With the cost of college at a historic high, incoming students should look for every possible opportunity to save money. Luckily, there are many scholarship opportunities that exist for Marines, their children, and their spouses.

Here are 14 college scholarships for Marines and their families:

1. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF)

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (MCSF) is the nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children. The scholarships are generally between $1,500 to $10,000 per year and are renewable for up to four years.

Who Is Eligible:

• Child or step-child of one of the following:
  • Active Duty, Reserve, or honorably discharged 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 2.00 GPA
• Demonstrate financial need through a family adjusted gross income of $112,000 or less
• Attending or planning to attend a school listed on the National Center for Education Statistic’s College Navigator website for the upcoming academic year

Sarah Bumgardner, AAFMAA Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement, spoke with Colonel Harold "Odie" VanOpdorp USMC (Ret.), Chief Operating Officer of MCSF, to discuss how the foundation was established to honor the service and sacrifice of Marines and Sailors, and the work being done to ensure their children can obtain higher education. Tune in to hear about the organization's mission and more.

2. Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Base/Post Scholarships

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) offers scholarships, grants, and loans for students seeking their first undergraduate degree.

Who Is Eligible:

• Applicants must be under 24 years old.
• Applicants must have a parent eligible for MOAA membership or be children of Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard, or retired enlisted military personnel.

3. The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (Marine Option) Scholarship

The Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Marine Option allows those with a fighting spirit the opportunity to earn a commission in the United States Marine Corps as they complete their studies at a participating college or university. If they rise to the challenge, they may become officers of the Marine Corps.

Who Is Eligible:

• U. S. Citizens age 17-23
• You must be physically qualified to meet Marine Corps standards
• You must obtain a basic SAT combined score of 1,000 or a 22 composite score on the ACT

4. Naval-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Education Assistance Program

The NMCRS Education Assistance Program is designed to help eligible Navy and Marine Corps families pursue their academic goals by providing scholarships and interest-free loans. Scholarships range from $500-$3,000 and loans are available up to $4,000.

Who Is Eligible:

• Children of Active Duty, retired or qualifying deceased Sailors and Marines
  • Must be under age 23 by September 30 of current academic year
  • Surviving children of Sailors and Marines who passed on active duty or after retirement
• Spouses of active duty or retired Sailors and Marines
• Active duty Sailor or Marine enrolled in a MECEP/MECP program is eligible for the loan
• Applicants Pursuing:
  • Career & Technical Education
  • Associate’s degrees
  • Bachelor’s degrees
  • Master's degrees

5. Marines’ Memorial Scholarship Program

The Marines’ Memorial Association & Foundation has multiple scholarship opportunities available for Veterans, military spouses, and their dependents. Applicants can apply for one (or more) scholarships they are eligible for.

• Richard & Susan Braun Family Scholarship — Two (2) $5,000 scholarships are available to those who have served honorably in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Caesar Viglienzone Memorial Scholarship — One (1) $5,000 scholarship is available to those who have served honorably in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Dr. Nancy M. Schonher Scholarship — One (1) $5,000 scholarship is available to female active duty servicemembers or reservists in the U.S. Armed Forces, has separated honorably from U.S. Armed Forces since 2016, is a current or former corpsman or medic in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, OR is a child or grandchild of an active Marines’ Memorial member.
• Wesley Hammon Leach Scholarship — Three (3) $2,500 scholarships are available to an active member of the Marines’ Memorial, a child or grandchild of a member, OR a student Veteran.
• Hammer Family Scholarship — One (1) $5,000 scholarship is available to U.S. Veterans who have separated no earlier than 2016 and plan to attend a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math undergraduate university/college program.
• Ruark-Wight Family Scholarship — One (1) $5,000 scholarship is available to those who have served honorably, or are currently serving, in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces OR the spouse or child of someone who served honorably, or is currently serving, in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

6. Marines’ Memorial Tribute Scholarship

The Marines’ Memorial Tribute Scholarship is designed to aid military personnel leaving full time service and entering an undergraduate or graduate program. The scholarships range from $2,500-5,000.

