Outside Scholarships for Veterans and Their Families

If you are interested in applying for any of the reference scholarships, please refer to the link for complete information, including deadlines, essay submission, and documentation requirements.

TIP: Take the time to write and submit a scholarship essay specific to each scholarship you are applying for.

The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program

The Army Women’s Foundation (AWF) recognizes the importance of education and the role it plays in personal, professional, and economic fulfillment. The AWF Legacy Scholarship Program provides grants to women soldiers, past and present, and their lineal descendants to help them attain the educational goals. The scholarship program offers financial support in four areas: Certificate Programs, Community College coursework, Undergraduate Degrees, and Graduate Degrees. Scholarships are awarded only for coursework from accredited institutions. Scholarships are based on merit, academic potential, personal essay, community service, letters of recommendation, and financial need.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard or the lineal descendent of a woman who has served or is serving honorably in the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Eligibility requirements are non-negotiable, and appropriate evidence of Army service must be provided (e.g. DD214, discharge papers, letter from commander, etc.). For Graduate Program AWF Legacy Scholarships: Applicant must have achieved an undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and must be enrolled in or accepted into a Graduate level program-Masters or Doctoral

Award: Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Program scholarships are awarded in the amount of $2,500 and $3,000.

Blinded Veterans Association Kathern F. Gruber Scholarship

The Blinded Veterans Association scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit through an application process that is evaluated by a committee. Gruber scholarships are for one year only, but recipients can reapply and receive the award up to four times.

Eligibility: Spouses and dependent children of blinded veterans are eligible. The blinded veteran family member is not required to be a BVA member for the spouse or child to receive a scholarship.

Award: $2,000

Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship

The Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship was created in 2015 to honor the servicemen and women of the United States Armed Forces and their continuing education.

Eligibility: Be a current member of the U.S. Armed Forces, is a U.S. Armed Forces Veteran, or is the child of a U.S. Veteran.

Award: $2,000

Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship

The Bryent Smothermon PTSD Awareness Scholarship exists to support military veterans and their children who have suffered from PTSD or have been affected by someone who has suffered from PTSD.

Eligibility: To apply, please write about the things you have learned about yourself or the world around you through your experience with PTSD. Please also discuss how you hope to use your experience to help others currently suffering from PTSD.

Award: $1,000

Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD Law School Scholarship for Veterans

Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD awards an annual scholarship to a deserving veteran enrolled in or accepted to a U.S. law school. Veterans of all branches of the U.S. military are eligible to apply (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard).

Eligibility: This scholarship is open to veterans enrolled in an accredited U.S. law school or who are accepted to an accredited U.S. law school. Applicants must be pursuing a juris doctorate (JD) degree, complete the application found on the website, provide proof of veteran status, provide a current transcript, and provide a 1,000-word essay (refer to website for details).

Award: $1,000

Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship

The Hampden County Bar Association created the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship in memory of past president and colleague Colonel Archer B. Battista.

Eligibility: Applicants for this scholarship must be a veteran with an honorable discharge or a current member of the United States Military and must be admitted for the upcoming year to an accredited law school. The scholarship is based on merit and financial need.

Award: Not less than $1,000

Cpt. James Ahn Special Forces Memorial Scholarship

Cpt. James Ahn Special Forces Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Captain James Ahn, a graduate of UC Riverside and the Claremont McKenna College Army ROTC program after he died in 2015 during a parachute training operation while participating with his Special Forces unit in Washington State. In James’ honor, an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a Special Forces Veteran who is working towards the completion of a higher education degree.

Eligibility: Be a former Special Forces Service Member and a full-time student pursuing a degree/certification completion at an accredited post-secondary institution including graduate school, university, college, community college or vocational/technical institution.

Award: $1,000

Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Education Foundation

FRA believes that educating our service members, veterans and their families is important to their futures, as well as the future of our country. In addition to FRA’s longstanding advocacy for enhanced DoD and VA education benefits, the FRA Education Foundation was established in 2009, to support the needs of students pursuing higher education.

