Financial Aid for Veterans and Military Personnel
First, you served your country, and we honor you for your service.
Now it’s time to serve yourself by investing in your education. Financial aid can be a great way to fund your education and your future. Several financial aid programs can assist with tuition costs for military members, veterans, their families, and their spouses.
The first step to financial aid is to file the FAFSA. Next, it’s time to apply for grants and scholarships. Many grants and scholarships are there to serve members of the military, and many other scholarships will waive application fees for veterans.
Financial aid for veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of education benefits for veterans and their dependents. These benefits can be used to cover the cost of tuition, books, and other education-related expenses.
The Department of Defense offers financial assistance to military members and their families. The Tuition Assistance program provides up to $4,500 per year in tuition assistance for eligible service members.
Federal financial aid for active military and veterans
There are several federal financial aid programs to help service members, veterans, and their families pay for college. These programs can cover tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses.
There are several federal financial aid programs to help service members, veterans, and their families pay for college. These programs can cover tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses.
There are a few different ways to get financial aid for college through the military. The first is the Montgomery GI Bill, which provides up to 36 months of funding for education benefits.
Service members can also apply for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which covers up to 100% of tuition and fees for specific schools.
Active duty service members may also be eligible for Tuition Assistance, which covers up to 100% of tuition and fees for courses taken while on active duty. Other financial aid options include scholarships and grants specifically for military families.
Visit the Military Education Benefits Guide for more information.
Education and career training by Dantes
Indiana financial aid for active military and veterans
Military personnel and veterans have served us, so Indiana is proud to serve them. State financial aid is available through many programs that cover many current and former military members. See Indiana’s available financial assistance to military and veterans.
Indiana has specific programs tailored to help our military and veterans who reside here.
The following programs are:
Indiana Purple Heart Recipient Program
The Indiana Purple Heart Recipient Program covers 100% of tuition and regularly assessed fees for Hoosier veterans who are recipients of the Purple Heart decoration This program funding is limited to a maximum of 124 credit hours and may be used at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
Adult Student Grant
The Adult Student Grant offers a renewable $2,000 grant to assist returning adult students in starting or completing an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or certificate. To qualify, students must be financially independent as determined by their FAFSA form, demonstrate financial need, and be enrolled in at least six credit hours.
National Guard Supplemental Grant
The National Guard Tuition Supplement Grant provides 100% of tuition and regularly assessed fees at public Indiana institutions for eligible members of the Indiana Air and Army National Guard. Students can attend either full-time or part-time.
Next Level Jobs
The Workforce Ready Grant pays tuition and regularly assessed fees for qualifying high-value certificates (in the fields of Advanced Manufacturing, Building & Construction, Health Sciences, Information Technology & Business Technology, and Transportation & Logistics) at Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University or another approved training provider. The grant is available for two years and covers up to the number of credits required by the qualifying program.
National Guard Extension Scholarship
The National Guard Scholarship Extension Program is a limited scholarship that provides 100% of tuition and is regularly assessed to former National Guard members who left the Guard under honorable discharge conditions, used the National Guard Supplement Grant in the past and who served on active duty overseas since September 10, 2001. Students can attend either full-time or part-time.
Former Guardsmen who believe they may qualify for this program can review the application and rules at ScholarTrack.IN.gov or contact:
Indiana Army National Guard
2002 South Holt Road
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Financial aid for children and spouses of active military and veterans
There are also several scholarships and financial aid opportunities for children and spouses of active military and veterans. Below are several examples.
Child of Deceased or Disabled Veteran
The Child of Deceased or Disabled Veteran Program provides regularly assessed fees for children of deceased or disabled veterans. This program funding is limited to a maximum of 124 credit hours and may be used at the undergraduate and professional degree levels.
Children of Purple Heart Recipient or Wounded Veteran
The Child of Purple Heart Recipient or Wounded Veteran Program provides regularly assessed fees for children of deceased or disabled veterans. This program funding is limited to a maximum of 124 credit hours and may be used at the undergraduate and professional degree level.
Children and Spouse of Indiana National Guard
The Children and Spouse of Indiana National Guard Program provides 100% of tuition and regularly assessed fees for students who are the child or spouse of a member of the Indiana National Guard who suffered a service-connected death while serving on state active duty. This program funding is limited to a maximum of 124 credit hours.
Soldiers and Sailors Children’s Home
The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home Program provides 100% of tuition and regularly assessed fees for students who are former students and/or graduates of Morton Memorial High School and former residents of the Indiana Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s home. This program funding is limited to a maximum of 124 credit hours and may be used at the undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree level.
Children and Spouse of Public Safety Officers
Children and Spouse of Public Safety Officers Program provides up to 100 percent of tuition and regularly assessed fees at Indiana public college and universities for students who are children or spouses of certain Indiana public safety officers (PSO) killed in the line of duty or permanently disabled state troopers.
Student loan options
Student Loan options are another way for students to get the funding they will need to pay for college. There are different types of Student Loans. When choosing a student loan, it’s important to compare interest rates, repayment terms, and fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is the invisible first accordion item. Do not remove this or the functionality will be lost.
