Scholarships for Military Children

Scholarship Sponsored by Fisher House Foundation

Overview
The Scholarships for Military Children Program honors military families and the role commissaries play in the military community by awarding college scholarships to dependent children. For 2026–2027, the program will award 500 scholarships of $2,000 each. Funding comes from donations, and awards are distributed at commissary locations worldwide. At least one scholarship will be given at every commissary that receives qualified applications; commissaries with larger applicant pools may receive additional, prorated awards.

Important dates
- Application opens: December 10, 2025
- Application closes: February 11, 2026
- Recipients notified by mail: on or about May 15, 2026
Note: Because of the large number of applicants, only recipients will be notified.

Who is eligible
To apply you must be all of the following:
- An unmarried military dependent child under age 23 with a valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card.
- The sponsor (parent or legal guardian) must be one of: active duty, reserve/guard, deceased, or retired from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force.
- Enrolled or planning to enroll full time in:
- An undergraduate bachelor’s degree program, or
- A community/junior college program intended for direct transfer into a four-year degree program.

Minimum GPA requirements
- High school applicants: minimum cumulative GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0, unweighted scale).
- College applicants: minimum cumulative GPA 2.5 (on a 4.0, unweighted scale). College freshmen must submit a first-semester college transcript.

Where you apply (commissary selection)
You do not need to live on a military installation. When applying, choose the commissary where you shop or the commissary nearest you.

How to apply — step by step
The student must complete and submit the application personally and attest to that on the form.
1. Create an account on the application website so you can save progress and return later.
2. Complete every tab of the application form — a green checkmark means the tab is finished.
3. Write a short essay (500 words). The essay topic will be posted when the application opens.
4. Upload transcript(s):
- High school applicants: transcript showing a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale, unweighted).
- College applicants: transcript showing a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (4.0 scale, unweighted).
- College freshmen must provide a first-semester college transcript.
5. Validate military dependent eligibility by entering the benefits number from the back of your USID card. If you are eligible for an ID card but don’t have one, schedule an appointment with your military personnel office as soon as possible and bring the required documentation.

Practical tips from a teacher
- Start early. Give yourself time to draft and revise the essay and to obtain official transcripts.
- Keep copies of everything you upload and note the submission date.
- Make sure your GPA is the unweighted cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. If your transcript uses a different scale, get guidance from your school registrar before submitting.
- If you have questions, contact the scholarship program early — don’t wait until the deadline.

If you want, I can help you outline or edit your 500-word essay when the topic is released.