Eligibility: Students may apply for Foundation scholarships if they are affiliated with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard through their own service or that of a spouse, parent, grandparent or great-grandparent. FRA members in good standing, their spouses, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are eligible for a wider range of Foundation scholarships. Scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens and full-time students at an accredited U.S. trade school, community college or university.

Some scholarships have broad criteria for eligibility, while others are more specific. FRA offers multiple types of scholarships through their organization, refer to their link for more information.

Award: Up to $5,000

Florida ACME (Florida Advisory Council Military Education)

The Florida ACME proudly recognizes our military members and veterans with scholarship opportunities in three different categories annually.

Eligibility: Reside in Florida; be permanently stationed in Florida as part of either the active duty, guard and reserve component; or enrolled at a Florida institution of higher learning during the application period of the award year; active-duty guard, or reserve service member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Spouse of any active duty, guard, or reserve service member of the U.S. Armed Forces, veteran with an honorable discharge (must provide documentation).

Award: $1,000

George Sink, P.A.: Veterans & Military Family Scholarship

The team at George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers values military members’ service to our nation. It is a profound, yet often overlooked sacrifice. In recognition of our nation’s service members and their families, twice per year our firm bestows a $1,000 scholarship upon a hard-working U.S. student who is an active-duty service member, a veteran, or a spouse or child of an active duty or retired service member. High school seniors and graduates as well as undergraduate and graduate students may apply.

Eligibility: Currently serving in the military, honorably discharged, or have an active duty or retired military spouse or parent. All branches of the U.S. military qualify, be Accepted into, or currently enrolled in an accredited U.S. junior college, college, university, or graduate school, currently have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, fill out and submit the online application on this page, along with a school transcript and essay, and agree to the terms and conditions of the Veterans & Military Family Scholarship.

Award: $1,000

Hill & Ponton Veteran Scholarships

H&P’s veterans’ scholarship program provides financial assistance to former U.S. military personnel pursuing higher education. Former members of the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Coast Guard are eligible for this assistance program following honorable discharge. Through this scholarship fund, we hope that former military members can pursue education programs and reach their goals.

Eligibility: Applicants must be veterans of the armed forces and must plan to use their education to help fellow veterans, provide their personal information and a statement of 300 words or fewer on how the applicant plans to use his or her education toward helping veteran, and have a DD-214 to verify service and character of discharge.

Award: $1,000

Hope for the Warriors Military Spouse and Caregivers Scholarship

Hope For the Warriors Spouse / Caregiver Scholarship Program celebrates and rewards the spouses and caregivers of post-9/11 veterans for their strength, fidelity and resolve as they take on new and critical roles after experiencing the impact of war on their families.

Eligibility: A spouse or caregiver’s must have the ability to show their post-9/11 service member or veteran sustained a combat-related injury and/or has a 100% permanent and total VA disability rating to include Individual Unemployability (The Hope for The Warriors Scholarship Program considers a combat-related injury to be an injury caused by armed conflict, hazardous duty, instrumentality of war, and simulated war).

Low VA Rates: Military Scholarship

At Low VA Rates, owning a home is part of the American dream, and education is another important part. That’s why help doesn’t stop with housing.

Eligibility: Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university, be retired, or separated from service under honorable conditions or be a currently serving active-duty in any branch of the Armed Forces or are the dependent of an active-duty service member serving in any branch of the Armed Forces.

Award: $1,250

National Military Family Association Scholarship

The National Military Family Association Scholarship is available to spouses of Uniformed Service members who are enrolled on a post-secondary, graduate, vocational or technical school. Scholarship selection is based on completion of survey questions, short-answer questions, and an essay question.

Award: $500-$2,500

Nick Becker Scholarship

The Nick Becker Scholarship is for any active-duty military or veteran who is pursuing a legal education. It wasn’t an easy road for Nick Becker to make the transition from military life to law student. His journey inspired David Aylor Law Offices to help an active-duty service member or veteran better their legal education by softening the financial burden.

Eligibility: Be a veteran or active military member pursuing their legal education at an accredited law school.

