Military Scholarships for Veterans, Service Members and Families
14 scholarships · Updated November 2026
These scholarships serve veterans, active-duty service members, Guard and Reserve members, military spouses and the children of people who served. Some are limited to one branch or to families of service members who were killed or disabled in service.
Private scholarships are separate from GI Bill and VA education benefits and Tuition Assistance, so they can pay for housing, books or costs your benefits don't reach. Military relief societies and branch associations run many of these programs, and several require a military ID or proof of service.
Military Scholarships By The Numbers
- Daughters of the Cincinnati Scholarship
Based on the 14 listings above. Typical award is the median top amount each sponsor publishes.
How Scholarships Work With The GI Bill
Private scholarships stack on top of GI Bill and VA education benefits. At full eligibility, the Post-9/11 GI Bill pays in-state tuition and fees at public schools plus a housing allowance, so scholarships often go toward books, private or out-of-state costs, or family members who don't have transferred benefits.
Aid For Military Children And Spouses
Fisher House, the National Military Family Association and the branch relief societies, including Navy-Marine Corps Relief, Army Emergency Relief and the Air Force Aid Society, all fund awards for military families. Folds of Honor serves families of service members who were killed or disabled. Many states also waive tuition for dependents, which our VA education benefits by state rundown covers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Military Spouses Get Scholarships?
Yes. The National Military Family Association runs a scholarship for military spouses, and other programs on this page accept spouses alongside children.
Can I Use A Scholarship With The GI Bill?
Yes. Private scholarships are separate from GI Bill benefits. Tell your school's financial aid office about outside awards, because they can change your need-based aid package.
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Why Trust The College Investor
The College Investor has helped millions of readers navigate paying for college and student loans since 2009. Every scholarship in our database is individually reviewed by our team before it goes live, and re-checked regularly so deadlines and links stay current.
Our Scholarship Standards
A listing here means our team checked that the award is real, currently active, and actually pays out. We won't list a scholarship that:
- Charges any kind of fee to apply
- Makes you join a paid membership, or sign up for an app or service, just to be eligible
- Has a privacy policy that would let the sponsor sell or misuse your information
- Collects essays, ideas, or contact details mainly to feed the sponsor's marketing
- Can't show a winner from the past 12 months, or offers no way to reach the sponsor
One nuance: established companies and nonprofits that run applications through their own systems may still be listed, even though creating an account there is part of applying.
Spot a listing that doesn't meet this bar? Email [email protected] and we'll review it. You can also read our editorial guidelines.