College Scholarships for Students Who Lost a Parent in the Military
I’ve listed below college scholarships for US students with a deceased parent who was in the military. Contact me or add a comment below if you know of a scholarship that isn’t on the list. Check for these other specialty scholarships below:
Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program & Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program
The program provides financial assistance to eligible Maryland children and surviving spouses of the following who died or were permanently disabled in the line of duty: school employee, member of the US Armed Forces, victim of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks or public safety employee.
Tuition and mandatory fees of a MD public school
July 15
MD
Delaware Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others
This scholarship is available to Delaware individuals between the ages of 16-24 whose parent was a member of the armed forces, a state police officer or state employee of the Department of Transportation and whose death was service-related.
Tuition & fees
June 15
DE
Folds of Honor Scholarships
Folds of Honor scholarships are available to spouses and children of fallen or disabled first responders and US service members.
Up to $2,500 per term
April 1
Any
Pennsylvania Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program
This program provides free tuition at a Pennsylvania school for a child of a first responder, corrections facility employee, National Guard member, sheriff, or other individual in the military who died as a direct result of performing their official duties.
Tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board costs
March 31
PA
Massachusetts Public Service Grant Program
This program was established for students who have experienced the loss of a parent who was a Massachusetts Police Officer, Firefighter, Corrections Officer or Veteran who was killed or died from injuries received while performing his or her duties.
Cost of tuition at a Massachusetts public school
May 1
MA
Idaho Armed Forces and PSO Dependent Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded to dependents of fallen or permanently disabled members of the armed forces or public safety officers. Eligible applicants must be an Idaho resident.
Tuition, fees, books, on-campus housing and subsistence
Not Stated
ID
New Mexico Children of Deceased Veterans Scholarship
This scholarship benefits the children of New Mexico residents who were members of the military, National Guard or state police and killed in action.
Tuition, fees, board and room rent, books and supplies
Not Stated
NM
Colorado Dependent Tuition Assistance Program
DTAP provides financial assistance to dependents of public servants who were killed or disabled in the line of duty, including law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of the national guard, prisoners of war or persons missing in action.
Varies
Not Stated
CO
Kansas Hero’s Scholarship
The scholarship provides a waiver for eligible dependents and spouses of certain deceased/disabled public safety officers and military personnel to attend an eligible public Kansas postsecondary educational institution.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
KS
Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund
This program provides tuition assistance to dependents of peace officers, fire fighters, certain other safety officers, and members of the armed services of the U.S. in combat zones, who have been killed in the line of duty.
Tuition and fees at an OH school
Not Stated
OH
The Robert J. Trace Scholarship
The fund is available to students living in Pennsylvania who is a child or grandchild of a deceased Pennsylvania Legionnaire or a child of a Pennsylvania soldier that was killed as a result of the war on terrorism.
$500
May 31
PA
America’s Gold Star Families Scholarships
America’s Gold Star Families annually awards $1,000 scholarships to family members of a fallen hero while serving active duty.
$1,000
December 11
Any
Marine Corps Children of the Fallen Scholarship Foundation
The foundation guarantees scholarships to children of Marines or Navy Corpsmen, Chaplains or Religious Program Specialists attached to a Marine unit whose parent died by suicide as a result of post-traumatic stress or in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.
$30,000 over four years
March 1
Any
The Fry Scholarship
Provided by the VA, the Fry Scholarship helps pay for college for children and surviving spouses of active-duty service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.
Tuition, housing, books and supplies for 36 months
Not Stated
Any
Folded Flag Foundation Educational Scholarships
The foundation provides educational scholarships and support grants to the spouses and children of the U.S. military and government personnel who died as a result of hostile action or in an accident related to U.S. combat operations.
Tuition and fees, books, computers, living expenses, etc.
Summer: April 15; Fall/Spring: May 15
Any
Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation
Our mission is to provide college scholarships and educational counseling to the children of military personnel who have passed away in the line of duty.
