Many students don't realize that their parents' service can unlock exclusive paths to higher education. This is especially true for the more than 1.6 million military children who navigate unique challenges, like frequent moves and parental deployments, while their parents serve.
April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, and a time to recognize and applaud the resilient military children for the challenges they overcome. To honor these families, numerous organizations offer college scholarships for military children and spouses to help bridge the gap in tuition costs.
Whether you are a military dependent looking for undergraduate funding or a military spouse pursuing a professional certification, 2026 offers a wealth of financial aid opportunities. From branch-specific grants for the Navy, Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Space Force to specialized awards for the families of fallen or disabled veterans, this guide highlights the best ways to secure "free money" for school.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program is open to full - time undergraduate and graduate students. You must be an honorably discharged veteran or the spouse of a disabled veteran, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Available to: High School Students & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000 The Airmen Memorial Foundation Scholarship is available to students aged 23 and younger. You must be the unmarried child or stepchild of an active duty, retired, or veteran member of USAF, ANG, or AFRC to be eligible for this award. A minimum 3.5 GPA is also required.
Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $2,000 - $6,300 The Seabee Memorial Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are the children, stepchildren, and grandchildren of active, reserve, retired, deceased, or honorably discharged Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers.
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $5,000 The Operation Second Chance Scholarship is available to high school seniors. You must be the unmarried dependent child of a deceased, wounded, injured, or ill veteran to be eligible for this award.
Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Earl J. Puckett Memorial Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are the children of service - disabled veterans. You must be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Available to: High School Students & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund is available to high school seniors and full - time undergraduate students. To be eligible, you must be the dependent child of a U.S. Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Guardsman, or Marine who has been killed or permanently disabled as a result of an operational mission or training accident; a U.S. military personnel who is classified as a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA); or has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, or the Coast Guard Cross.
Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $3,750 The Huebner Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are the children or grandchildren of soldiers who have served in the First Infantry Division of the United States Army. Selection is based on scholastic achievements, career objectives, and insight gained from your essay and letters of recommendation.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $3,500
The Jolly Green Merit Scholarship is available to the children and grandchildren of United States Air Force Air Rescue personnel. Selection will be based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, community service, and an essay submission detailing how you have overcome challenges and future goals.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who have a physical or sensory disability. You must be pursuing a degree in a field that is relevant to the transportation, travel, or tourism industry and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also be a veteran or the child of a wounded veteran.
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship is available to the minor dependents of active duty, retired, or prior service members of all branches, reservists, and National Guard members. Priority will be given to those dependents whose parent or guardian either served for eight or more years, died while serving on or in an active duty status, or has been classified as a wounded warrior through the Air Force Wounded Warrior program.
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000 - $10,000
The Military Veterans Geoscience Scholarship is available to students enrolled in an undergraduate geoscience program. You must be an active U.S. military service member or a veteran member separated from active military service who has been honorably discharged. Military spouses and children may also apply.
Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $2,000 - $6,000
The Ben Hines Memorial Foundation Scholarship is available to high seniors and current undergraduate students. You must have a parent or guardian who is a fallen hero, active or retired military, or a first responder to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Veterans and Family Scholarship is available to military veterans and their families. You must be pursuing a career in STEM, education, or sustainability and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Homefront Scholars Military Spouse Scholarship is available to students who are the spouses of active duty, National Guard, and reserve servicemembers. You must be 18 years of age or older to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Fight4Vets Dependent Scholarship is available to active duty military personnel, veterans, and the children / dependents of active duty military personnel and veterans. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. You must also submit a 750 - to 1,000 word essay on the following topic: "How has the military positively shaped you, whether from serving or growing up in a military family or being the spouse of someone in the military?"
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $500 - $5,000
The Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship is available to the spouses of Uniformed Services members who are enrolled in a post - secondary, graduate, vocational, or technical school. GED, ESL, and online students are also eligible to apply.
Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The NorthAmerican.com Military Scholarship Competition is open to current and former active duty military and their dependents. You must be majoring in military logistics, supply chain management, or operational management to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies
The NMFA Military Spouse Scholarship is available to the spouses of members of the seven Uniformed Services, dual - service military spouses, and divorced spouses who receive 20/20/20 benefits. You must have, or be eligible to hold, a valid military ID to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $2,500
The Fallen Heroes Scholarship is available to the unmarried dependent children of enlisted and commissioned men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard who lost their lives in Coast Guard land, air, or sea operations. You must be working towards your first undergraduate degree and be under the age of 24 to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $4,000
The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship for Military Spouses is available to spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, and O-1 to O-2. Spouses married to members of the National Guard and reserves in these same pay grades are also eligible. Additionally, you must be in pursuit of or maintain a license, certification, or associate degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.
There are also scholarship directory pages specific to college scholarships for military veterans and college scholarships for disabled military veterans.
Looking for more military-related information? Contact a recruiter to learn more about the educational benefits offered by the military, or visit Military.com.
Top Scholarships for Children of Military Service Members
We've updated the list of the top military scholarships for 2026 below, including eligibility requirements and upcoming deadlines to ensure you don't miss out on the support your family has earned.Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program
Deadline: 4/10/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program is open to full - time undergraduate and graduate students. You must be an honorably discharged veteran or the spouse of a disabled veteran, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Airmen Memorial Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 4/15/26Available to: High School Students & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000 - $5,000 The Airmen Memorial Foundation Scholarship is available to students aged 23 and younger. You must be the unmarried child or stepchild of an active duty, retired, or veteran member of USAF, ANG, or AFRC to be eligible for this award. A minimum 3.5 GPA is also required.
Seabee Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 4/15/25Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $2,000 - $6,300 The Seabee Memorial Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are the children, stepchildren, and grandchildren of active, reserve, retired, deceased, or honorably discharged Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) officers.
Operation Second Chance Scholarship
Deadline: 4/15/26Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $5,000 The Operation Second Chance Scholarship is available to high school seniors. You must be the unmarried dependent child of a deceased, wounded, injured, or ill veteran to be eligible for this award.
Earl J. Puckett Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 4/15/26Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Earl J. Puckett Memorial Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate students who are the children of service - disabled veterans. You must be a U.S. citizen and have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund
Deadline: 4/15/26Available to: High School Students & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund is available to high school seniors and full - time undergraduate students. To be eligible, you must be the dependent child of a U.S. Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Guardsman, or Marine who has been killed or permanently disabled as a result of an operational mission or training accident; a U.S. military personnel who is classified as a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA); or has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, or the Coast Guard Cross.
Huebner Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/26Available to: High School Seniors
Award Amount: $3,750 The Huebner Scholarship is available to high school seniors who are the children or grandchildren of soldiers who have served in the First Infantry Division of the United States Army. Selection is based on scholastic achievements, career objectives, and insight gained from your essay and letters of recommendation.
Jolly Green Merit Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $3,500
The Jolly Green Merit Scholarship is available to the children and grandchildren of United States Air Force Air Rescue personnel. Selection will be based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, community service, and an essay submission detailing how you have overcome challenges and future goals.
Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who have a physical or sensory disability. You must be pursuing a degree in a field that is relevant to the transportation, travel, or tourism industry and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also be a veteran or the child of a wounded veteran.
Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/26Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Colonel Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship is available to the minor dependents of active duty, retired, or prior service members of all branches, reservists, and National Guard members. Priority will be given to those dependents whose parent or guardian either served for eight or more years, died while serving on or in an active duty status, or has been classified as a wounded warrior through the Air Force Wounded Warrior program.
Military Veterans Geoscience Scholarship
Deadline: 4/30/26Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000 - $10,000
The Military Veterans Geoscience Scholarship is available to students enrolled in an undergraduate geoscience program. You must be an active U.S. military service member or a veteran member separated from active military service who has been honorably discharged. Military spouses and children may also apply.
