Scholarships for Veterans: 7 Programs and How to Apply

Scholarships for Veterans can reduce costs that VA education benefits, federal aid, and institutional grants do not cover—but the GI Bill itself is not a scholarship. Start by separating each funding source, then apply only through the scholarship provider’s official site.

The programs below are reliable places to investigate. Availability, eligibility, award amount, and deadlines can change each cycle. An organization appearing here does not mean its application is open today or that every Veteran qualifies.

Scholarships for Veterans and military families

1. Pat Tillman Foundation Tillman Scholars

The Tillman Scholars program supports eligible active-duty service members, Veterans, and military spouses pursuing higher education. Selection considers service, leadership, impact, and potential. Review the current application window, eligibility, required materials, and participating degree rules directly through the foundation.

2. VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship

The Veterans of Foreign Wars administers the Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship for eligible service members and Veterans. Current service, discharge, citizenship, enrollment, and benefit-use requirements matter. Check the official cycle dates and rules before preparing an application.

3. AMVETS scholarships

AMVETS scholarship offerings may include awards for eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, Guard or Reserve members, and military family members. The available categories can change. Use the current application, not a third-party copy of an old award list.

4. Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship

The Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship has eligibility paths connected to women who served in the U.S. Army and their lineal descendants. Review the current service, education, accreditation, GPA, and application requirements on the foundation’s site.

5. Student Veterans of America partner scholarships

Student Veterans of America publishes current partner-scholarship opportunities for military-connected students. Sponsors, fields of study, membership requirements, award terms, and application periods vary. Follow each linked sponsor’s official rules.

6. Folds of Honor scholarships

Folds of Honor focuses on eligible spouses and dependents of qualifying service members and first responders rather than a general award for all Veterans themselves. Review the current scholarship types, qualifying events, documentation, and application cycle.

7. Fisher House Foundation Scholarships for Military Children

Scholarships for Military Children, administered for eligible military dependents, uses current commissary and dependent-status rules. It is a family scholarship, not a general Veteran award. Confirm eligibility and the current application on the official site.

GI Bill, FAFSA, grants, and scholarships are different

VA education benefits are federal benefits earned through qualifying service or another statutory eligibility path. They are not competitive scholarships. Review our Veterans education-benefits guide and VA’s official GI Bill information before treating an expected payment as scholarship aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is used to determine eligibility for federal grants, work-study, and loans and may also be required for state or institutional aid. Complete it through StudentAid.gov; legitimate FAFSA submission does not require paying a filing company.

Can you combine scholarships with the GI Bill?

Often, a student can receive scholarships while using VA benefits, but how money is applied depends on the scholarship terms, what costs it is restricted to, the school’s aid policy, and how VA calculates net tuition and fees after certain aid. A tuition-restricted award may change the tuition balance submitted to VA, while an unrestricted award may be handled differently.

Ask the school’s financial-aid office and certifying official to explain the calculation in writing. Provide the award terms—not merely the scholarship name.

Where else to find legitimate Veteran scholarships

• Your college: search the financial-aid, veterans-office, academic-department, alumni, foundation, and emergency-grant pages. Ask whether one general application covers multiple awards.
• Your state: use the official state veterans agency and higher-education agency. Separate scholarships from statutory tuition waivers or residency benefits.
• Your military branch or association: check the official foundation, relief society, professional association, or unit-affiliated organization.
• Your field of study: search professional associations and licensing organizations for the exact major or occupation.
• Your employer or union: tuition reimbursement, dependent scholarships, apprenticeships, and education funds may be available.
• Local foundations: community foundations often have less national competition and may allow military service as one of several eligibility factors.

Scholarship application checklist

1. Create a deadline calendar and verify the time zone.
2. Confirm that your service, discharge, enrollment, degree, citizenship, GPA, and relationship status match the current rules.
3. Order transcripts and military documentation early.
4. Build a reusable record of service, leadership, employment, volunteering, awards, and impact.
5. Answer the exact essay prompt with specific evidence instead of repeating a résumé.
6. Give recommenders the rules, deadline, résumé, and examples relevant to the award.
7. Proofread names, dates, service details, and file formats.
8. Save the submitted application and confirmation.

How to spot scholarship scams

• The provider guarantees an award or claims everyone is eligible.
• You must pay a fee to receive the scholarship, redeem a check, or access a “secret” list.
• The organization asks for bank credentials, gift cards, or a payment to release funds.
• The application uses a lookalike domain or a personal email instead of the provider’s verified site.
• The rules, selection process, sponsor identity, or contact information cannot be verified.
• A check arrives for more than the award and you are told to send part of it elsewhere.

Questions to ask before accepting an award

• Is the award paid to me, the school, or both?
• Can it be used for tuition only, or also fees, books, housing, child care, transportation, or equipment?
• Is it one-time or renewable, and what conditions apply?
• How does it affect institutional aid and the tuition amount certified to VA?
• What happens if I change enrollment, transfer, withdraw, deploy, or graduate early?
• Is any portion potentially taxable, and where should I get tax advice?

Veteran scholarship FAQ

Is the GI Bill a scholarship?

No. It is a federal education benefit. Eligibility and payment are governed by law and VA rules, not a competitive scholarship selection committee.

Are there scholarships only for Veterans?

Yes, some awards target Veterans or service members, while others include spouses, dependents, Guard or Reserve members, or particular branches and fields. Read the current eligibility definition carefully.

Should I apply if the scholarship is smaller than my GI Bill benefit?

Possibly. Smaller awards can help with costs not fully covered, but the award’s restrictions and interaction with other aid matter. Ask the school for the actual calculation.

Does a scholarship listing mean applications are open?

No. Programs can pause, change, or open only during a short annual window. The provider’s official application page controls.

Last reviewed August 2026. Scholarship programs, eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines can change. Verify the current cycle on each provider’s official site.