Financial Aid For Military And Veterans

Military members, veterans, and their families have a wide range of options to fund nursing school. In a recent year, more than 840,000 veterans, dependents, and family members received some form of educational assistance from the VA. Many veterans move into nursing for the same reasons they served: they want to keep helping people, they had good experiences with nurses during service, or they want a career with room to grow. This guide covers the main VA programs, ROTC and nurse corps routes, and outside scholarships.

One rule to keep in mind: using one VA program can limit your eligibility for others. You can generally use only one VA education benefit per period of service. To sort out which benefit fits your situation, call the VA at 888-442-4551.

VA Education Programs

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

One of the best-known military benefits, the MGIB covers tuition and housing for approved college and training programs. Amounts depend on your service and program. You generally qualify with a high school diploma, GED, or 12 college credits plus at least two years of active duty. Benefits apply only to approved schools and programs; if yours is not on the list, the school can request approval, though it is not guaranteed. Apply online, by mail, or in person, and confirm your enrollment each month once classes start.

Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

For members of the reserves, the MGIB-SR pays up to 36 months of education or training benefits. You must hold a six-year service obligation, complete initial active duty for training, and have a high school diploma or GED. Monthly rates change every year, so check the VA's current rate tables before you plan around a figure. To apply, get a notice of eligibility (DD Form 2384-1) from your unit, confirm your program is approved, and submit online, by mail, or in person.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers service members who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, and their children. You qualify with at least 90 days of active duty after 9/11, or 30 days plus an honorable discharge for a service-related disability, or a Purple Heart and honorable discharge. Recipients get up to 48 months of benefits, though many qualify for only 36. Benefits cover full in-state public tuition and fees, a housing allowance, up to $1,000 a year for books, and a one-time travel subsidy for certain rural residents. Eligible members can transfer benefits to their children. If you left service before January 1, 2013, you have 15 years to use the benefit; after that date it does not expire. Average processing time is about 30 days.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Yellow Ribbon extends Post-9/11 benefits to cover costs the GI Bill does not, such as out-of-state, private, foreign, or graduate tuition. The school and the VA split the difference. It is open only to participating schools that have not hit their student cap for the year, and you must already be eligible for the full Post-9/11 benefit. Once you receive your certificate of eligibility, send it to the school, which will tell you whether spots remain and how much it will cover.

National Call to Service

An alternative to the MGIB for veterans who completed a specific unbroken term in a designated military occupational specialty. Instead of standard education support, it offers a choice of awards: a $5,000 cash bonus, up to $18,000 in student loan repayment, 12 months of benefits at the three-year MGIB rate, or 36 months at half the lesser rate. Eligibility requires initial entry training, 15 months of active duty in a qualifying specialty, and continued service afterward. Apply online or call 888-442-4551.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

The DEA program supports families of veterans who were killed, captured, disabled, or are missing in the line of duty. Children qualify between ages 18 and 26; spousal benefits last 10 or 20 years depending on the situation. Benefits run 36 months and apply to approved schools and programs. Monthly rates change annually, so check the VA's current figures. Apply online or by mail (Form 22-5490).

ROTC Nursing Programs

The Reserve Officer Training Corps funds tuition, room and board, and costs like textbooks in exchange for a commitment to serve as a commissioned officer after graduation. You take military science courses alongside your regular classes and receive leadership training. You must meet enlistment standards, pass the physical fitness test, and maintain a minimum GPA set by your branch. The Army and Navy both run nursing-specific ROTC tracks.

Military Nurse Corps

Members of a military nurse corps receive scholarships or loan forgiveness in exchange for a period of service, full or part time, and enter as commissioned officers if they already hold a nursing degree. Military nurses serve on domestic or foreign bases and other placements, can pursue additional training that leads to raises or certifications, earn combat pay in combat settings, and qualify for retention bonuses. The Army, Navy, and Air Force each have a nurse corps.

Scholarships for Military and Veterans

Beyond VA benefits, many outside organizations fund military-connected nursing students.

American Legion Auxiliary Non-Traditional Student Scholarship. $2,000 a year for adults returning to school. Applicants should be active members of the American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of the American Legion.

American Legion Legacy Scholarship. Up to $20,000 a year, renewable for up to six awards, for children of post-9/11 veterans who died on active duty or carry a combined VA disability rating of 50% or higher. Need-based, for undergraduate or graduate study.

AMVETS Scholarships. $4,000 to $12,000 for veterans, active-duty members, reservists, and their spouses, children, and grandchildren.

Fisher House Foundation Scholarships. A set of awards including the Heroes Legacy Scholarship for children of members who died or were disabled after 9/11, plus funds for military spouses pursuing college, certification, or continuing education. Amounts and requirements vary.

Francis P. Matthews and John E. Swift Educational Trust Scholarships. Up to $25,000 a year toward tuition for students with a parent killed or permanently disabled by hostile action. File within two years of the death or disability determination, and attend a Catholic college.

Army Health Professions Scholarship Program. For active-duty Army members in qualified medical programs, including specialty nursing graduate degrees. Covers full tuition plus a monthly stipend (about $2,600), a $20,000 sign-on bonus, allowances for food and housing, and the cost of books and equipment.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship. For spouses and children of service members who died in the line of duty or from a service-related disability on or after September 11, 2001. Covers full in-state public tuition or a capped private-school amount, plus housing, books, and supplies. The cap changes yearly; check current VA figures.

Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship. For Purple Heart recipients, their spouses, and direct descendants enrolled full time as undergraduates. Amounts vary; membership recommended.

Pat Tillman Foundation. Merit-based scholarships, averaging around $10,000, for service members, veterans, and military spouses in full-time undergraduate or graduate programs.

Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship. $5,000 for service members and veterans ranked E-5 or below who show financial need, awarded with the VFW and Student Veterans of America.

Tailhook Educational Foundation Scholarship. $3,500 to $15,000 for children and grandchildren of Naval aviators, flight officers, air crewmen, or veterans who served aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, headed into an undergraduate program.

Veterans law office and similar private scholarships. Smaller awards, often around $2,500, are available from law firms and local businesses for veterans who submit proof of service and an essay. Search for current openings.

Resources for Active Military and Veterans

These organizations help you find and apply for benefits, and several offer their own funding:

The Department of Education's Federal Student Aid site lists aid for military personnel and families. The Department of Veterans Affairs site helps you find approved schools, research and apply for benefits, and track benefits news. Student Veterans of America advocates for veteran education and connects students with scholarships and mentorships through campus chapters. The Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans both help veterans secure benefits and employment resources. The American Legion, the nation's largest veterans' service organization, maintains a list of state-specific education benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the military pay for my nursing school? Yes, through scholarships or loan forgiveness in exchange for service in a military nurse corps. Members and veterans also qualify for education benefits during or after service that they can put toward nursing school.

Do military kids get financial aid? Children and dependents qualify for several VA programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance, plus a number of private scholarships.

Can you study nursing while in the military? Yes. ROTC and the nurse corps pay for school in exchange for service, and programs like the Army's AMEDD Enlisted Commissioning Program let members enroll in nursing school with costs covered.

Are military nurses in demand? Yes. The military recruits nurses and nurse practitioners with scholarships, loan forgiveness, and signing and reenlistment bonuses that reach $30,000 for RNs and higher for advanced practice nurses.

GI Bill is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Confirm current benefit details at the VA's official site.