Scholarships

Important Note about Financial Aid for Veterans and Military Family Members

As a military affiliated student, you must apply for FAFSA to qualify for additional assistance such as Pell Grants and/or loans. These will not disrupt or take away your VA Educational Benefits. 

If you are recently separated from the service and/or you or your parents' financial situation has changed for any significant reason, it is advised that you complete a special conditions form. Completing this form allows you to provide reasons why current income information is different than recent tax information, which might allow eligibility for grant or other need-based awards that you might not receive otherwise.

Please reach out to the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Scholarships for Veterans and Military Family Members

State of Maryland Scholarships

Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program (Dependents)

The Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship provides assistance to children of a member of the United States Armed Forces who died as a result of military service or who suffered a service connected 100 percent permanent disability as result of military service.

Availability and award amount are limited. 

The application is published on the Forms and Online Services webpage each year (under “Aid Forms” you can select the pertinent aid year).

Logan Baumbusch is the point of contact for this scholarship at TU.

Email: lbaumbusch AT_TOWSON

Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program (Veterans and Dependents)

The Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance to United States armed forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq Conflicts, and their sons, daughters, or spouses who are undergraduate students enrolled in an eligible accredited Maryland postsecondary institution.

Availability and award amount are limited. Apply through MHEC (link above).

Towson University Scholarship

Nicholas Ziolkowski Scholarship (Veterans)

Clink the link to apply to this Memorial Scholarship, which has been established by Tracy Miller in memory of her son, Corporal Nicholas L. Ziolkowski. Corporal Ziolkowski was killed in action on November 14, 2004, serving his country with the 2nd Marine Division in the fight for Fallujah, Iraq. 

Other Scholarships for Military Family Members

AMVETS Children & Grandchildren Scholarship

Deadline: April 30th, 2026

Eligibility:

• Must be a United States Citizen
• Must be the child or grandchild of an Honorably/General under Honorable Discharged conditions United States Veteran or Active Military to include National Guard and Reserves
• Must be a 12th Grader entering college during the Fall Semester within the year of graduation
• Must meet the AMVETS/FAFSA requirements of a Regular Student
• Must be enrolled in an eligible degree program at an accredited four (4) year college or university (NO POST GRAD)
• Must demonstrate financial need
• Must not be in default on a federal student loan
• Must agree to authorize AMVETS to publicize scholarship award

Patriot Legacy Fund

Deadline: April 15th, 2026

Eligibility:

• Applicant has a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher
• Sponsoring parent has a DD-214 stating an honorable Discharge
• Sponsoring parent has a Service connected rating of at least 10%
• Must reapply each year

Army Scholarship Foundation

Deadline: (Apr 15^th 2026)

Eligibility:

• Be sons or daughters of regular active duty, active duty Reserve, or active duty National Guard U.S. Army members in good standing,

OR

Be spouses of serving enlisted regular active duty, active duty Reserve, or active duty National Guard U.S Army members in good standing,

OR

Be sons or daughters of former U.S. Army members who received an honorable discharge or medical discharge, or who were killed while serving in the U.S. Army.

• Be high school seniors, high school graduates, or registered as undergraduate students at an accredited college or post high school vocational/technical institution.
• Have a 2.0 grade point average on a 4-point system.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Not have reached their 24th birthday by the application deadline date in the year they apply if they are a child of an Army member.
• Not have previously earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university.

General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant

Deadline: April 30th, 2026

Eligibility:

• Children of U.S. Air force or U.S. Space Force members  retired due to length of active duty service or disability.
• Deceased member who died while on active duty or in retired status
• Must be under 24 years of age during the award year.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and remain in good standing with the school.
• Be considered a dependent of the Airman/Guardian for federal student aid purposes.

Scholarships for Military Children Program

Deadline: Application for 27-28 opens up December 2026

Eligibility:

The Scholarships for Military Children program is open to unmarried military dependent children under the age 23 who possess a valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card. In addition, a student's parent(s)/sponsor(s) must be one of the following: active duty, reserve/guard, deceased, or retired from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force.

• Must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree or a community/junior college designed to allow for a direct transfer into a four-year program.
• High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis).
• College applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. College freshmen must submit a first-semester college transcript.
• Applicants or sponsors do not need to live at an installation with a commissary – simply select the commissary where you shop or the one nearest to you.

Heroes' Legacy Scholarship

Deadline: Application for 27-28 opens up December, 2026

Eligibility:

Dependent unmarried children under age 23 of active-duty personnel, Reserve/Guard, retired service members and *disabled service members OR survivors of service members who died while on active duty may apply if they meet one of the following additional criteria:

• One of the parents died while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 in any branch or component of the US Armed Forces
• *One of the parents, while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, became disabled - meaning that the parent qualified for receipt of Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)
• *One of the parents, who was on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, received a permanent and total compensation rating of 100% from the Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Only students who possess a valid (not expired) U.S. Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card or a DOD dependent ID:
• Applicants must enroll or plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree or a community/junior college designed to allow for a direct transfer into a four-year program.
• High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 basis)
• College applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund 

Eligibility:

A dependent son or daughter of a U.S. Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Guardsman, or Marine who has:

• Been killed in action.
• Become 100% totally & permanently disabled as a direct result of a combat mission, with priority given to those who have a single combat-related disability rated at 70% or more. This does not apply to Servicemembers who are Silver Star or Purple Heart medal recipients, as they only need a combined 100% total and permanent disability rating. Qualifying parent must have received an Honorable discharge.
• Suffered a major limb amputation due to enemy action
• Been classified as a Prisoner of War (POW) or as Missing in Action (MIA).
• Been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, or the Coast Guard Cross.
• Been involved in a training accident that resulted in the death of the Servicemember or caused an immediate inability to continue serving (immediate discharge based on the injury at 100% total and permanent disability and qualifying parent must have received an Honorable discharge).

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation

Deadline: The application for 27-28 will open on January 1, 2027

Eligibility Requirements:

• Child or step-child of one of the following:
  • Active duty, Reserve, or veteran* U.S. Marine
  • A Marine killed while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps
  • Active duty, reserve, or veteran U.S. Navy Corpsman, Navy Chaplain or Religious Program Specialist who is or was attached to a U.S. Marine Corps unit or who was killed while serving with a U.S. Marine Corps unit*
• Minimum unweighted 2.00 GPA
• Demonstrate financial need through a family adjusted gross income of $117,000 or less for the 2024 tax year
• Attending or planning to attend an accredited school that is eligible for federal funding
• Submit a completed application with all required documents by the deadline

* Veterans must have received an honorable discharge.

Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Educational Scholarship

Deadline: May 15, 2026

Eligibility:

• Be a PVA member, spouse, or unmarried dependent child under age 24 (as defined by IRS dependency guidelines)
• Be a United States citizen
• Be accepted and enrolled as a full-time or part-time student at an accredited U.S. college or university
• Previous scholarship recipients are welcome to apply; however, applicants are limited to receiving no more than two scholarships per lifetime.

The Purple Heart Scholarship Program

Deadline: May 1, 2026

Eligibility:

• The spouse of a Purple Heart recipient who is a member of Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), or
• The direct lineal descendent (child, stepchild, adopted child, grandchild, step-grandchild, or great-grandchild) of a Purple Heart recipient who is a member of MOPH, or
• The spouse, widow/widower, or direct lineal descendent as defined above of a service member killed in action (KIA) or who died of wounds. If the Purple Heart recipient is listed as KIA or died of wounds, supporting documentation and evidence must be included with the application.