Award: $1,000

Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship

Strong applicants for the Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship demonstrate clear academic goals, extraordinary leadership potential and a deep desire to create positive change. They believe their best years of service to our country are still ahead of them, and they are committed to strengthening communities at home and around the world

Eligibility: Veteran and active duty military service members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces including the National Guard who have served in both pre-and post-9/11 eras, Current Spouses of veteran or active service members, including surviving spouses, Spouses, veterans and service members who apply must be a full-time* student pursuing one of the following degrees at a public or private, U.S.-based, accredited institution for the upcoming fall/spring academic year (An undergraduate degree (Bachelor’s or above)).

Award: Selection as a Tillman Scholar is merit-based. Tillman Scholars can anticipate an average scholarship of $10,000 per academic year.

Richard J. Meadows Memorial Scholarship

The Richard J. Meadows Memorial Scholarship program honors the memory of Dick Meadows by recognizing the qualities of dedication, determination, scholarship, and achievement that he so courageously demonstrated throughout his lifetime.

This program is designed to provide one-time scholarship grants annually for tuition and books for the pursuit of academic advancement or vocational enhancement.

Eligibility: A Chapter LX, SFA member in good standing, family or dependent of a member, or member of the immediate family of a deceased member who was in good standing at the time of death or an individual currently assigned to HQ, USSOCOM, HQ, SOCCENT, or HQ who is otherwise eligible for generals membership on the SFA, or a family member or dependent of such an individual, and have been accepted by, or already attending, an accredit college, university or vocational institute, to include post-graduate students.

Award: Amount varies based upon the decision of the Scholarship Committee

Sarah A. Bonnifield Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Fund

Sarah Bonnifield chose that the majority of her estate be left for the benefit of several veteran organizations and other nonprofit organizations including the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 500. The Sarah A. Bonnifield Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Fund was established by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 500 to honor Sarah Bonnifield in perpetuity by providing financial support in the form of a scholarship each year to a Vietnam Veteran or a dependent or relative of a Vietnam Veteran.

Eligibility: be a Vietnam Veteran or a dependent or relative of a Vietnam Veteran (relative may be a spouse, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, nephew, or niece), be pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university, provide a copy of the Veteran’s DD214 or submit proof of military service.

Award: $1,000

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died whole on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. The benefits include full in-state tuition and fees for public schools, and private or foreign school tuition and fees are capped at a statutory maximum amount per academic year. Additionally, students may receive a monthly housing allowance and stipend for books and supplies.

Tona Law Veterans Scholarship

The Tona Law Veteran’s Scholarship is only open to students attending school in the United States. Students must have served in the U.S. Military and provide proof of service. Applicant must be a student at an accredited school or be accepted to begin school at an accredited school within 6 months of application. All funds will be dispersed to the scholarship recipient within 30 days of being announced as the winner. The scholarship winner is determined solely by a selection committee.

Eligibility: Only open to students attending school in the United States, be a veteran of any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, and be a student at an accredited school or be accepted to begin school at an accredited school within 6 months of application

Award: $2,500

Veterans United Foundation Scholarship

The Veterans United Foundation Scholarship creates opportunities for family members of service members and Veterans to achieve their educational dreams. Launched in 2012, the scholarship program is funded by contributions from Veterans United Home Loans and its employees. Since our scholarship program was created, over $1 MILLION has been awarded to support the educational dreams of military families across the U.S.

Eligibility: The applicant is a veteran with 100% service-connected disability, the applicant is a surviving spouse of a deceased service member from a service-related death, and the applicant is a surviving child of a deceased service member from a service-related death

Award: Based on Financial Need

VFW’s Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship

The VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" provides service members and veterans with the financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt. It’s just another way for us to say “thank you” to those who fought for our freedoms. 

Eligibility: Be a citizen of the United States, be retired, honorably discharged, active duty, or a member of the National Guard or Reserve, have completed Basic Training and follow-on training (Advanced Individual Training, technical school, etc.), separated with or currently hold a military rank of E-5 or below, demonstrate a need for financial assistance, participate in, be accepted to or currently enrolled in a VA-approved program or school at an accredited post-secondary institution.

Award: Up to $5,000