Field Problem: Military Spouse Scholarships

Dear, Field Problems:

I’m desperately writing hoping you might have a clue about what to do. My sister, whose husband is in the military, just finished her first semester of school. Last semester she qualified for financial aid, and next semester she doesn’t, even though there is no way they can afford it. I am wondering if there are scholarships or grants targeted towards military spouses. She gets a partial scholarship from the school, and she’s really smart, but there is no way she can return in the fall if she doesn’t find help paying for it.

Kristi; Fort Bragg, NC; Army spouse

Dear, Kristi:

Lucky sister you are to help her! Your sister is in a situation that is familiar to many military spouses. We are very proud of her for continuing her education, and we know that when military spouses go back to school, it’s a sizable time commitment and an expensive financial obligation.

The best place for her to begin her preparation is the local installation education center. As a military family member, she qualifies to apply for many scholarships offered by military organizations. Each military community’s education center will have information on available grants or scholarships for which she may be eligible. GoArmyEd has a questionnaire to determine the nearest education center to her location.

We’re going to assume your sister has already filed her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). She can check the status here. Depending on her income, she might qualify for federal or state grants, which might cover her tuition. Unlike a loan, she doesn’t have to pay that money back. She might also qualify for a low-interest student loan, payable after she finishes her degree. Loans are available through the federal government, privately through many banks, and through other lending institutions.

We conducted our own search and found several resources that might help. Remember that most require an application and have deadlines, so she’ll have to be resourceful, determined, and motivated to get everything together to meet the requirements.

Here are some scholarships worth checking out:

• The Military Officers Association of America offers several educational assistance programs, including interest-free loans, grants, and the American Patriot Scholarship.
• ThanksUSA is a non-profit tax exempt charitable organization focused on thanking American troops. It sponsors a large scholarship program for children and spouses of active duty military personnel. As many as 1,000 scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000 each are available for undergraduate study at accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education. Recipients are selected based on financial need, academic performance, leadership, and community service.
• National Military Family Association has a Military Spouse Scholarship Program, has scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 awards for military spouses obtaining professional certification or attending post-secondary education or graduate school. The scholarship funds may be used to assist with tuition, fees, and school room and board, and are paid directly to the accredited educational institution involved. Note the application period ends in January each year.
• Scholarship America is another resource dedicated to working with communities throughout the nation to help those pursuing post-secondary education. Their website offers application tips, resources, and opportunities to begin scholarship searches.

We also suggest your sister ask her college if they have any benefits for military spouses, as some will offer discounted tuition or even assistance with purchasing books and supplies. She might also try researching her local area for scholarships or financial aid that might be available.