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Uncover Ways to Pay for School: Army College Scholarships

College Scholarships for Army Veterans and Service Members

As previously reported, in seeking higher education scholarships for military, it can be beneficial to look for specific ones that are only open to an explicit group of people. In our next part of branch specific scholarships, we’re going to dive into those that are open only to Army personnel and their family members.

Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

With the F. Edward Hébert Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, the U.S. Army will help qualified students by paying for up to 4 years of full tuition when obtaining an accredited health-field degree (medical, veterinary, psychology, optometry, dental, specialty nursing, etc.). Recipients also qualify for a monthly stipend of $2,200 and the potential of a $20,000 sign-on bonus. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

• • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
  • Have an acceptance letter/be enrolled in an accredited graduate program in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
  • Maintain full-time status during the entire length of the enrolled program
  • Qualify as a commissioned officer

For more info, please visit our Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) page.

Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program

This program hands out a total of four scholarships each year to past and present women soldiers (U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, or Army National Guard), as well as their female children. Each scholarship holds differing qualifying criteria, but all are awarded towards coursework at accredited institutions only and are based on a combination of merit, academic potential, community service, financial need, and letters of recommendation.

• • Certificate and Community College Programs: High school graduate with a minimum 2.5 GPA; up to $1,000
  • College/University Program: Currently enrolled at a higher education institution and completed at least 30 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.0; up to $3,000.
  • Graduate Program: possess an undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 and also enrolled/accepted into a graduate-level program (Masters or Doctoral); up to $3,000

For more info, please visit their website.

Army Nurse Corps Association Scholarship (ANCA)

The purpose of the ANCA Scholarship is to provide financial support to students enrolled in accredited bachelor’s or master’s nursing or anesthesia degree programs. This financial assistance is open to a variety of U.S. citizens: current active duty or honorably discharged soldiers (any rank or component of the Army), spouses or children of current or previous Army service members, or parents to current or previous Army service members. You cannot already be receiving other funding for higher education from the Army (for example: ROTC scholarship students or recipients of full GI Bill benefits). The award varies, but this year it was $3,000 per recipient sent directly to the student’s enrolled institution.

For more info, please visit their website.

HIP Pocket Scholarship

This is the Army ROTC “Green to Gold” scholarship program for soldiers to “earn while you learn.” This provides an opportunity for active duty Army service members to complete their bachelor’s degree and obtain commission at the same time.

Division commanders nominate two, three, and four-year scholarships under the HIP Pocket program to soldiers who exhibit potential for continued, outstanding service to the U.S. Army as an officer.

There are a number of qualifying indicators, but most notable are you must:

• • Be under 31 years old
  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Not be on a temporary/permanent PT profile
  • Have either a minimum GPA of 2.5 (for college-attending soldiers) or a minimum SAT of 1000 and/or ACT of 19 (if no college-level coursework has been completed).

The scholarship will cover full tuition, provide a book and supply stipend of $1,200, and supply a monthly living expense of $420 for up to 10 months per year.

For full details, please visit this link.

RELATED: Army Green to Gold Program

Army Emergency Relief Scholarships (AER)

AER opens its two scholarship programs to DEERS-listed dependent spouses and children of U.S. Army soldiers (active duty, deceased active, retired, deceased retired, medically retired, grey area retiree, AGR, and ARNG/USAR on Title 10 orders). Those applying must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree at an accredited institution (some trade schools are accepted), and children applying must be under the age of 24.

• • Patty Shinseki Souse Scholarship Program: May receive assistance for up to four academic years of full-time or eight academic years of part-time with re-application each year. Award amounts vary each year depending on the number of applicants, total approved scholarship budget, the applicant’s Expected Family Contribution (per FAFSA) and the average cost of attendance.
  • MG James Ursano Scholarship Program: Need-based assistance established to assist children for up to four academic years as long as they reapply each year and continue to meet eligibility criteria. Award amounts vary each year based on the number of applicants, total approved scholarship budget, the Expected Family Contribution (per FAFSA), and the average cost of attendance.  For the 2019-2020 academic year, awards ranged from $500 to $3,400.

What is the AER Scholarship award amount?

Scholarship awards vary each year based on the total number of applicants in each program and budget amount allotted to the scholarship program.

For more info, please visit their website.

Society of Daughters of the United States Army Scholarship

Merit-based awards are presented annually in the amount of (renewable) $1,500 scholarships. Eligibility is open to daughters, granddaughters, stepdaughters, or adopted daughters of active- duty, 20-year retirees, medical retirees, or deceased while active-duty career commissioned or warrant officers of the U.S. Army. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on their most current academic work, planning to attend or already attending an accredited U.S. institution, and submit proof of academic achievement, community involvement and/or leadership potential.

For more info, please visit their website.

Army Engineer Spouses Club Awards

The Army Engineer Spouses Club Awards do not seem to be available currently! 

The Spouse’s Club provides two main types of scholarships to family members of U.S. Army Engineers.

• • Army Engineer Memorial Awards: Candidates eligible for these merit-based awards may be any U.S. citizen-graduating high school student whose sponsor, parent, or legal guardian is a U.S. Army/National Guard/Reserve Engineer (active duty, retired or deceased), a current employee of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has a parent who’s a current member of the Army Engineer Spouses Club.
  • Geraldine K. Morris Award: Candidates eligible for these merit-based awards may be any U.S. citizen-graduating high school student who enrolls in a nursing program leading to a degree or certification. The student’s sponsor, parent, or legal guardian must be a U.S. Army/National Guard/Reserve Engineer (active duty, retired or deceased), a current employee of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has a parent who’s a current member of the Army Engineer Spouses Club.