Tuition, room & board, books, fees, living expenses, etc.
Rolling
Any
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
The foundation provides complete post-secondary educational support for eligible surviving children of fallen Special Operations Personnel and children of all Medal of Honor Recipients.
Tuition, books, fees, room & board, transportation & miscellaneous expenses, plus a laptop and printer.
Not Stated
Any
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program
Also called Chapter 35, the DEA program helps pay for school for children and spouses of veterans or service members who died on or after August 1, 2023.
Up to $1,536 per month
Not Stated
Any
Iowa War Orphans Educational Assistance
Children of Iowa veterans killed in action after September 11, 2001 are eligible for tuition assistance at an Iowa college. Dependents of those killed in action before September 11, 2001 and living in Iowa are eligible for $600 per year with a maximum of $3,000.
Up to $11,844 per year
Not Stated
IA
Michigan Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
The grant provides undergraduate tuition assistance to students who are the children of a Michigan veteran who died or became totally and permanently disabled as a result of military service.
Up to $2,800 per year
July 15
MI
The American Legion Legacy Scholarship
This needs-based scholarship provides college funding to children of post-9/11 veterans who died on active duty, or those who have a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or greater.
Up to $20,000
March 26
Any
Operation Second Chance Scholarship Program
The program provides need-based financial assistance to children of deceased, wounded, injured, or ill veterans, who are in their senior year of high school and seeking higher education.
Up to $3,500
May 1
Any
Indiana Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
Provides 100% of tuition regularly assessed fees for children of deceased or disabled veterans and Indiana public colleges and up to $5000 towards tuition and regularly assessed fees at an Indiana private, non-profit college or university.
Tuition & fees or up to $5,000
Not Stated
IN
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
This federal grant provides money to college or career school students with a parent or guardian who died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Up to the maximum Pell Grant award
Not Stated
Any
Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund
This scholarship helps offset a college education for the dependent children of U.S. military personnel who have been killed or permanently disabled in an operational mission or training exercise or classified as a Prisoner of War or Missing in Action. Applications accepted starting April 6.
Varies
September 13
Any
Heroes’ Legacy Scholarship
The program honors not only those who have fallen in battle, but all who have died or have become disabled through their active military service since September 11, 2001. The program is open to their dependent unmarried children under age 23.
Varies
February 12
Any
Arkansas Military Dependents Scholarship
MDS provides scholarships to any college, university, or technical institute in Arkansas for dependents and spouses of Arkansans who were killed, missing in action, prisoners of war, or totally and permanently disabled.
In-state tuition, on-campus room and board, and mandatory fees
July 1
AR
Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive & Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship
Scholarships for NY children, spouses, and financial dependents of members of the United States Armed Forces or state-organized militia who died or became severely and permanently disabled performing their military duties.
Cost of attendance
Rolling
NY
NYS Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans
Scholarships for NY students whose parent served in the U.S. Armed Forces during designated periods of war or national emergencies and as a result have passed, become disabled, are missing in action, or were taken as a prisoner of war.
$450
Rolling
NY
Children and Spouse of Indiana National Guard
Provides 100% of tuition and regularly assessed fees for students who are the child or spouse of a member of the Indiana National Guard who suffered a service-connected death while serving on state active duty.
Tuition & fees
30 days before semester starts
IN
Children of Fallen Iowa Service Members Scholarship
The scholarship fund provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children of deceased Indiana military service members who died while in an active military status after September 11, 2001.
Tuition, books, fees, housing, etc.
December 31
IA
Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Dependents of Members of the Armed Forces or National Guard
This program provides exemption from matriculation or tuition fees of dependents, widow, or widower of Kentucky members of the Armed Forces or of members of the National Guard killed while in service or having died as a result of service-connected disability.
Tuition
Not Stated
KY
North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans
The scholarship program has been established for a North Carolina child of deceased, disabled, combat, or POW/MIA veterans.
