Navy Scholarships

Sources for Scholarships Aimed at the Navy

The maritime branch of the military specializes in seafaring operations, but education opportunities for armed forces personnel are also present on land.  Sailors and their families enjoy access to quite a few scholarship opportunities that reward them for academic excellence and service to their county. For Navy personnel, financial aid originates from diverse sources, including ROTC programs, individual colleges and philanthropic funds established for the benefit of service members.

Deployment creates unique educational conditions, so distance learning is gaining ground among military staffers.  As a result, increasing numbers of scholarships target the needs of web-based college students in the military. The G.I. Bill fortifies educational financing for countless members of the military, and the following opportunities provide supplemental resources for Navy personnel.

Naval Special Warfare Foundation Scholarships

Navy Seal Foundation Scholarships are awarded to dependents and spouses of active duty Navy SEALS and other military personnel serving in Naval Special Warfare (NSW) commands. Selection is based on merit, including academic achievement and an essay. Other criteria used to evaluate applicants include:

• GPA
• SAT Scores
• High School graduating class ranking
• Extracurricular participation
• Volunteerism
• Leadership abilities
• Military record
• Employment history where applicable

Undergraduate students starting or continuing studies at 2 or 4-year accredited colleges and universities are eligible to apply. Scholarships are also applied to expenses related to these higher education pursuits:

• Associate’s Degree
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Certification
• Vocational training
• Licensure
• Graduate Degrees – This benefit is only extended to active duty operators and their spouses – children of Sailors are not eligible for Graduate school tuition assistance.

UDT-SEAL Scholarships and Had Richards UDT-SEAL Memorial Scholarships are awarded to dependents of UDT-SEAL Association members who have served, or are currently serving, in the Armed Forces and the Navy Special Warfare community. Dependent children are eligible to apply, provided the Association member has paid his or her dues for the last four consecutive years. Qualified applicants are single, and no older than 22 years of age at the time of scholarship application. Scholarships are earmarked for undergraduate expenses, and selections are made based on merit, academic achievement, community service, extracurricular activities and a required essay. The Had Richards UDT-SEAL Memorial Scholarship is worth $1,000, and the NSW Foundation determines the valued of annual UDT-SEAL scholarships.

Navy Counselors’s Association

Navy Counselors Association Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to dependents of active NCA members, and deceased members in good standing.  Applicants currently enrolled or accepted at a college/university or vocational/technical institute qualify for student assistance by submitting the following application materials:

• Recent educational transcripts
• Copy of sponsor’s membership card
• Completed scholarship application
•  500 word essay discussing the applicant’s professional and educational goals

Additional selection criteria include academic achievement, civic engagement, extracurricular involvement, GPA and test scores.  recent awards, worth $1500 each were distributed to students attending the University of Tennessee and Louisville State University.

Scholarships from the Fleet Reserve

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) provides approximately $90,000 worth of scholarships annually,  to deserving students who are dependents of active FRA members in good standing, or deceased members who were in good standing at the time of death. The FRA awards several scholarships each year, some of which carry donor-specified criteria. Applicants are evaluated based on financial need, academic accomplishment, individual character, and leadership skills. These scholarships are awarded to FRA members serving in the Navy, Marines Corps or United States Coast Guard, and to their spouses, children and grandchildren. Following are some of the scholarships the FRA administers:

• The FRA Walter Beall Scholarship is an aviation-oriented award for military personnel pursuing degrees in areas like aeronautical engineering.
• The Ladies Auxiliary of the FRA puts forth its own brands of scholarships, which benefit similar classes of students.  Sponsors who are members of the organization put-forth nominees, who qualify based on need and achievement.
• Colonel Hazel Elizabeth Benn U.S.M.C. Scholarship provides educational funding for a very specific subset of military students.  Dependent, unmarried children of former or currently enlisted Navy medical personnel, who have served with the Marine Corp, are eligible to apply.

NROTC

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps students receive generous educational funding for their participation in the program.  Four year scholarships are  available, as well as minority-only initiatives and benefits from the campus-specific NROTC College Program.