Who Is Eligible:

• Have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces and ended active service or moved to reserve status in the past three years
• Attending or planning to attend an accredited undergraduate or graduate program

7. Women Marines Association (WMA) Scholarship Program

The WMA Scholarship program currently offers nine scholarships from $500-$5,000 to provide applicants with the opportunity to attend an accredited college, university, or college-level trade school to pursue career aspirations and eliminate financial barriers to achieving success.

Who Is Eligible:

• Applicant must have served, or currently serving in the United States Marine Corps or Reserve;
• Be a direct descendant by blood, legal adoption, or stepchild of a Marine on active duty, or who has served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, Regular or Reserve;
• Be a sibling or a descendant of a sibling by blood, legal adoption, or stepchild of a Marine on active duty, or who has served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, Regular or Reserve, OR;
• Be a spouse of a Marine, OR;
• Have completed two years in a Marine Corps JROTC program AND
• All applicants must be sponsored by a WMA member.

8. 1st Marine Division Association Scholarship Fund

The 1st Marine Division Association Scholarship Fund was established to assist dependents of deceased, Missing in Action (MIA), or 100% permanently disabled Veterans of service with the First Marine Division. Grants of up to $2,500 per academic year are awarded to full-time undergraduate students (for up to a maximum of four years) who are attending an accredited college, university, or higher technical trade school.

Who Is Eligible:

• Dependents of honorably discharged Veterans who served in a unit that was part of, attached to, or was operating in support of the First Marine Division who are:
  • Deceased from any cause
  • Missing in Action
  • Totally and permanently disabled

9. Marine Corps Tankers Association Scholarship Program

The Marine Corps Tankers Association Scholarship Program is available for qualified dependents of Marine Corps tankers and dependents of military members who served in a Marine Corps tank unit.

Who Is Eligible:

• Active duty or reserve Marine tanker
• Marine in another occupational specialty who has served in a Marine tank unit
• Dependents, including spouses, children, and up to grandson or granddaughter of a Marine tanker

10. Marine Corps League Foundation Scholarship Program

The Marine Corps League Foundation Scholarship Program is for students seeking undergraduate college degrees or technical school credentials on a full-time basis.

Who Is Eligible:

• The children of United States Marines, Navy FMF Corpsman, and Navy Chaplains (Serving with Marine Units) who were killed in action
• Paid members of the Marine Corps League or paid members of the Marine Corps League Auxilliary in good standing.

11. National Military Family Association (NMFA)

The National Military Family Association (NMFA) spouse scholarships are one-time/year awards averaging between $500 – $2500. Applicants only need to reapply once per scholarship year and applications are accepted year-round.

Who Is Eligible:

• Spouses of a post 9/11 servicemember that meets one of the below requirements:
  • Active Duty servicemember
  • Retiree (including medically retired)
  • 100% Disabled Veteran
  • Guardsman
  • Reservist
  • Fallen servicemember
• 20/20/20 spouses
• You have, or are eligible to hold, a valid military/Uniformed Services ID.

12. The Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship

The Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship is available to active duty servicemembers, Veterans, current spouses, and surviving spouses from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard, who have served in both pre-and post-9/11 eras.

Who Is Eligible:

• Veteran and Active Duty military servicemembers from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces including the National Guard who have served in both pre-and post-9/11 eras.
• Current Spouses of Veteran or active servicemembers, including surviving spouses

13. Fisher House Scholarships for Military Children

The Scholarships for Military Children Program was created to recognize the contributions of military families to the readiness of the fighting force and to celebrate the role of the Commissary in the military family community. Five hundred (500) scholarship grants, each for $2,000, are awarded annually.

Who Is Eligible:

• Students with valid Uniformed Services Identification (USID) card.
• In addition, a student's parent(s) must be one of the following: Active Duty, Reserve/gGuard, deceased, or retired from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Space Force.

14. American Legion Auxiliary Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship

The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship to support the children of our warriors. Three $5,000 scholarships are awarded annually per geographic division, for a total of 15 scholarships. These scholarships are for undergraduate study only at a four-year accredited college or university, and may be used for tuition, books, fees, room, and board.

Who Is Eligible:

• Direct descendants of Veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during eligibility dates for membership in The American Legion: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941.
• Applicants must be in their senior year of high school.
• Applicants must complete 50 hours of volunteer service within the community during their high school years. Hours must be verified in writing by the recipient organization(s).