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A User’s Guide to Education Assistance Programs for the Military Spouse and Family

You can help those you love get the education they need with special programs available through the Department of Veterans Affairs and other helpful sources. Let’s take a look at what they have to offer.

Sidebar: Want to transfer part of your G.I. Bill benefits to a spouse or dependent? You may qualify through a selective reenlistment package. Check with your Army retention career counselor for details.

Spouse and Dependents Education Assistance Program through Dept. of VA
Your dependents may be able to take advantage of the Dependents’ Educational Assistance program (DEA) to meet educational and training goals in their lives. The program will cover up to 45 months of degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, on-the-job training, and, for spouses, correspondence classes. In some cases, remedial classes, courses for deficiencies and refresher programs may be approved as well.

Education Benefits Provided by the State
Some states offer assistance for the education of servicemembers’ families. This is most common for children of deceased, MIA, POW and disabled veterans and in some cases spouses as well. You can learn more about State Education Benefits in your area by clicking here.

Assistance through Private Scholarships and Grants
Often spouses and children of military servicemembers and veterans overlook the more than $300 million scholarship and grant opportunities available through private sources. These can vary in size from less than $100 to full tuition, room and board. Most dependents that overlook scholarships do so because of the following misconceptions:

Misconception #1: All school expenses are covered through VA education benefits.
- While the Survivor and Dependent Education Assistance program has great coverage, it may not cover everything. But with so many scholarships designed to make up for the extra expenses of school and living, there is no reason to rule them out.
Misconception #2: The competition for scholarships is too stiff and applying is a lot of work
- The truth is that the application process for scholarships varies widely. Applicants may only need to fill out a short form or they may have to write an essay. Even if they have to write an essay, it’s good practice for upcoming schooling. Plus, tell them to think of the big payoff they might get in the end.
Misconception #3: Finding a scholarship is tough.
- With the right resources, it is simple. That’s why we’ve created the USMilitary.com’s Scholarship Finder, which features thousands of scholarships designed just for military servicemembers and their families.

Here are some tips for scholarship searching:

Do your research. You may find that it can even be fun. Take advantage of our user-friendly Scholarship Finder to locate scholarships geared toward military personnel and their dependents.
Use more than one resource. We think our scholarship database is great, and it is extremely useful, but you may also qualify for non-military scholarships. Visit your local library to use scholarship directories or use another online directory that lists a wide variety of scholarships.
Look at the military related organizations in your community. You might be surprised how many service aid organizations, like the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, offer scholarships, grants and loans for educational use.
Don’t wait until the last minute. Start your scholarship search early. The deadlines are generally months in advance and sometimes as much as a year in advance of the reward.

If you’re not searching and applying for scholarships, you could be losing out on a lot of free money. Use our Scholarship Finder now.

ARMY
Family Education Programs
The Army offers the following programs to dependents of servicemembers:

SOCAD— The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) is a network of over 1,800 colleges that cater to the needs of servicemembers and their families who must relocate often due to military obligations. Both associate and bachelor’s degree programs are available at installations throughout the world and through remote learning options—many of which do not require any classroom residency. Each college in the network accepts credits from all the other colleges.

Learn more at the SOCAD official website.

Army Emergency Relief (AER) Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP)
The spouse of an active duty Army soldier or a widow(er) of a soldier who died in active duty, may be eligible for this need-based educational assistance program. The program is designed to help those who wish to pursue an education that will help them qualify for or move up in a desired career field. The limit for SEAP is $2,500 per academic year, and the spouse must reside in the United States.

Note: If the spouse’s employer already pays for tuition, s/he is not eligible for this program. However, assistance with additional fees, supplies, and/or books for classes (no duplications) may be permissible.

Visit the official Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program website for more information.

Spouse Education Assistance Program (EAP)
This assistance program is designed for the spouse of a servicemember who is stationed in Europe, Korea, Japan or Okinawa. The grant helps to cover some of the additional costs associated with education in a foreign land; the maximum benefit is $350 per term.

Learn more at the Spouse Education Assistance Program official website.

AIR FORCE
Family Education Programs
The Air Force offers the following programs to dependents of servicemembers:

Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC)
The SOC is a network of over 1,800 colleges that cater to the needs of servicemembers and their families who must relocate often due to military obligations. Both associate and bachelor’s degree programs are available at installations throughout the world and through remote learning options—many of which do not require any classroom residency. Each college in the network accepts credits from all the other colleges.

Visit the official SOC website for more information.

Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
This society offers two unique educational assistance programs:
General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant
Since 1988, over 74,679 need-based grants have been distributed through this initiative. Each award is now in the amount of $2,000 and can be used toward undergraduate studies (limited to tuition, books and fees, or other direct educational expenses). The following individuals may be eligible:

Sons and daughters of active duty, Title 10 AGR/Reserve, Title 32 AGR performing full-time active duty, retired, retired reserve and deceased Air Force members.
Spouses (stateside) of active duty members and Title 10 AGR/Reservists.
Surviving spouses of deceased personnel.