Ben Hines Memorial Foundation Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/26Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $2,000 - $6,000
The Ben Hines Memorial Foundation Scholarship is available to high seniors and current undergraduate students. You must have a parent or guardian who is a fallen hero, active or retired military, or a first responder to be eligible for this award.
Veterans and Family Scholarship
Deadline: 6/30/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies The Veterans and Family Scholarship is available to military veterans and their families. You must be pursuing a career in STEM, education, or sustainability and have at least a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Homefront Scholars Military Spouse Scholarship
Deadline: 6/30/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Homefront Scholars Military Spouse Scholarship is available to students who are the spouses of active duty, National Guard, and reserve servicemembers. You must be 18 years of age or older to be eligible for this award.
Fight4Vets Dependent Scholarship
Deadline: 7/4/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Fight4Vets Dependent Scholarship is available to active duty military personnel, veterans, and the children / dependents of active duty military personnel and veterans. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award. You must also submit a 750 - to 1,000 word essay on the following topic: "How has the military positively shaped you, whether from serving or growing up in a military family or being the spouse of someone in the military?"
Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship
Deadline: 9/30/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $500 - $5,000
The Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship is available to the spouses of Uniformed Services members who are enrolled in a post - secondary, graduate, vocational, or technical school. GED, ESL, and online students are also eligible to apply.
NorthAmerican.com Military Scholarship Competition
Deadline: 12/15/26Available to: High School Seniors & Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The NorthAmerican.com Military Scholarship Competition is open to current and former active duty military and their dependents. You must be majoring in military logistics, supply chain management, or operational management to be eligible for this award.
NMFA Military Spouse Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies
The NMFA Military Spouse Scholarship is available to the spouses of members of the seven Uniformed Services, dual - service military spouses, and divorced spouses who receive 20/20/20 benefits. You must have, or be eligible to hold, a valid military ID to be eligible for this award.
Fallen Heroes Scholarship
Deadline: RollingAvailable to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $2,500
The Fallen Heroes Scholarship is available to the unmarried dependent children of enlisted and commissioned men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard who lost their lives in Coast Guard land, air, or sea operations. You must be working towards your first undergraduate degree and be under the age of 24 to be eligible for this award.
My Career Advancement Account Scholarship
Deadline: VariesAvailable to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $4,000
The My Career Advancement Account Scholarship for Military Spouses is available to spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, and O-1 to O-2. Spouses married to members of the National Guard and reserves in these same pay grades are also eligible. Additionally, you must be in pursuit of or maintain a license, certification, or associate degree necessary to gain employment in an occupation or career field.
Additional Help for Active Duty Service Members and Veterans
Active-duty and veteran military service members can access more than scholarships to support their higher education. A variety of programs and organizations exist to help these men and women transition into the college classroom. One such program is the Warrior-Scholar Program. This program partners with the country's top colleges and universities to provide one- and two-week boot camps for veterans and service members transitioning to college campuses. Through lectures, workshops, and one-on-one mentoring, incoming college students are taught the skills they need to thrive in the classroom and adapt to the college campus. Much of the programming is run by student veterans who have successfully transitioned from service to college. More information about the Warrior-Scholar Program.Funding for Survivors and Dependents of Disabled Veterans
For Spouses, Children of Those Who Served and Made the Ultimate Sacrifice, we offer our sincere condolences and would like to thank you for his/her service. In addition to Fastweb.com, we invite you to visit TAPS.org (Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors). TAPS offers a scholarship finder specific to the children and spouses of fallen service members.You Might Also Like
Shawna Newman
Managing Editor, Contributing Writer
Shawna Newman covers various topics related to post-secondary education, including trade schools, the military, and college. She details strategies for paying for school, such as scholarships, financial ai...
