College Scholarships for Students Who Lost a First Responder Parent
I’ve listed below college scholarships for US students with a deceased parent who was a first responder, updated for the 2026-2027 academic year. Note that quite a few of the scholarships are limited to residents of a specific state. 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:
The Quell Foundation First Responder Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to select high school seniors or current undergraduate/graduate students who have experienced the devastating loss of a parent (who served as a first responder- ie law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, corrections) to a line of duty death or suicide.
$2,500 – $5,000
March 13
Any
W. H. “Howie” McClennan Scholarship
This scholarship provides financial assistance for sons, daughters or legally adopted children of fire fighters killed in the line of duty planning to attend a university, accredited college or other institution of higher learning.
$2,500 per year
February 1
Any
American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens Educational Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to surviving children of police officers killed in the line of duty. This program assists high school graduates attending a traditional four-year college, university, technical or vocational institution.
$500 per year
Rolling
Any
Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers & Firefighters Scholarship Program
The program offers financial assistance to dependent children and spouses of any Mississippi law enforcement officer or firefighter who died or became permanently and totally disabled as a result of injuries or wounds which occurred in the line of duty.
Tuition & room
September 15
MS
Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund
Line of Duty Death Scholarships are awarded to those members of Camden County, New Jersey’s public safety personnel who are killed in the line of duty, who fit the existing criteria for awarding said scholarships.
Tuition, books and scholastic fees
Not Stated
NJ
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
May 15
DE
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The Foundation offers financial assistance for post-secondary education and training to spouses, life partners, children and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
Varies
March 1
Any
New Jersey Survivor Tuition Benefits Program
This scholarship helps eligible children and surviving spouses of New Jersey firefighters, emergency service workers and law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty earn a bachelor’s degree.
Tuition
Spring: March 1; Fall: October 1
NJ
Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship
This federal scholarship is available to Pell grant-eligible students who were enrolled at a higher education institution when their parent or guardian died in the line of duty while performing as a public safety officer. Contact your school’s financial aid office to apply.
Maximum Pell Grant
Not Stated
Any
Silver Shield Foundation
The foundation invests in the education of the children and surviving spouses of the NYC Police Department, NYC Fire Department/EMS, NY/NJ Port Authority Police Departments, NY, NJ, and CT State Police, Nassau and Suffolk County police departments and all police departments in CT.
Not Stated
Not Stated
CT, NJ, NY
Concerns of Police Survivors Scholarship
C.O.P.S. scholarships provide financial assistance to surviving children and to surviving spouses of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, who wish to pursue a course of study beyond high school.
Up to $2,000 per semester
Summer: April 1; Fall: June 1; Winter & Spring: October 1
Any
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
March 31
Any
Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Scholarship
The LEOM Scholarship benefits dependent children of New Jersey law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Up to the cost of attendance
Spring: March 1; Fall: October 1
NJ
First Responders Children’s Foundation Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to the children of deceased, active or retired first responders (police officer, firefighter, EMT, paramedic or 911 dispatcher).
Varies
April 15
Any
Dependent Children Scholarship Program
The scholarship program aids Tennessee residents who are dependent children of a Tennessee law enforcement officer, fireman, or an emergency medical service technician who has been killed or totally and permanently disabled while performing duties within the scope of such employment.
Varies
September 1
TN
MissionSquare Retirement Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Scholarship Fund honors education, health care, not-for-profit, public safety, and local and state government employees who died while in service to their communities by providing their surviving children or spouses with financial assistance for post-secondary education.
Up to $10,000
April 2
Any
NYS Memorial Scholarship
Scholarship for children, spouses and financial dependents of deceased firefighters, volunteer firefighters, police officers, peace officers (including NYS Correction Officers), and emergency medical service workers who have died on the job.
Cost of attendance
Rolling
NY
Indiana Children and Spouse of Public Safety Officers
Provides 100% of tuition and regularly assessed fees at Indiana public colleges for students who are the child or spouse of certain Indiana public safety officers who were killed in the line of duty or are a permanently disabled state trooper.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
IN
Michigan Police Officer’s and Fire Fighter’s Survivor Tuition Grant
The grant provides for the waiver of tuition at a Michigan community college or public university for the natural or adopted children and surviving spouses of Michigan police officers and fire fighters killed in the line of duty.
