8 Scholarships for Children of Veterans (2025)

Is your parent or legal guardian a veteran? You may be eligible for a variety of scholarships that will make college more affordable for you and your family.

Read on to learn about the top scholarships out there for children of veterans.

Featured Scholarships for Children of Veterans in 2024

The following eight scholarships provide funds to help children of veterans afford college. Read on to learn more about each scholarship opportunity.

1. Wings Over America Scholarship

The Wings Over America Scholarship can be used to cover tuition costs. It is available to students whose parents were in the Navy's aviation division for at least eight years.

There is no set award amount, but most students who receive this scholarship are awarded $5,000. Students may reapply for the scholarship each year but are not guaranteed acceptance.

The scholarship is available only for undergraduate students.

2. Army Scholarship Foundation Scholarship

The Army Scholarship Foundation routinely awards scholarships to children of active-duty army service members and veterans.

Scholarship amounts vary but are typically around $1,000 per recipient. The scholarship can be used to pay for undergraduate studies at any accredited institution.

Students must be pursuing their first bachelor's degree at the time of receiving this award; be under 24 years old; and have a GPA of at least 2.0.

3. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Scholarship

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation provides two separate types of scholarships: the Children of the Wounded and the Children of the Fallen.

Scholarship amounts range between $2,500 and $10,000 and are awarded each year of a student's academic career; however, award amounts may or may not remain the same from year to year.

Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 and attend a school on the National Center for Education Statistics College navigator site. Family gross income must also be below $117,000.

4. Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship

The Coast Guard Foundation provides scholarships for students whose parents have served or are currently serving in the Coast Guard.

Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Students whose parents died during Coast Guard duty receive the Fallen Heroes Scholarship through the Coast Guard Foundation. This scholarship covers all costs associated with attending college.

5. Fisher House Foundation Scholarship

The Fisher House Foundation awards scholarships to hundreds of military service members and veterans each year.

Each scholarship awards $2,000 that can be used to help cover various undergraduate expenses. Students must be enrolled in their program of choice full-time.

Additionally, students must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in high school and at least 2.5 in college.

6. Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students who had a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who served in World War I or II, specifically during these timeframes:

• Between April 6th, 1917 and November 11th, 1918
• Anytime after December 7th, 1941

The American Legion Auxiliary provides this scholarship to 15 undergraduate students each year. Each scholarship awards $5,000 which can be used to cover tuition, books, fees, or room and board.

7. American Patriot Freedom Scholarship

The American Patriot Freedom Scholarship is available through the Military Officers Association of America and provides funds to students whose parents died or were wounded in the line of duty.

The scholarship award may be renewed for up to five years and is at least $2,500, though exact amounts vary.

Students must be under 24 years of age and use this scholarship to cover school-related costs at public two- or four-year schools.

8. Paralyzed Veterans of America Educational Scholarship

Paralyzed Veterans of America provides scholarships for children whose parents were in the military and belong to this organization.

Scholarship amounts range from $1,000 to $2,500. Students can apply for and receive up to two scholarships during their academic career.

To be eligible for this scholarship, the student must be an unmarried dependent of a Paralyzed Veterans of America member. The scholarship is available for students who study both full-time and part-time.

Applying for Scholarships

You can apply for each of these scholarships by visiting the websites of the organizations that offer them. For example, to apply for an Army Scholarship Foundation scholarship, visit the foundation's website.

Pay close attention to the application deadline for each scholarship you plan to apply for. Complete your application as early as possible to ensure you don't miss important deadlines.

It's also a good idea to complete the FAFSA before applying for scholarships, as this is often a prerequisite for scholarship consideration.

Can Children of Veterans Attend College for Free?

The children of veterans can attend college for free if they can accumulate sufficient financial aid to cover all of their expenses.

Applying for and receiving multiple scholarships is one way to cover all of your expenses. However, in most cases, you'll need to secure additional funds.

You may also want to check with your state, as several states offer free tuition programs for the children of veterans.

Other Ways to Pay for College

Your military parent's GI Bill benefits may extend to you as their child or legal dependent. These benefits may cover some or all of your college expenses.

Completing the FAFSA will establish your eligibility to receive federal financial aid. You can also apply for non-military-related scholarships offered through your school or other organizations.

Work-study programs can help you earn money by working for your school; this money is then applied to your college expenses.

If you already have a job, your employer may offer tuition assistance to help you cut costs.

Find a Scholarship for Children of Veterans Today

A variety of scholarships are available for the children of veterans. If you think you may qualify for one of these scholarships, check out the list above to discover which one is the best fit for you.