1574
kcrowder@hesc.ny.gov
17. NFMC Lucille Parrish Ward Veteran’s Award
Deadline: June 1st
Each year, the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) honors former students who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and aspire to resume their studies in the pursuit of a successful career related to music with the Lucille Parrish Ward Veteran’s Award. Along with the completed application, eligible candidates must enclose a copy of their discharge papers from the Armed Forces as proof of overseas service, six letters of recommendation showing worthiness, a small application fee, and one 30-minute performance or audition CD.
Contact
NFMC Lucille Parrish Ward Veteran’s Award
1646 West Smith Valley Rd.
Greenwood, IN 46142
(317) 882-4003
dilltrp@gmail.com
18. North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs Scholarships
Deadline: June 30th
In appreciation for the military service and sacrifices of North Carolina’s war veterans, the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs hosts a four-year scholarship program at approved state schools to reduce the financial burden of higher education costs. Eligible applicants under the age of 25 years old must be qualifying natural or adopted children prior to age 15 of deceased, disabled, combat, POW, or MIA veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces during a period of war for the renewable scholarships.
Contact
North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs Scholarships
1315 Mail Service Center
Albermarle Building Suite 1065
Raleigh, NC 27699
(919) 807-4250
scottmi@co.surry.nc.us
19. Pennsylvania Grants for Veterans
Deadline: Varies
Offered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), the Pennsylvania Grants for Veterans program grants the payment of educational gratuities for children of honorably discharged veterans who have been certified by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs as having wartime service-connected permanent disabilities. Eligible students must be between the ages of 16 and 23, living within the Commonwealth for at least five years, and attending an accredited approved institution in Pennsylvania.
Contact
Pennsylvania Grants for Veterans
P.O. Box 8157
Harrisburg, PA 17105
(717) 720-3786
parep160@aol.com
20. Ruark-Wright Scholarship for Veterans, Reservist, and Military Family Members
Deadline: Contact sponsoring organization
At California State University Monterey Bay, the Ruark-Wright Scholarship for Veterans, Reservist, and Military Family Members is offered to full-time undergraduate students who are considered veterans from active military duty or the reserves of any military branch, including spouses and children of veterans. In order to be eligible for the $1,000 award, candidates must be in good academic standing, submit a photocopy of their government-issued military identification card, and provide a copy of the veteran’s DD-214 papers.
Contact
Ruark-Wright Scholarship for Veterans, Reservist, and Military Family Members
Student Services Building 47
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955
(831) 582-2782
financial_aid@csumb.edu
21. Samsung American Legion Scholarships
Deadline: Varies
From an endowment fund established by the worldwide electronics leader Samsung to be administered by the American Legion, the Samsung American Legion Scholarships are awarded to high school juniors who are a child, grandchild, great-grandchild, or legally adopted child of a United States veteran who served the nation during a period of war. Eligible candidates for the $1,100 scholarships must complete either an American Legion Boys State or Auxiliary Girls State program to be considered. Winners are selected based on academic record, school involvement, community service, and financial need for assistance.
Contact
Samsung American Legion Scholarships
700 North Pennsylvania St.
P.O. Box 1055
Indianapolis, IN 46206
(317) 630-1200
scholarships@legion.org
http://www.legion.org/scholarships/samsung
22. SSGT Benton Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: May 14th
In recognition of students who have served in the United States Marine Corps, California State University at San Marcos grants the SSGT Benton Memorial Scholarship to full-time enrolled undergraduate veterans. With two scholarships of $2,500 each being made available for every academic year, eligible candidates must demonstrate financial need and attributes of merit, including scholastic achievement with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Contact
SSGT Benton Memorial Scholarship
Craven Hall Room 3900
333 South Twin Oaks Valley Rd.
San Marcos, CA 92096
(760) 750-4850
finaid@csusm.edu
23. Veteran’s Caucus Scholarships
Deadline: March 1st
Sponsored by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Veteran’s Caucus Scholarships are granted to military veterans who are planning to become a physician’s assistant and are currently enrolled in a physician assistant training program that has been approved by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHE). To decide the recipients for the numerous scholarships of up to $2,000 each, selection for this award is based on military honors, civic or college award, professional memberships, extra-curricular or community service activities, and academic record.
Contact
Veteran’s Caucus Scholarships
P.O. Box 362
Danville, PA 17821
(302) 526-7154
fbrace@veteranscaucus.org
24. Vietnam/Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award
Deadline: May 1st
Offered by the New York Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the Vietnam/Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award is granted to New York residents who served in the United States Armed Forces in Indochina between 1961 and 1975 or in the Persian Gulf during hostilities and have been discharged under honorable conditions. Eligible candidates for the renewable $1,000 scholarship must be full or part-time undergraduate students attending an approved institution within the state.
Contact
Vietnam/Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12255
(518) 473-1574
kcrowder@hesc.ny.gov
25. We Salute Our Troops – Desert Storm Scholarship
Deadline: March 1st
Each year, the College of Southern Maryland Foundation grants the We Salute Our Troops – Desert Storm Scholarship of varying amounts to students who are Desert Storm veterans and legal residents of Charles County in Maryland. In order to receive and retain this renewable award, eligible candidates must be in attendance at CSM on at least a half-time enrollment basis, possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and demonstrate financial need.
Contact
We Salute Our Troops – Desert Storm Scholarship
8730 Mitchell Rd.
P.O. Box 910
La Plata, MD 20646
(301) 934-7649
martina.arnold@csmd.edu
Since unemployment, devastating wounds, mental health disorders, homelessness, and lack of education are among the top challenges being faced by military veterans returning home from war, it is more important than ever before for servicemen and women to take advantage of available tuition assistance programs. Therefore, it is highly recommended that returning military members check out these scholarships for veterans to receive the education and employment opportunities they deserve.
Related Resources:
- Top 10 Online Colleges for Veterans
- 5 Careers in Which Veterans Excel
- 5 Factors Veterans Should Consider When Selecting Their Civilian Career
- 5 Great Bachelor’s Degree Areas of Study for Veterans
- 5 Mental Health Resources for Veterans
- 5 Things Veterans Should Know About Online College
- 5 Tips for Veterans to Be Successful in Online College
- Can I Use the G.I. Bill if I’m Active Duty?
- How Do Psychologists Help Veterans?
- Should Veterans Attend Online College?
- What are some Degrees that are Great for Veterans?
