Dolphin Scholarship
Offered by Dolphin Scholarship Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Dolphin Scholarship Foundation has been quietly funding the college educations of Submarine Force families since 1960, and it remains one of the most established service-community scholarship programs in the country. The foundation sponsors more than 100 ongoing scholarships at any given time and awards roughly 30 to 40 new ones each year, with annual grants ranging from $1,500 to $4,500 per student. Since its founding, it has awarded more than $15 million to over 1,500 students.
Eligibility runs through the submarine community: applicants must be the unmarried children or stepchildren (under age 24 at the March 15 deadline) or spouses of members or former members of the Submarine Force who served at least six years on active duty, or eight years in submarine support activities. Students must be pursuing their first associate or bachelor's degree, or a vocational certification, which makes the program useful to trade school students as well as traditional undergraduates.
The renewal structure is a real differentiator. Recipients of the flagship Dolphin Scholarship and the Laura W. Bush Scholarship renew automatically without re-competing, for up to eight semesters or $16,000 in total support. The foundation also administers a long list of named scholarships tied to specific submarine crews, such as the USS Bowfin and USS Texas, each with its own crew-service eligibility wrinkles.
Eligibility
- Child, stepchild, or spouse of a member or former member of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force who served at least 6 years on active duty in the Submarine Force, or 8 years on active duty in submarine support activities
- Dependent children must be unmarried and under age 24 as of the March 15 application deadline
- Must be a high school senior or currently enrolled student pursuing a first associate or bachelor's degree, or vocational certification
- Full application, including eligibility screening, submitted through the foundation's process
How To Apply
- Confirm your sponsor's submarine force service meets the 6-year (or 8-year support activity) requirement
- Submit the eligibility screening on dolphinscholarship.org after applications open October 1, 2026 — screening closes February 15, 2027
- Complete the full application, including transcripts and supporting documents, by March 15, 2027
- Renewal students submit renewal forms by June 15
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dolphin Scholarship renewable?
The flagship Dolphin Scholarship and the Laura W. Bush Scholarship renew automatically without re-competing, up to eight semesters or $16,000 total. The foundation's other named scholarships are non-renewable, and those students must reapply each year.
Are spouses of submariners eligible?
Yes. Spouses of qualifying members or former members of the Submarine Force can apply, alongside dependent children under age 24.
Can I use the scholarship for trade or vocational programs?
Yes. The foundation funds first associate degrees, first bachelor's degrees, and vocational certifications.