Financial Aid for Military Service Members and their Famillies
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families engaging in higher education can receive financial aid in the form of school and college grants to help fund college degrees and pay for related school expenses.
In order to assist servicemen and women with their education and career advancements, several departments of the military provide college grants to support students paying for college. Not only have the military created education grant programs for their personnel, military and veteran school and college grants are also available to assist the spouses and dependants of military members.
Air Force College Grant Programs
The Air Force Tuition Assistance (TA) program helps active-duty personnel pursue voluntary, off-duty educational development. The program pays the complete cost of college tuition up to $4500 per year. Air force personnel can receive the tuition assistance grant to enroll in academic college courses and degree programs at technical schools and two- or four-year institutions on base, off base or by long distance learning.
As one of the most popular Air Force financial aid programs, the General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program is designed to assist children and spouses of active and deceased Air Force personnel. This is a need-based college grant that is awarded based on family income and the cost of tuition and is worth up to $2,000 per year. More information about this military grant program is available at http://www.afas.org/Education/ArnoldEdGrant.cfm
Army College Grant programs
Spouses of U.S. soldiers positioned in overseas commands can receive financial aid through the Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program (OSEAP). The grant program provides need’ based assistance to the spouses of active servicemen and women in order for them to pursue a college education to the value of $2,500 per academic year.
Navy and Marine College Grants
College grants were available to the Spouses of Navy and Marine service members who are serving overseas through the Navy/Marine – Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP). However the educational grant program has now being changed to a no-interest loan. It is available to the spouse of any Navy and Marine service members who are studying towards a certificate or degree program and undergraduate and graduate level at an accredited college or university on a part-time or full-time basis. Students can receive up to $3,000 per year for undergraduate and graduate studies.
Active Marine service members can apply for college grants worth up to $2,000 per year through the Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman to Admiral Education Assistance Program (AMBSAEA). The educational grant is available to active duty members who are accepted into the enlisted Commissioning Program, Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program or the medical Enlisted Commissioning Program.