Numerous scholarships, grants, and loans are also available exclusively for members of the military and their family members. Applicants for all of our programs must plan to attend an accredited college or university during the school year as a full-time student. All loans, grants, and scholarships are designated for students seeking their first undergraduate degree. No loans, grants, or scholarships are applicable toward graduate study. There is one online application for all scholarships, grants, and interest-free loan programs. A few of these are described below; for information on these and other programs, visit the MOAA website.
American Patriot Scholarship
As a result of the terrorists’ attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the MOAA Scholarship Fund established the American Patriot Scholarship to help children of uniformed services personnel-officers and enlisted- who died while in Active service as a member of the Regular, Guard or Reserve Forces.
The amount and number of grants awarded to students is based on the amount of money raised each year from public and private donations made to MOAA. For the 2009-2010 school year, over 50 students whose parent died while in Active service are receiving a $5,000 grant. Each student is eligible to receive the American Patriot Scholarship for up to five years of undergraduate study at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university of their choice, but will be at least $2,500.
To qualify, a student must be a child of a member of the Uniformed Services who died while in Active service. They must be under the age of 24 at the time of application. The maximum age for students who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces before completing college will be increased by the number of years served, for up to five years of service or 29 years of age. Military academy cadets are not eligible for this program
General John Paul Ratay Educational Fund Grants
These $4,000 grants are limited to children of the surviving spouse of retired officers. A student cannon receive both a MOAA loan and a Ratay grant. Students applying for a loan who also meet the criteria of the Ratay grant automatically will be considered. No separate application is required.
Interest-Free Loan and Grant Program
Interest-free loans, MOAA’s main program, are renewable annually for up to five years of full-time undergraduate study. Assistance is available only to students who have not yet earned an undergraduate degree. The interest-free loan and grant program provides $5,500 loans, which are renewable for up to five years of undergraduate study. Students selected as loan recipients and their their military parent must sign a promissory note before funds can be disbursed. Loans are disbursed in two increments: one-half by early August and one-half by mid-December.
Designated Scholar Program
Loan recipients are automatically considered for this program. It replaces the $5,500 interest free loan with a $5,000 interest free loan and a $500 grant. No special application is necessary.
In addition to the programs mentioned above, there are also numerous scholarships and grants available for each branch of the military. Some examples include the Army Scholarship Foundation (www.armyscholarshipfoundation.org), and Navy-Marine Corp Relief Society Education Programs (www.nmcrs.org/education). More information can be found on these and other scholarships through MOAA’s Scholarship Finder at www.moaa.org/scholarshipfinder.
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