Hi folks, my dad served in the military while I grew up, and I'm starting the college application process as a junior in high school. Are there any scholarships exclusively for the children of military personnel? Thanks for your help!
Absolutely, there are many scholarships out there specifically for children of military personnel, including the military branch-specific ones, and some more general ones as well.
One well-known scholarship program is the Scholarships for Military Children Program, funded through the commissaries' contributions and public donations. Each commissary awards a $2,000 non-renewable scholarship every year to a military child.
The ThanksUSA Scholarship Program also offers need-based, post-secondary, undergraduate scholarships to the children of military personnel. They award 500 scholarships up to $3,000 each to students defined as dependent children, age 24 and under.
Another program you might be eligible for is the Army Scholarship Foundation which offers scholarships to children of current or former Army service members.
The American Legion also offers various scholarships, some of which are based on military service. The amount and availability vary per state and some are available to direct descendants of wartime veterans.
The Fisher House Foundation runs a program called Heroes' Legacy Scholarships which provides scholarships to children of fallen or disabled veterans.
Moreover, many military and veterans organizations within states offer scholarship programs as well so it might be worthwhile to look at what's specifically available in your state.
Remember, make sure to read the specifics for each scholarship as they all have different requirements and deadlines. Lastly, even though these scholarships are a great opportunity, consider reaching out to the financial aid offices of the universities you're considering. They can tell you about any scholarships they offer that military children might be eligible for.
Best of luck in your scholarship search and college application process!
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