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: 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: Full-Tuition
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program is open to the spouses and children of qualifying veterans in Virginia who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service or qualifying military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a direct result of involvement in covered military combat. Military service includes the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard. Students must attend a postsecondary institution in Virginia and children must be between the ages of 16-29.
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: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies
The USAC Military Service Scholarship is available to degree - seeking students who are U.S. Military Personnel (active or veteran status) and their dependents (child or spouse). You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
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.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.
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
Deadline: 7/1/26Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Full-Tuition
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program is open to the spouses and children of qualifying veterans in Virginia who have been rated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (USDVA) as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of military service or qualifying military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who have been rated by the USDVA as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a direct result of involvement in covered military combat. Military service includes the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces Reserves, or the Virginia National Guard. Students must attend a postsecondary institution in Virginia and children must be between the ages of 16-29.
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.
USAC Military Service Scholarship
Deadline: 10/1/26Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: Varies
The USAC Military Service Scholarship is available to degree - seeking students who are U.S. Military Personnel (active or veteran status) and their dependents (child or spouse). You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
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...
