Financial Assistance for Veterans – Military Aid Programs

As a military member, you have access to many different types of military financial aid. Whether you are looking for assistance for just you, or your family, there are a wide variety of options. Because there are so many different types of programs offering financial assistance for veterans, the key to maximizing your return is to do enough research that you can select the programs which will work best for you.

Who Can Utilize Military Education Benefits?

Military Spouse Financial Aid

Military spouse financial aid is available to help you and your spouse. Financial aid for military spouses is designed to help the spouse of a military member gain an education. Programs such as the Yellow Ribbon Program, the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA), and private and federal organizations, offer financial assistance opportunities promoting discounted or free education for military spouses.

Military Dependent Financial Aid

Worried about how you’ll afford your child’s education? Fortunately, there is plenty of financial aid for veterans, military personnel and their dependents. Financial aid for military dependents provides assistance for children of military members who are looking to get an education. In addition to military-branch specific programs, the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Post 9/11 GI Bill are also available to military dependents.

Types of Financial Aid For Military Members

Federal Aid

• Federal Student Aid is available through the Department of Education and can be obtained by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This financial assistance program offers loans, grants and campus-based aid. FAFSA grants for military dependents are more helpful than ordinary loans because they do not need to be paid back.
• Post 9/11 GI Bill provides benefits allowing military members, or their dependents, to gain a college degree.
• The Yellow Ribbon Program offers up to thousands of extra dollars in financial aid and tuition assistance to military students that attend participating colleges and other education institutions. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows students to attend schools which would otherwise be out of their financial reach by covering up to 100% of the additional tuition expenses not financed by standard benefits provisions built into the Post 9/11 GI Bill.

Private Scholarships and Grants

• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA), a popular military dependent scholarship offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Visit their website to see if you qualify.
• The Scholarships for Military Children Program, one of many privately run military dependent scholarships and grants programs available, is just on example of the private foundations and organizations offering tuition assistance for military dependents.
• ThanksUSA Scholarship Program is another such private organization offering financial aid programs for military families.

Earning an education can be extremely costly, but  receiving financial aid from the military for school can make your dreams a reality. When choosing a school, be sure to check out our list of the 25 Best Military Friendly Colleges!