Military Scholarships for Veterans, Service Members and Families
16 scholarships · Updated November 2026
These scholarships serve veterans, active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and the children of people who served. Some are limited to one branch or to families of service members who were killed or disabled in service.
Private scholarships are separate from GI Bill and VA education benefits and Tuition Assistance, so they can pay for housing, books or costs your benefits don't reach. Military relief societies and branch associations run many of these programs, and several require a military ID or proof of service.
CCME Scholarships for Military-Affiliated Students
Offered by Council of College and Military Educators (CCME)
Military Scholarships By The Numbers
- Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship
Based on the 16 listings above. Typical award is the median top amount each sponsor publishes.
Who Qualifies For Military Scholarships?
Military scholarships aren't one program. They cover active-duty service members, veterans, Guard and Reserve members, ROTC cadets, military spouses and children, and each program sets its own rules. Expect to prove your connection with a military ID, a DD-214, orders or a dependent ID card, and some awards also require a parent's death in service or a disability rating.
How Scholarships Work With The GI Bill
Private scholarships stack on top of GI Bill and VA education benefits. At full eligibility, the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays in-state tuition and fees at public schools plus a housing allowance, so scholarships often go toward books, private or out-of-state costs, or family members who don't have transferred benefits.
ROTC And HPSP: The Closest Thing To A Military Full Ride
ROTC scholarships pay full or partial tuition plus a monthly stipend in exchange for serving as an officer after college, and high school students apply during junior and senior year. The Health Professions Scholarship Program covers tuition, fees and a monthly stipend for medical, dental and other health professions students, followed by a service commitment as a military health professional.
Scholarships For Military Spouses
MyCAA, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account, pays up to $4,000 toward licenses, certifications and associate degrees for spouses of junior active-duty service members. The National Military Family Association runs a separate scholarship for spouses, and many base spouses' clubs award smaller local scholarships each spring.
Scholarships For Military Children And Dependents
Fisher House and the branch relief societies, including Navy-Marine Corps Relief, Army Emergency Relief and the Air Force Aid Society, fund awards for military children. Folds of Honor and the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation serve families of service members who were killed or disabled. Many states also waive tuition for those families, such as Virginia's Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, and our VA education benefits by state rundown covers the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Military Spouses Get Scholarships?
Yes. The National Military Family Association runs a scholarship for military spouses, and other programs on this page accept spouses alongside children.
Can I Use A Scholarship With The GI Bill?
Yes. Private scholarships are separate from GI Bill benefits. Tell your school's financial aid office about outside awards, because they can change your need-based aid package.
Can I Get A Scholarship If My Parent Served In The Military?
Yes. Many programs on this page are for children of service members and veterans. Some only require a parent's service, while others require that the parent died or was disabled in service.
Can Military Kids Go To College For Free?
Some can. Children of service members who died or were disabled in service may qualify for state tuition waivers, and transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can cover in-state tuition at public schools. Scholarships on this page can cover what's left.
Does The Military Offer Full-Ride Scholarships?
ROTC and the Health Professions Scholarship Program come closest, paying tuition and a monthly stipend. Both require military service after graduation.
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Why Trust The College Investor
The College Investor has helped millions of readers navigate paying for college and student loans since 2009. Every scholarship in our database is individually reviewed by our team before it goes live, and re-checked regularly so deadlines and links stay current.
Our Scholarship Standards
A listing here means our team checked that the award is real, currently active, and actually pays out. We won't list a scholarship that:
- Charges any kind of fee to apply
- Makes you join a paid membership, or sign up for an app or service, just to be eligible
- Has a privacy policy that would let the sponsor sell or misuse your information
- Collects essays, ideas, or contact details mainly to feed the sponsor's marketing
- Can't show a winner from the past 12 months, or offers no way to reach the sponsor
One nuance: established companies and nonprofits that run applications through their own systems may still be listed, even though creating an account there is part of applying.
Spot a listing that doesn't meet this bar? Email [email protected] and we'll review it. You can also read our editorial guidelines.