NMFA, USPHS and NOAA Military Spouse Scholarships

Scholarship applications are open year round.

These are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, email scholarships@militaryfamily.org.

Questions about the Application

Am I eligible?

Our scholarship program eligibility is extended to spouses of all 8 Uniformed Services which are: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA

To be eligible to apply, BOTH of the following two statements must be true:

1.  You, the applicant, are the spouse of a Service member that served post 9/11/2001 and meets one of the below requirements:

• Active-duty service member
• Retiree (including medically retired)
• 100% Disabled Veteran
• Guardsman
• Reservist
• Fallen service member

or

• You are a 20/20/20 spouse

2. You have, or are eligible to hold, a valid military/Uniformed Services ID.

NMFA volunteers, employees and board members are NOT eligible to receive an award.

How do I apply?

You can access the scholarship application here.

When is the deadline to submit an application?

We are running a rolling application so the application will technically be open year round. However, we award on a quarterly basis. You only need to reapply once per scholarship year.

What if I haven’t chosen a school or am waiting for acceptance?

Since the application is open year round we recommend you wait and apply once you have been accepted and enrolled in your school or program.

What if I am not enrolled?

Wait until you have at least been accepted to the program before applying. We do not award those who aren’t accepted yet to a program. If you are accepted and enrolling soon it’s okay to apply.

Can I make changes to my application after I submit?

Yes. Send an email to request to scholarships@militaryfamily.org and we reopen your application.

To review your submitted application: login to your account, click “My Applications”, click blue button “Review your answers”.

How is my application evaluated?

Completed applications are reviewed and scored by a team of volunteers who see ONLY your short answer and essay responses.

What is the Required Forms Application?

After you submit your scholarship application you will be directed to fill out the Required Forms Application. This is required to be considered for a scholarship award.

The Required Forms Application collects additional documentation such as your spouse’s LES or DD214. The Required Forms Application also allows you to tell us where to send the scholarship check if you are awarded.

How do I submit the required documentation?  When is it due?

Scholarship documents should be uploaded as part of the application process in the Required Forms Application. You must have your documents uploaded before being selected for an award. They are due at the time you submit your application. Since applications are open year round – this is up to you.

How will I know I have been awarded a scholarship?

If awarded, at any-time during the scholarship year, you will receive an award email. In this email you will be directed back to your account to accept your award.

Questions about Scholarship Money

When can I use my scholarship money?

Scholarship awards will be made throughout the year. Once awarded, it can take a few months to process and send scholarship checks out.

How much will I receive if I win?

NMFA spouse scholarships are one-time/year awards averaging between $500 – $2500. The amount can depend on our donors and your educational or professional need. The average amount awarded is $1000.

When will my check be mailed?

We will award scholarships throughout the year. Checks will be mailed quarterly after winners are announced and verified. Checks mail 4-6 weeks after the final confirmation of check payable information and address.

First Quarter
Winners announced: January 2024

Second Quarter
Winners announced: April 2024

Third Quarter
Winners announced: July 2024

Fourth Quarter
Winners announced: October 2024

Where will my check be mailed?

Checks will be mailed directly to your school or program using the address you provide. In some instances, we can send scholarship funds as reimbursements. To do so, you must upload receipts and/or proof of payments. These documents can be uploaded during the application process.

What can my scholarship funds be used for?

Funds may be used for tuition, course or lab fees, program costs, program fees or exam costs/fees. In addition to college courses towards any level degree or certificate, scholarship funds may be used for professional expenses such as licensure/certification (or renewal), CEUs, professional examinations, and other related expenses such as fingerprinting and background check fees, or clinical supervision of mental health license hours. Business Owners: Funding can be used for military spouse-owned business needs including, but not limited to: inventory and merchandise, business marketing, branding, manufacturing, supplies,  permits, additional supplies.

Can I be reimbursed?

Yes, reimbursement is possible for career or professional expenses (for example: classes, exams, and fees for certification or licensure) paid by the applicant within the same year you are applying for a scholarship. Reimbursement is not available for tuition expenses.

Questions for Scholarship Recipients

What are my additional requirements?

Scholarship recipients will be asked to make sure their Required Forms Application is up to date with the correct information. Winners will also be required to submit a photo and thank you letter that we can provide our donors. Photos should be family photos, work photos, headshots, or something similar.

How do I submit the required documentation?  When is it due?

Scholarship documents should be uploaded as part of the application process. You must have your documents uploaded before being selected for an award. They are due at the time you submit your application. Since applications are open year round – this is up to you.

Do I have to maintain a certain GPA or # of hours?

No. There is no minimum GPA or full-time status requirement.

How long to I have to use my scholarship?

Scholarships checks have an expiration date and should be cashed within 90 days. You have till you are finished with your programming to use all the funds.

Will my scholarship be renewed?

Your scholarship is a one-time payment and does not renew.

Can I apply again next year?

Yes. We currently have no restrictions on the number of times you can apply and receive funding.

What if I move or switch schools?

If circumstances regarding your scholarship change, let us know immediately.

If your check has already been mailed, you must ensure funds are transferred to your new school or returned to NMFA. We cannot request a reissue until after we receive the returned check or a refund.

If your check is returned because you did not enroll as expected, if you decide to use your funds for another purpose, or if you do not notify us that your plans have changed, we may not be able to reissue the check.