With college application season in full swing, it’s no surprise that November is National Scholarship Month — but why is winning a scholarship so important?
Well, the idea of student loan debt can be pretty terrifying — especially considering the average student loan debt for a college graduate in 2018 was nearly $29,200, according to Forbes. For most Veterans, going into that kind of debt is unfeasible.
Thankfully, there are thousands of scholarships available, many which can be used in addition to other funding like GI Bill educational assistance and Pell Grants, making college more affordable for servicemembers, Veterans, and their families. Here are 7 ways to find a scholarship for Veterans.
1) Scholarships.com – Veterans
Scholarships.com has a comprehensive list of all available Veteran scholarships for those who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, or Coast Guard.
Use their free scholarship search tool to get instantly matched to any scholarships, loans, or educational benefits you may qualify for.
2) Scholarships.com – Military
If you are currently or previously served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard, there are tons of scholarship opportunities out there—you just have to know where to look. In addition to Veteran scholarships, Scholarships.com also has a directory of military scholarships, loans, and grants, some upwards of $60,000.
To find out if you are eligible for additional scholarships based on service or other criteria, perform a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com.
3) Nursing Scholarships for Veterans
Premier Nursing Academy lists up-to-date opportunities for Veterans, Military Spouses, and students from military families who plan to attend a CNA program or continue their nursing education.
Additionally, many of these scholarships are open for students attending various trade school and undergraduate programs, including but not limited to nursing and healthcare.
While some of these scholarship applications have deadlines coming up in the fall, there are opportunities all throughout the year, some with rolling application deadlines.
4) Military Scholarships for Servicemembers, Spouses, & Dependents
If you feel like you have to wait until fall to start applying for scholarships, think again! U.S. Veterans Magazine shared a list of year-round scholarships available to the military community as well as branch aid societies, private organizations, local spouse clubs, and national spouse clubs that provide education assistance to servicemembers and their families.
5) Get Matched to Military College Scholarships
Websites such as Niche.com allow you to search lists of military scholarships or get matched to those you are eligible for.
6) Top Scholarships for Veterans
Scholarships360 has put together a list of top scholarships and grants available to military Veterans, active duty members of the armed services, and children and spouses of Veterans.
7) Active Duty Military Scholarships
Unigo has listed 26,581 scholarships worth $91M for active duty members of all five branches of the military and U.S. armed forces. See the list.
Students who are Veterans are eligible for other types of financial aid including Pell Grants, so we recommend that Veterans, like all students, should always apply for financial aid with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Share your recommendations for other Veteran scholarships in the comments section below!
