8 Top Scholarships For Children Of Veterans
With the cost of college at historic highs, prospective students should look for every possible opportunity to save money. If one or both of your parents served in the military, you may want to consider applying to financial aid programs designed to help children of veterans.
Do You Know About These 10 Scholarships for Children of Veterans?
Children of American soldiers face a unique set of challenges—the cost of higher education should not be one of them. Fortunately, the number of scholarships available for military children continues to grow.
Given the fact that military children attend an average of six to nine different elementary and/or middle schools—and research suggests that students who bounce between schools often have unique needs—USC launched the Welcoming Practices Consortium. , which is funded by an initiative. Department of Defense education activities that ensure school districts and staff members have access to the tools they need to create welcoming and effective transition processes for students.
But what about aid in higher education? When considering the financial feasibility of college, service members and their families often overlook the more than $300 million in scholarships and grants specifically reserved for them.
With that in mind — and in honor of April being the Month of the Military Child — here are 10 college scholarships available to military children Of Veterans.
1. Army Scholarship Foundation
Army Scholarship Foundation scholarships average $1,000 and are awarded annually. Awards are available to undergraduate students attending an accredited college.
To be eligible for this award, students must have a parent who is an active or veteran military service member. They must have at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA), not already have a bachelor’s degree, and must be younger than 24 years old by the application deadline.
2. Children Of Veterans of the Coast Guard
Children Of Veterans who have active, reserve or retired Coast Guard parents are eligible for scholarships through the Coast Guard Foundation. These scholarships range from $2,000 to $5,000. More than 150 scholarships were awarded in 2021.
Children Of Veterans with a parent who died while on Coast Guard duty are eligible for the Fallen Heroes Scholarship, which covers 100% of the cost of attendance.
3. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation provides scholarships to children Of Veterans with parents in the Marine Corps. There are two types of awards: Children of the Fallen Scholarship and Children of the Wounded. The Children of the Fallen Scholarship pays $7,500 per year for four years, and the Wounded Children pays between $1,500 and $10,000 per year for four years.
To be eligible for any scholarship, a child must have a 2.0 GPA and attend one of the schools listed on the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator website. The household must also have an adjusted gross income of $112,000 or less for the 2021 tax year.
4. Fisher House Foundation
The Fisher House Foundation provides 500 scholarships annually, valued at $2,000 each, to children of service members. To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program and have a 3.0 high school GPA or 2.5 college GPA.
5. Wings Over America
Children of Navy personnel in the Department of Aviation are eligible for the Wings Over America Scholarship. Parents must have worked in that department for at least eight years and only undergraduate students are eligible. The exact scholarship amount varies, but the average is $5,000.
Students may reapply for the scholarship in multiple years, but renewal is not guaranteed. Funds may be used to cover tuition only.
6. Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society sponsors grants and interest-free loans for students with Navy or Marine Corps parents.
To qualify, students must be under 23 years of age, demonstrate financial need, maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher and be enrolled full-time at an accredited institution. Awards typically range from $500 to $3,000.
7. Children of the Warriors National President’s Scholarship
The American Legion Auxiliary provides scholarships to students whose parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the following periods:
Between April 6, 1917 and November 11, 1918
Any time after December 7, 1941
Each scholarship is worth $5,000 and 15 students are selected annually. Only undergraduate students are eligible for this scholarship; Recipients can use the funds for tuition, fees, books, and room and board.
8. Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association Scholarship
The Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association Scholarship is awarded to children and other relatives of Army servicewomen. To qualify for this scholarship, you must have a 3.5 high school GPA, plan to attend college full-time and enroll at an accredited university.
Two winners will be selected for this scholarship, and each will receive $1,500.
Releted: Getting approved for a Best td canada trust business loan 2022
Other Ways to Pay for School
In addition to special scholarships, students with servicemember parents can use the following options to save on tuition.
Federal grants
Children with a parent killed in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11 and who are also eligible for a Pell Grant will receive the maximum annual Pell Grant amount, which is $6,895 for 2022. Children who are not eligible for a Pell Grant may instead qualify for an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, which offers the same award amount as a Pell Grant. To be eligible you must be under 24 at the time of your parent’s death or enrolled in college.
To qualify for this grant, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form includes information about your and your parents’ finances, including income and assets. Filling out the FAFSA will also qualify you for federal student loans, work-study and more.
Post-9/11 G.I. Bill
If your parents are still in the military and have access to educational benefits under the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, they can transfer those benefits to you. There are several requirements they must meet to qualify; Review them here.
If a parent died while on active duty or due to a service-connected disability, you may also be eligible for survivor benefits. A parent with a total or permanent disability can also transfer G.I. The bill benefits the child.
State grants
Most states offer their own grants for children of veterans, but specific requirements vary by location. Note that many states only offer these benefits to residents, so you may have to attend school in the state you live in to qualify. To find out what your state offers, visit its higher education agency website.
Other scholarships
Students should continue to search for scholarships for children of veterans or service members. To find more potential scholarships, you can use tools such as:
- Bold.org
- Chegg
- College Board
- fastweb
- Going Mary
- Exclusive
- Scholarships.com
- Sholi
- Unigo
When possible, sign up for notification emails on these sites so you’ll hear about scholarship opportunities that match your background. Search for scholarships that match your specific skills or demographic criteria. For example, if you are the first in your family to attend college, look for scholarships for first-generation students.
Also, ask your high school counselor if they know of any scholarships that you may be eligible for. When you are accepted to a college, contact its financial aid department and ask how to maximize your scholarship opportunities.
How do I apply for a college scholarship?
You may be expected to fill the application form and support it with other documents. You must submit an essay, photo, and certificate of good service (or parent’s DD214).
Merit based awards may also ask for other materials. Things like a resume of your community service and school transcripts.
Need-based awards are usually based on the information on your FAFSA. So, they can ask for a completed SAR (Student Aid Report). However, some would like to see a tax form instead.
Are there government scholarships and assistance for children of veterans?
As a child of a service member, your parents can transfer post-9/11 benefits to you. You must make this request while serving as an active member of the armed forces.
Children Of Veterans of fallen members may be eligible for two other VA programs. They are called Frye Scholarships and Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA).
You are generally not allowed to receive both awards. Unless your parents died before August 1, 2011. Then you have to use one perk at a time. Also, the combined benefits of a total of 81 months of full-time training reach the cap.
The Fry Scholarship is also called the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. It provides post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to children Of Veterans serving members. You may be eligible if the service member died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
DEA is the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program. It provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans. To be eligible, a veteran must be disabled due to a service-related condition. You may also be the child of a veteran who died on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.
Why should children of veterans apply for scholarships?
Scholarships for children of veterans can help pay for your college and continuing education. There are various scholarship awards if you are eligible.
As a child of an American soldier or fallen hero, you may face many challenges. Some of these issues are related to deployment such as frequent moves and separation from loved ones.
About 46% of veterans have children Of Veterans. Many (12%) are also members of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). About 67% have parent(s) with some college but not a degree.
Many college scholarships are competitive. Open to both military and non-military applicants, they can be difficult to obtain. Try to find local scholarships that you can win easily.
Military scholarships are one of the support systems to help. They can also bridge the gap between declining state funding and the cost of college.
Also, the average cost of public college tuition, fees, and housing is about $17,237. However, it is more expensive in private colleges.
Scholarships for sons, daughters and grandchildren of veterans are just for you. Since it’s not a loan, you don’t even have to worry about repayments.
There are many sources of scholarships to look into. Colleges, nonprofits and the military community may offer scholarships for children of veterans. Be sure to check out these valuable resources. They can help you realize your dream of a college degree.