Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship
Offered by National Military Family Association
About This Scholarship
The National Military Family Association has run the Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship since 2004, awarding more than $9.4 million to over 5,000 military spouses in that time. NMFA, founded in 1969, is one of the longest-standing nonprofits advocating specifically for military families, and this program reflects its focus on spouse career and education barriers created by frequent moves and deployments.
The scholarship is unusually flexible: it funds everything from GEDs to PhDs, plus professional licenses and certifications (including re-licensure after a PCS move), business and entrepreneurial expenses, supervised clinical hours, and continuing education. That breadth makes it a strong fit for adult learners restarting or continuing education mid-career.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the scholarship year, which runs October 1 through September 30, with winners selected quarterly. Awards typically range from $500 to $2,500, and roughly 10 percent of applicants receive funding. Spouses must reapply each scholarship year.
Eligibility
- Spouse of a currently serving member of one of the eight U.S. Uniformed Services (or a qualifying 20/20/20 former spouse)
- Holds or is eligible to hold a valid military/Uniformed Services ID card
- Pursuing education at any level — GED, certificate, license, associate, bachelor's, graduate, or professional program — or qualifying entrepreneurial training
- One application per scholarship year (October 1 - September 30)
How To Apply
- Complete the online application at NMFA's scholarship portal (militaryfamily.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com), open year-round
- Describe your education or career goal and how the funds will be used; awards are selected quarterly with winners announced in January, April, July, and October
- Reapply each new scholarship year if you need continued funding
Frequently Asked Questions
What can the NMFA spouse scholarship pay for?
Far more than tuition — it covers degrees from GEDs to PhDs, professional licenses and certifications including re-licensure after a military move, supervised clinical hours, continuing education, and even business and entrepreneurial expenses.
When is the deadline to apply?
There is no single deadline. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the scholarship year (October 1 through September 30), and winners are selected each quarter.