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Military Spouse Scholarships & Grants

Updated | College Recon
military spouse scholarships

Scholarships and Grants for Military Spouses

If you are a military spouse and are thinking about going back to school, you might be wondering how you will pay for everything. College isn’t cheap but there are options such as MYCAA, or having your spouse spouse transfer their GI Bill to you. But beyond that, there are other options out there including scholarships for military spouses and families.

Here is a list of military spouse scholarships that you can apply for. See if you qualify, double-check when the applications are due, and make a plan for your career by going back to school.

List of Military Spouse Scholarships

Here is a list of some of possible scholarship options specifically for military spouses.

Corvias Foundation Scholarships for Active Duty Military Spouses

20 scholarships, Up to $5,000 per award

The Details: In order to apply for this scholarship you will need to have plans to attend a community, technical, or 4 year school as an undergraduate or graduate student.

You also must be the spouse of an active duty service member stationed at one of the following places:

  • Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
  • Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  • Fort Meade, Maryland
  • Fort Polk, Louisiana
  • Fort Riley, Kansas
  • Fort Rucker, Alabama
  • Fort Sill, Oklahoma

You may use this scholarship for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the course load. The money can also be used for childcare that is needed for your classes.

The Deadline: The scholarship is open in November of each year and then closes the following May.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Corvias

 

>> For more scholarships for military, veterans, spouses and dependents, please use the CollegeRecon Scholarship Finder.

 

National Military Family Association Military Spouse Scholarships

Average of $1,000

The Details: Must be a military spouse with a valid ID. You must be married to a service member who is active duty, in the Reserves or National Guard, medically retired, wounded or fallen service member, or dual service. Divorced applicants may also apply if they qualify for the 20/20/20 benefit.

This award may be used towards:

  • degrees
  • certifications
  • licensure
  • clinical supervision for mental health licensure
  • CEUs
  • business expenses
  • and more.

The award may not be used for books and materials, or student loans. You can reapply every year.

The Deadline: Scholarship applications are open year-round.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: NMFA website

Pat Tillman Foundation

Average of $10,000

The Details: This award is for spouses of active duty service members or veteran service members, including surviving spouses. You will need to be enrolled full-time in a degree program. This award is also only for those that are pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree.

You will also want to check to see if your school is a Pat Tillman Foundation University Partner. If so, they guarantee one Tillman Scholar per year and help facilitate the election process.

The award is good for tuition and fees, living expenses, and books.

The Deadline: The next application window should be open in February.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Pat Tillman Foundation

ThanksUSA Scholarships for Military Dependents and Spouses

$3,000 for educational expenses

The Details: You will need to be a spouse of a service member who has served full-time at least 180 days since 9/11/01. This includes members of all branches as well as Reservists who have been activated and National Guard members who have been federalized. Retired and discharged spouses are also able to apply if their service member served over 180 days after 9/11/01.

You will also need to be a high school senior or graduate who plans to enroll or is already enrolled in a full-time or part-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited 2 or 4-year college, vocational, or technical school. This would only be good for a first-time undergraduate degree. You can also use the award for non-degree license and certificate programs.

Purdue University Global also offers several scholarships through ThanksUSA for eligible military spouses.

The Deadline: The window for applying for this scholarship will be open from March 1st through April 15th.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: ThanksUSA

Veterans United Foundation Scholarship

10 one-time scholarships totaling up to $50,000

The Details: This scholarship is for surviving spouses from a service-related death or a spouse of a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability. You will need to be enrolled or plan to be enrolled in an associate’s, bachelor’s, graduate, post-graduate, or doctoral degree program. You will also need to be comfortable sharing part of your story.

The Deadline: March and October

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Veterans United

Hope for the Warriors Military Spouse Scholarship

Varies 

The Details: This scholarship is to identify, recognize and reward Post 9/11 spouses/caregivers for what they do in the face of adversity. The money awarded is to help aid in continuing education at a reputable, accredited university, college or trade school. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, and supplies.

Here are the different scholarships:

  • Honorary Scholarship – Awarded to those seeking a graduate or postgraduate degree.
  • Restoring Family Scholarship – Awarded to Spouses of the Fallen
  • New Beginnings Scholarship – Awarded to those pursuing entry-level classes or training.
  • Restoring Hope Scholarship – Awarded to an MSW Student
  • Restoring Self Scholarship – Awarded to those seeking any undergraduate degree.

The Deadline: April

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Hope For The Warriors

Folds of Honor

Up to $5,000

The Details: The Higher Education Scholarship is for spouses of service members who have been KIA, lost a limb, died while on active duty, or who have been classified as having a service-connected evaluation, rated by the VA. If your spouse is active duty, they will need to have received a Purple Heart or had a loss of limb.