Tuition, room and board and fees
February 14
NC
NCFRW Caring for America Scholarship
The scholarship benefits a dependent child of an NC service member wounded or killed while serving from September 11, 2001, to today. Applicant must attend an accredited North Carolina college, vocational, or technical institution.
$1,000
April 15
NC
Florida Scholarships for Children and Spouses
of Deceased or Disabled Veterans
The scholarship provides an award to dependent children or un-remarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans who died or was disabled in the line of service.
Tuition & fees at a Florida public school or equivalent amount
April 1
FL
Georgia HERO Scholarship
The scholarship provides funds to the child of a parent who was a member of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves and who was killed or disabled while serving in a combat zone.
Up to $2,000 per year
Not Stated
GA
llinois Deceased, Disabled, and MIA-POW Veterans’ Dependents Scholarship
This scholarship provides financial assistance for study at Illinois public colleges to dependents of Illinois residents who entered active duty and were declared to be a prisoner of war, missing in action, disabled or dead in the line of service.
Not Stated
Not Stated
IL
Veterans’ Dependents Educational Benefits-Maine
Maine provides a 100% waiver of tuition and all mandatory fees at a Maine public college for spouses and dependents of veterans who were disabled, killed in action, or listed MIA.
Tuition & fees
Rolling
ME
Missouri Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant Program
The program is available annually to children and spouses of Missouri veterans who died or were disabled as a result of combat action.
Tuition and up to $2,500
Rolling
MO
ND Surviving Dependents of POW/MIA Veterans
NDUS colleges and universities may offer partial to full waivers of tuition to surviving dependents of veterans who died of service-related causes, were prisoners of war, have 100% service-connected disability, or who were declared missing in action.
Tuition
Not Stated
ND
Ohio War Orphan & Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship Program (WOS)
This program awards tuition assistance to the children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio veterans who served in the armed forces during a period of declared war or conflict.
Partial tuition and general fees
May 15
OH
Heroes Promise
This scholarship provides tuition assisttance for children of Oklahoma military personnel that were killed in action after Jan. 1, 2000.
Tuition at an OK school
Not Stated
OK
River Rats Scholarship Program
The Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association (RRVA) scholarship provides tuition assistance to the child, grandchild or spouse of a RRVA member who was killed or missing in action during combat or killed as the result of performing aircrew duties.
Varies
March 15
Any
Texas Surviving Spouse and Children of Deceased Veterans of the US Armed Forces or Texas National Guard
The Hazlewood Act provides an education benefit at Texas public institutions to the spouse or child of a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or the Texas National Guard who died, became disabled or is missing or killed in action.
Up to 150 hours of tuition exemption
Not Stated
TX
Vermont Armed Services Scholarship
This program provides free tuition for the families of Vermont National Guard or U.S. active reserve or active armed services members who have died while on active or inactive duty.
Tuition
Not Stated
VT
Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program
This program provides educational assistance for Virginia children, or surviving children, of veterans who served in the armed forces of the U.S. and are disabled, or deceased due to war or other armed conflict or listed as a POW or MIA.
Tuition & fees
Fall: May 1; Spring: Sep 1; Summer: Dec 15
VA
Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program
This scholarship benefits dependents of Alabama residents in the military who were killed, disabled, POW or MIA in the line of duty.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
AL
Free Tuition Waiver for Family Members of Alaska Residents Who Died in the Line of Duty
Spouses and dependents of armed service members who were Alaska residents and died in the line of duty, or are listed as a POW, are entitled to a waiver of all undergraduate tuition and fees through the University of Alaska system.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
AK
Arizona Tuition Waiver Scholarship Program
The State of Arizona supports Arizona veterans wounded in action or injured in the line of duty, and dependents of Service Members killed in the line of duty with a tuition-free education through Tuition Waiver scholarships at Arizona schools
Tuition
Not Stated
AZ
California College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents
The College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any California state school for the dependents of California veterans who died, were disabled, POW or MIA in the line of service.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
CA
Connecticut Veteran Tuition Waiver
State statutes waive tuition at Connecticut public colleges and universities for any CT resident who is a dependent child or surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces killed in action or a dependent child of a person declared to be either MIA or a POW.