For more details and information regarding applications, visit the official General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program website.

General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)
This program is for spouses who accompany a servicemember overseas and wish to work on or complete a degree program. The Tuition Assistance program pays for 50% of unmet tuition charges per course (maximum of $1,500 per academic year).

Visit the official website of the General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Assistance Program for application details.

NAVY
Family Education Program:
The Navy offers the following programs to dependents of servicemembers:

SOCNAV
The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) is a network of over 1,800 colleges that cater to the needs of servicemembers and their families who must relocate often due to military obligations. Both associate and bachelor’s degree programs are available at Navy installations throughout the world and through remote learning options—many of which do not require any classroom residency. Each college in the network accepts credits from all the other colleges.

Learn more at the SOCNAV official website.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
The NMCRS offers two helpful programs:
Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP)
This program is available to the spouses of active duty servicemembers stationed at an overseas (OCONUS) location who wish to pursue an on-base certificate program, bachelor’s degree or graduate degree either part or full-time. For undergraduate students, a maximum of $300 per semester is issued with an annual cap of $1,500. Graduate students are covered $350 per semester with an annual cap of $1,750.

Official NMCRS offices are located in Guam, Guantanamo Bay, London, Naples, Okinawa, Roosevelt Roads, Rota, Sigonella, or Yokosuk.

Visit the official Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP) website for more information.

VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program
Each year 1,000 grants are awarded in the amount of $2,000 to spouses and dependent children of active or retired members of the Navy or Marine Corps. Each individual who applies is also evaluated for an interest-free loan up to $3,000. All applicants must be full-time undergraduate students at an accredited institution.

Note: Loan repayment begins 30 days after the award is issued and must be paid over a 24-month period.

Learn more at the official VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program website.
http://www.nmcrs.org/travers.html
COAST GUARD
Family Education Programs
The Coast Guard offers the following programs to dependents of servicemembers:

SOCCOAST
The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) is a network of over 1,800 colleges that cater to the needs of servicemembers and their families who must relocate often due to military obligations. Both associate and bachelor’s degree programs are available at installations throughout the world and through remote learning options—many of which do not require any classroom residency. Each college in the network accepts credits from all the other colleges.

Learn more at the SOCCOAST official website.

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA)
This flexible grant is for supplemental expenses (non-tuition expenses). You may receive up to $160 per year, which can be used for ANY family member’s educational expenses including study guides for ASVAB, CLEP, and SAT. This organization also offers several educational loan options.

Your local Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Representative or Education Officer can help you with the application. Or you can visit the official Coast Guard Mutual Assistance website for more information.

Other Educational Assistance
CLEP, DANTES and other tests are administered for free to dependent spouses of CG servicemembers and Federal Coast Guard employees.

Visit the official Coast Guard website to learn more.

MARINE CORPS
Family Education Programs
The Marine Corps offers the following programs to dependents of servicemembers:

SOCMAR
The Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) is a network of over 1,800 colleges that cater to the needs of servicemembers and their families who must relocate often due to military obligations. Both associate and bachelor’s degree programs are available at installations throughout the world and through remote learning options—many of which do not require any classroom residency. Each college in the network accepts credits from all the other colleges.

Learn more at the SOCMAR official website.

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS)
The NMCRS offers three helpful programs to Marine Corps servicemembers and their families:
The Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman-to-Admiral Education Assistance Program
This program makes grants and/or interest-free loans for up to $2,000 available to active duty servicemembers who have been accepted into the Enlisted Commissioning Program, the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, or the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program.

Note: You may also qualify if you are a Midshipman that has been released from active duty for immediate assignment to the NROTC program. In this case, you may apply through your NROTC commanding officer or by contacting the NMCRS headquarters.

Visit the official Admiral Mike Boorda Education Assistance Program website for more information.

Spouse Tuition Aid Program (STAP)
This program is available to the spouses of active duty servicemembers stationed at an overseas (OCONUS) location who wish to pursue an on-base certificate program, bachelor’s degree or graduate degree either part or full-time. For undergraduate students, a maximum of $300 per semester is issued with an annual cap of $1,500. Graduate students are covered $350 per semester with an annual cap of $1,750.

Official NMCRS offices are located in Guam, Guantanamo Bay, London, Naples, Okinawa, Roosevelt Roads, Rota, Sigonella, or Yokosuk.

Visit the official Spouse Tuition Aid Program website for more information.

Note: Loan repayment begins 30 days after the award is issued and must be paid over a 24-month period.

Learn more at the official VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loan Program website.