Scholarships for Military Children
Scholarship Sponsored by Fisher House Foundation
Overview
The Scholarships for Military Children Program honors the sacrifices of military families and recognizes the commissary’s contribution to the military community by awarding college scholarships to eligible dependent children.
Important dates (2026–2027 academic year)
- Application window: December 10, 2025 – February 11, 2026.
- Notification: Recipients will be notified by mail on or about May 15, 2026. Because of the large number of applications, those not selected will not receive a notification.
Awards
- For the 2026–2027 school year, 500 scholarships of $2,000 each will be awarded.
- At least one scholarship will be given at every commissary location that receives qualifying applications. Additional awards are distributed on a prorated basis, so commissaries with larger applicant pools may receive more than one scholarship.
- Funding is made possible through donations; awards are administered at commissaries worldwide operated by the Defense Commissary Agency.
Other opportunities
You may also visit the Scholarships For Service site for information on additional scholarship programs.
Who is eligible
- Unmarried military dependent children under age 23 who hold a valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card.
- The sponsor/parent 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.
- Applicants do not have to live on an installation with a commissary; simply choose the commissary where you shop or the one nearest to you.
Academic requirements
- Must be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time in an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree, or in a community/junior college program intended for direct transfer to a four-year institution.
- High school applicants: minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (unweighted, 4.0 scale).
- College applicants: minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (unweighted, 4.0 scale). College freshmen must submit a first-semester college transcript.
How to apply
- The student must personally complete the online application and attest to that fact when submitting.
- Steps:
1. Create an account that you can return to if needed.
2. Complete every tab of the application (a green checkmark indicates a completed section).
3. Write and upload a short essay of up to 500 words. The essay topic will be posted when the application opens.
4. Submit required transcripts: high school or college transcripts meeting the GPA thresholds above. College freshmen must include a first-semester transcript.
5. Verify military dependent status by entering the benefits number printed on the reverse of the applicant’s USID card. If you are eligible for a USID but do not yet have one, schedule an appointment with your installation’s personnel office and bring the necessary documentation.
If you need help or have questions, check the program website or contact the scholarship administrator before the application deadline.