Scholarships for Military Families

Many studies have shown that a college degree increases job opportunities and earning potential during your working career. Unfortunately the current economy and rising college costs have many people thinking that they will have to put their colleges plans on hold for the time being and perhaps forever. There is no reason for doing that if you are a U.S. Military service member or a member of their family, there are many scholarship programs available that will allow you to pay for part or all of your school costs.

Service Academies

The Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard have academies that provide an excellent education and will pay you a salary while you are attending them. If you attend a service academy you will not only receive a college degree in four years, you will also receive leadership training that will benefit you no matter what career choices you make and you will receive a commission as an officer in the U.S. Military. All of your college related expenses are covered in return for a commitment to serve on active duty for a period of time. The Naval Academy provides the option of being commissioned an officer in the Navy or the Marine Corps.

R.O.T.C. Military Family Scholarships

You don't have to attend a service academy to receive a military scholarship. Each branch of the service has a Reserve Officer Training scholarship program available that may be used at civilian universities and colleges. The Coast Guard program is named Coast Guard Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) rather than R.O.T.C. The scholarship programs vary by branch of service in what they provide.

• Army ... The Army has R.O.T.C. Scholarships that pay for two, three, or four years of college costs and you will receive a commission as an officer in the Army after completing training and receiving your degree. In return you will serve on active duty as an Army officer for a period of time.
• Navy/Marine Corps ... Naval R.O.T.C. Scholarships are available for up to five years of college costs depending on your field of study. Once you have earned your degree and completed training you will be commissioned an officer in the Navy or Marine Corps and serve a period of time on active duty.
• Air Force ... The Air Force has two and four year R.O.T.C. Scholarship programs available. The programs will pay for your college costs and after earning your degree and completing training you will receive a commission as an officer in the Air Force and will serve on active duty for a period of time.
• Coast Guard ... The CSPI scholarship program will provide for college costs for your last two years of college and after earning your degree and completing training you will be commissioned an officer in the Coast Guard and serve on active duty for a period of time.

With each of these programs you may also may be eligible for an additional monthly stipend while pursuing your Bachelors Degree and each of the programs allows the use of online study to complete approved degree programs.

Additional Military Family Education Benefits and Scholarships

The Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps offer many other scholarship opportunities to military family members. Each branch has a website that shows education benefits that are available and each branch of the service has a private relief organization which supports service members and their families in many ways including helping pay for school.

Military families also have many civilian scholarships available to them. University and college financial aid offices often have a list of available scholarships and the criteria you need to meet to be eligible. Several smaller scholarships may often combine to pay for most of your education.

A little research is often all that is needed for military families to eliminate cost as a reason not to pursue a college degree.

Air Force Family Education Assistance

Army Family Education Assistance

Coast Guard Family Education Assistance

Marines Family Education Assistance

Navy Family Education Assistance

Portable Careers