Tuition only for courses applicable toward a certificate or degree
July 15
MI
Kentucky Tuition Waiver for Survivors of Police Officers or Firefighters
This program provides free tuition at state-supported schools for survivors of police officers, firefighters, or other state-administered retirement system participants who died in the line of duty.
Tuition
Not Stated
KY
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
Alabama Police Officer’s and Firefighter’s Survivors Educational Assistance Program
This grant covers tuition, fees, books and supplies for dependents and eligible spouses of Alabama police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
Tuition, fees, books and supplies
Not Stated
AL
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
California Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program
LEPD provides a grant to dependents and spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters and correctional officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and were California residents.
Up to the Cal Grant award amount
June 30
CA
Alan Pattee Scholarship
This scholarship provides an exemption of tuition and fees at a California public school for the surviving spouse or child of a deceased California resident who died in the line of duty in law enforcement or fire prevention and suppression.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
CA
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
Georgia Public Safety Memorial Grant
The GPSM provides grant funds to the dependent children of Georgia Public Safety Officers who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty.
Up to $18,000 per year
Not Stated
GA
IllinoisGrant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers
This grant provides financial assistance for study at ISAC-approved Illinois colleges to spouses and children of Illinois police or fire officers who were killed or became at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty.
Tuition & fees
Full Year: October 1; Spring & Summer:
March 1; Summer:
June 15
IL
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
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
Missouri Public Service Officer or Employee’s Child Survivor Grant Program
This program provides tuition assistance to certain Missouri public safety officers and employees and their families if the employee is killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.
Tuition
Rolling
MO
New Mexico Fire Fighters & Peace Officers Survivors Scholarship
This scholarship provides an opportunity for a college education to survivors of New Mexico fire fighters and peace officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Tuition, room and board at a New Mexico public research university
September 1
NM
North Dakota Front Line Workers Waiver
NDUS colleges and universities may offer partial to full waivers of tuition to surviving spouse and children of firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, and peace officers who died as a result of injuries received in the line of duty.
Tuition
Not Stated
ND
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
Oregon Deceased or Disabled Public Safety Officer (DDPSO) Grant
The grant supports dependents of public safety officers (corrections officers, fire fighters, police officers, parole & probation officers, reserve officers) in the state of Oregon who were killed or disabled in the line of duty.Youth correction officers
Tuition and fees up to $13,000
Not stated
OR
Texas Children of Disabled or Deceased Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers
Texas institutions of higher education waive tuition for the child of a firefighter or law enforcement officer who suffered an injury, resulting in death or disability, sustained in the line of duty.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
TX
Texas Surviving Spouse and Children of Certain Deceased Public Servants (Employees)
Texas institutions of higher education waive tuition for eligible survivors of the following public servants: peace officers; probation officers; parole officers; jailers; correctional employees; emergency medical service workers; fire fighters; certain chaplains; certain employees of the Parks and Wildlife Department, the Department of Aging and Disability Services or Department of State Health Services.
Tuition & fees
Not Stated
TX
All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship
The scholarship program is for Iowa students who attend an eligible Iowa college/university. Priority for awards is given to certain students including children of deceased public safety workers.
Up to $5,334 for 2025-2026
April 1
IA
NEW! Daniel A. Terry Scholarship
The Daniel A. Terry Scholarship program provides financial assistance to the children of fallen California firefighters to realize their dreams of receiving a higher education.
$3,000 per year
September 1
CA
NEW! Minnesota Public Safety Officers’ Survivor Grant
The Public Safety Officer’s Survivor Grant provides educational benefits to dependent children and the surviving spouse of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty on or after January 1, 1973.
Tuition & fees up to $17,717
TBD
MN
Arkansas Heroes Scholarship
This scholarship is available to certain U.S. Armed Forces spouses and dependents, dependents of law enforcement or heroic state personnel who suffered fatal injury or permanent disability.
Tuition, housing & fees
Not Stated
AR
NEW! Maine Tuition Waiver Program (Public Servant)
Children or spouses of Maine firefighters, law enforcement officers, or emergency medical services providers killed in the line of duty may receive a tuition waiver to a participating Maine public college/university.
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