For more info, please visit their website.

82nd Airborne Division Association Education Fund

While the original purpose of the 82nd Airborne Division Association was born out of comradery, it eventually made pointed efforts towards a constructive, positive project to render financial assistance to dependent children of 82nd Airborne Division troops killed in action. Over the years it has evolved, and today the educational fund gives out two main classifications of scholarships.

One classification is for dependent children of Airborne Veterans, who are voting LIFE members of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. The other is any former active duty 82nd Airborne Division Trooper, who is an Association LIFE Member of a Veteran Chapter, within two years of honorable discharge/release from active duty, and having served no more than two tours of duty.

The applicant must be intent on pursuing a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution and must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester.

Eligibility is further based on a combination of financial need and academic excellence.

The scholarship amount will not exceed $2,000 per year, and it is paid directly to the recipient’s university. The application deadline is October 15th of each year – see the website for the application and additional details.

For more info, please visit their website.

Army Aviation Association of America Foundation (AAAA) Scholarship

The AAAA Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit that was established to render financial assistance for the college-level education of members of the AAAA. Spouses, children, grandchildren, and unmarried siblings of current and deceased AAAA members are also eligible. The scholarships are merit-based, with applicants being judged on academic achievement, leadership, volunteer service, work experience, and essay responses; the possible award ranges from $1,000 to $12,000. The applicant must be attending an accredited college or university or be selected for fall entry as an undergraduate or graduate. The next round of applications opened up on September 1st and is due in December  – for application and additional details, visit their website.

For more info, please visit their website.

Green Beret Foundation Scholarships (GBF)

The GBF provides three scholarships for qualifying applicants that intend to pursue an undergraduate degree:

• • DOL1 Scholarship is for children of Special Forces Non-Commissioned Officers.
  • DOL2 Scholarship is for the children of Special Forces Warrant Officers.
  • DOL3 Scholarship is for the children of Special Forces Commissioned Officers.

For all scholarships, applicants must have already been accepted by or currently attending an accredited college, university, or vocational institution. Additionally, applicants must have at minimum at 2.5 GPA and must provide a 500-1000 word personal statement, letters of reference, and a resume of community service/honors/extracurriculars. Applications are accepted in late spring to early summer, and if accepted, the award is sent directly to the recipient’s institution.

For more info, please visit their website.

Association of the United States Army Scholarships (AUSA)

With membership open to all ranks and components of the U.S. Army, the AUSA offers a wide range of scholarship offerings to its members:

• • Delta Dental Oral Health and Wellness – Ten $2,000 scholarships are available for a total of $20,000. To be eligible, you must be pursuing a program such as dentistry, nursing, home healthcare aid, or caregiver training.
  • Joseph P. and Helen T. Cribbins – Two $10,000 scholarships are available for a total of $20,000. To be eligible, you must be pursuing a degree in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
  • SMA Leon Van Autreve – Eight of these scholarships are available: one $25,000, one $10,000, one $5,000, and five $2,000 scholarships, for a total of $50,000. Eligibility is determined for highly motivated and educated professionals who wish to dedicate themselves to service to the Nation and pursue self-improvement.

**This is not a comprehensive list – additional information for these scholarships and more can be found on the AUSA website.**

These scholarships are intended to render financial assistance for student enrollment in a college-level institution, and as such, will be sent directly to the recipient’s institution. The next round of applications opens up in February.

For more info, please visit their website.

Army ROTC Scholarships

ROTC stands for Reserve Officer Training Corps. The Army ROTC program can help pay for your education, while you become a commissioned officer in the Army Reserve after you complete your schooling.  This program is available at over 1,100 great institutions nationwide.  Some great perks of the ROTC program are the ability for students to have a more traditional college experience, but with no tuition debt after completion.  Army ROTC scholarships and stipends will cover 100% of your college tuition.

Military Tuition Assistance

Again, we can’t neglect to mention Army Tuition Assistance (TA). While there are a few standard regulations for TA across all services ($250 per semester hour, with a yearly cap), each branch has different rules governing TA.

The basic usage limits for the Army are:

• • Maximum of $4,000 per year
  • Up to 130 semester hours toward an undergraduate degree
  • Up to 39 semester hours toward a graduate degree
  • Up to 21 semester hours toward a certificate.

Any soldiers considering using their TA should set up an account on ArmyIgnitED and utilize the tools available for career planning. Exploring more individualized assistance can be done by reaching out to the counselors at your on-base education center.

RELATED: Tuition Assistance Overview: Everything You Need to Know

 

While these are viable examples of Army-specific options that you can research based on your circumstances, they certainly aren’t the only Army scholarships available if you are planning to enroll in a military friendly college. Additionally, there are a number of other military-related scholarships out there, and it’s possible you can even find other specialty or personally-catered possibilities as well. Utilize your local base education services and online resources to discover a plethora of potential sources.

 

 

RELATED:

• Army Education Programs
• College Scholarships for Military and Veterans
• Scholarships for Air Force Service Members and Veterans
• Army Emergency Relief Scholarship Update
• Scholarships for Military & Veteran Dependents
• Army ROTC Scholarships and List of Colleges