Tuition
Not Stated
CT
Louisiana Title 29 Education Benefit
Louisiana offers educational benefits for children, spouses and surviving spouses of veterans who meet certain requirements. For deceased veterans, surviving spouses and children are eligible.
Tuition & select fees
Not Stated
LA
Minnesota Surviving Children and Spouses Education Benefit
The Surviving Children and Spouses Education Benefit is provided to Minnesota spouses and children whose Veteran spouse or parent died while on active duty, or from a service-connected condition
Tuition & fees
Rolling
MN
Mississippi Scholarships for Children of POW/MIA
Children of any Mississippi member of the armed services who is either a POW or MIA can receive an eight-semester scholarship at any state-supported college or university within the State.
Tuition
Not Stated
MS
Montana War Orphans Tuition Waiver
The tuition waiver benefits Montana residents whose parent was in the US armed services and was killed in action or died as a result of combat related injury, disease, or other disability while in the service.
Tuition
Not Stated
MT
Nebraska Waiver of Tuition Program
This Nebraska state program waives 100% of a student’s tuition charges and tuition-related fees to Nebraska state schools for dependents of an eligible veteran, who died or was disabled in service or is a POW or MIA.
Tuition
Not Stated
NE
Nevada National Guard & POW/MIA Dependent Fee Waiver
The fee waiver program is available to a member, child or spouse of the Nevada National Guard killed in the line of duty and to the spouse or child of a Nevada member of the US Armed Forces who is a POW or MIA.
Registration & laboratory fees
Not Stated
NV
New Hampshire Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver
The children of military members who die in service during wartime or from a service-connected disability, may qualify for free tuition at New Hampshire public institutions of higher learning.
Tuition + up to $2,500 per year
Not Stated
NH
New Jersey National Guard Tuition Program
New Jersey provides tuition free enrollment in public institutions of higher education for qualifying members, surviving spouses and children of NJ National Guard Soldiers and Airmen.
Tuition
Not Stated
NJ
New Jersey War Orphans Tuition Assistance
This program is available to New Jersey residents who are children of service personnel who died while in the military or due to service-connected disabilities, or who are officially listed as missing in action.
$500 per year
Not Stated
NJ
Oregon Tuition Waiver for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans
Oregon waives tuition for family members of deceased or disabled veterans or children of Purple Heart recipients.
Tuition
Not Stated
OR
SC Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans’ Children
South Carolina provides a tuition waiver to SC state supported schools for qualified children of military Veterans who are or were SC residents when killed or disabled in action or POW.
Tuition
Not Stated
SC
South Dakota Free Tuition for Children of Veterans
South Dakota provides free tuition at a state supported school to children of the following: veterans who died in the line of duty; veterans listed as POW or MIA; National Guard members disabled or deceased in the line of duty.
Tuition
Not Stated
SD
Tennessee Dependents Tuition Waiver
Tennessee provides free tuition and fees to any State supported schools to the children and spouse of a TN member of the Armed Forces who was killed or died as a direct result of injuries received or officially reported as being a POW or MIA.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
TN
NEW! The Gold Star Peak, Inc. Remembrance Scholarship Fund
The scholarship was founded in 2019 in honor of all those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The scholarship is dedicated to Gold Star Family Members and Veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Unfortunately no one gives a scholarship for a child of a veteran who is deceased. Her father did not get Veterans disability. Or died in war. He passed away in 2020. And he went through so much to adopt her so she can get his benefits to go to college. But she can’t. Because he did not get disability or enlisted in the state of Texas. She is enrolled in Sam Houston university for 2025. O know he would be sad if he was alive and knew that.
Can she use his GI bill? My friend’s husband was in the Navy (he is alive), and their daughter is using his GI bill to go to university in another state.
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