Types of College Scholarships for Children of Military Service Members
Pursuing a college education can be financially daunting for many families, especially those with service members in the U.S. Armed Forces. Fortunately, there are specific scholarships for military children, which can help ease the financial burden of higher education. This article will explore various public and private college scholarships for military veteran dependents, active duty dependents, and dependents of service members killed in the line of duty.
Public Scholarships
The U.S. federal government, military, and national nonprofits provide assistance with higher education costs for military families. Although there are fewer federal military benefits for children than for service members themselves, some notable military dependent scholarships include:
Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The Transferred GI Bill Benefits permits service members to give unused education benefits from their Post-9/11 GI Bill to their children or spouses. This transfer can cover tuition and fees for various educational programs, including college, university, vocational, and technical schools. To be eligible, the service member must meet certain service requirements and complete the transfer process before leaving the military.
Military branch-specific scholarships. Each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces offers scholarships, grants, or other forms of funding for the children of individuals who have served in those branches.
Fisher House Foundation scholarships. The Fisher House Foundation is a public-private partnership. Their Scholarships for Military Children program offers various awards based on academic performance, community involvement, and financial need.
State-level scholarships. Many states offer scholarships to residents who are children of military personnel. These scholarships often vary by state, with specific criteria and funding amounts. For example, New York offers eligibility expansion and college funding for military dependents.
Private Scholarships
Numerous corporations, universities, and nonprofit organizations offer scholarships for children of service members, some of which aim to support specific communities or needs. Some of these include:
American Legion Legacy Scholarship. This scholarship is available to children of service members who have died while on active duty since September 11, 2001. The scholarship supports children pursuing higher education.
National University Scholarships. National University provides scholarships specifically for military families, including children of veterans and active service members. These scholarships consider academic merit and financial need.
Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation (MC-LEF) scholarship. One of the most notable scholarships for children of fallen servicemen is the MC-LEF scholarship. This program provides a $35,000 educational account for every child who loses a parent serving on active duty in the United States Marine Corps or as a federal law enforcement agent.
For all college-bound children in military families, it’s well worth seeking out scholarship opportunities for dependents of service members in the U.S. Armed Forces. These scholarships can provide significant higher education funding and greater financial security, allowing young people to focus on academic and personal growth. Whether through public or private means, each scholarship provides essential support that can be the first step towards a successful and fulfilling college experience.
Get a Marines or Navy Corpsman Scholarship With MC-LEF
Since its creation in 1995, MC-LEF has offered educational funding to the children of fallen military service members. Thanks to our generous donors, MC-LEF currently establishes a $35,000 educational account for every child who loses a parent serving on active duty as a federal law enforcement agent, in the United States Marine Corps, or as a Navy Corpsman. To date, MC-LEF has awarded over $93 million in educational accounts and other humanitarian assistance to over 5,900 recipients. Contact us to learn more!
All MC-LEF officers and board members are volunteers; we have only one paid employee. We pride ourselves on running our organization as cost-effectively as possible so that over 90% of our donor funds can be used to accomplish our mission of serving the children of those who sacrificed all. Please consider donating today!