You will need to be enrolled or planning to be enrolled in an undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor’s degree. Additionally, you will have to go to an accredited college or university. However, you can also be enrolled in an accredited technical or trade school program which results in a certificate or diploma, as long as you don’t already have a Bachelor’s degree. If you are enrolled part-time, the award will be half what it would have been if you were going full-time.

The award is based on “unmet need” which is the portion of your tuition, fees, on-campus dormitory housing, on-campus meal plans, and required textbooks for the term that are not covered by other sources.

The Deadline: March

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Folds of Honor

The Patriot Education Fund

Varies

The Details: This fund is for a spouse of an E1-E5, Post-9/11 military member. You must be eligible to receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, be accepted into a program, and demonstrate financial need. It can be used for certificate, trade, and vocational programs, undergraduate 4-year degrees, bachelor’s degrees, or other adequate accredited occupational programs of the 4-year level and under.

The Deadline: The application period is currently closed, but ends in May of each year.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Patriot Education Fund

The following scholarships are all branch-specific so make sure you are aware of that before you apply!

Mrs. Patty Shinseki Spouse Scholarship Program

Each year is different, between $500-$2,200

The Details: This award is for spouses of active duty or retired soldiers as well as widows(ers) to help them pursue their first undergraduate degree. The award is based on financial need, for full or part-time students attending an accredited college.

Keep in mind that you might not receive the full amount for the award if you receive aid from the GI Bill or other sources.

The Deadline: You can apply year-round and there is no deadline date. There are however different application windows.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: AERHQ

The Navy Wives Club of America-NMCCG Enlisted Dependent Spouse Scholarship

Two awards will be given out

The Details: This scholarship is for Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard spouses of active duty and retired service members. It is also open to widows and widowers of these service members. This is to help further your college education, vocational business, or other training.

The Deadline: Please send in your application by March 31st.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Navy Wives Club of America

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

Interest-free loans and grants between $500 and $3,000

The Details: This award is for undergraduate or post-secondary education at an accredited 2 or 4-year educational, technical, or vocational institution. You will need to be the spouse of an active duty or retired sailor or marine. You also need to be enrolled or planning to be enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited school. The award needs to be used for tuition, books, fees, and room and board.

The Deadline: May

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

AFA Mike & Gail Donley Spouse Scholarship program

Two scholarships, $2,500 each

The Details: This scholarship is to help Air Force spouses pursue their Associate’s, Bachelor’s, graduate or post-graduate degrees. Your spouse must be in the Air Force active duty, Air National Guard, or be an Air Force civilian employee.

The Deadline: Applications are due in April.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: AFA website

Delta Dental Grants

Five grants, $2,000 each

The Details: This is a grant from Delta Dental which provides scholarships and grants to military spouses, for the advancement of oral health and wellness. Eligible applicants must be pursuing a wide range of programs such as dentistry, nursing, home healthcare aid, or caregiver training. They are partnered with the Air Force Association (AFA.)

The Deadline: Applications are due in April.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: AFA website

The Coast Guard Foundation Lisa Cook Reed Spouse Education Scholarship

$500

The Details: This scholarship is for enlisted Coast Guard spouses in ranks, E3-E6 who will be studying at a nationally or regionally accredited educational institution. The award will cover books, school fees, transportation, as well as childcare costs.

The Deadline: March

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: Coast Guard Foundation

FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship

Scholarship amount: The costs of the AFC® training and testing.

The Details: This program provides military spouses the opportunity to earn the AFC® (Accredited Financial Counselor®) certification—while providing financial counseling and education to the military community. The fellowship covers the costs associated with completing the AFC® training and testing. Created in 2006, this opportunity is made possible through generous funding and support by FINRA Foundation, and in partnership with the National Military Family Association (NMFA).

Only full-time undergrad or graduate university students are eligible for this fellowship.

The Deadline: The application window will reopen in March.

Website for more information and to apply for this scholarship: AFCPE – FINRA Foundation

Your Local College

Varies

The Details: Make sure to check into your own college or university to see what they offer. They could have military spouse-specific scholarships or even general ones you can apply for.

Your Spouse’s Club

Varies

The Details: Don’t forget about the spouse’s club at your duty station. They might offer a scholarship you can apply for too.

Important Note

Please note some of these application deadlines will have passed when you read about them. Make sure to be aware of when the application window opens back up for the next year.

Scholarships for the Military Community

 

 

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