Scholarships for Military Children Opening Soon
Offered by Fisher House Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize the contributions of military families and is administered by Fisher House Foundation, the nonprofit best known for building comfort homes where military families stay free of charge near hospitalized loved ones. The program operates in conjunction with the Defense Commissary Agency, and at least one scholarship is awarded at every commissary location where qualified applications are received.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the program funded 500 scholarships of $2,000 each, with additional awards allocated on a prorated basis to commissaries with larger applicant pools. Eligible students are unmarried military dependent children under age 23 who hold a valid Uniformed Services ID card, with a sponsor who is active duty, Guard/Reserve, retired, or deceased.
Applicants submit an online application including a short 500-word essay on a topic announced when the cycle opens. High school applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA and college applicants a 2.5 GPA. The application window typically runs from mid-December to mid-February.
Eligibility
- Unmarried dependent child of a service member, under age 23, with a valid Uniformed Services ID card
- Sponsor may be active duty, Reserve/Guard, retired, or deceased from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for high school applicants; minimum 2.5 GPA for college applicants
- Planning to enroll full-time in an accredited undergraduate program
How To Apply
- Create an account and complete the online application when the window opens (typically mid-December) at the Fisher House scholarship site
- Submit the required 500-word essay on the announced topic along with transcripts and dependent ID verification
- Recipients are notified by approximately May 15 each year
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Scholarships for Military Children are awarded each year?
For the 2026-2027 academic year, 500 scholarships of $2,000 each were funded, and at least one recipient is selected at every commissary location where qualified applications are received.
Can I win the scholarship more than once?
The award is a one-year scholarship, but eligible students may reapply in future cycles as long as they still meet the age, dependency, and GPA requirements.