What Scholarships Are Available for Veterans in 2026?
Veterans can find education funding through Veteran-specific scholarships, school-based scholarships, professional organizations, state programs and VA education benefits. Some opportunities are available for traditional college, while others support trade schools, certifications, graduate programs and specialized career training.
| Scholarship | Award | 2026 Deadline / Application Window | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Australian Association Veterans Fund | Up to $40,000 | September 30, 2026 | Veterans pursuing eligible undergraduate or graduate study in the U.S. or Australia |
| RERF Veteran Stipend | $2,500 | September 30, 2026 | Veterans pursuing formal training, licensing or recycling-related careers |
| Dr. Aurelio M. Caccomo Memorial Scholarship | Two $12,000 awards | Application currently available — verify deadline | Veterans and Guard/Reserve members with financial need |
| VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship | Up to $5,000 | August 1–November 15, 2026 | Veterans and service members pursuing college, trade school or other postsecondary education |
| Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship | $2,000 | November 1, 2026 | Veterans enrolled in college or graduate school |
| Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship | Amount varies | November 1, 2026 | Veterans and service members pursuing law school |
| DLA Piper BRAVO Scholarship | Up to $6,000 | September 8–November 13, 2026 | Veterans pursuing a legal career |
| Forward Foundation Veteran Scholarship Program | $1,500–$2,500 | October 1–November 15, 2026 | Veterans pursuing accredited education plus mentorship |
| Patriot Art Foundation / Portrait Society Veteran Scholarship | Full conference scholarship | October 15–November 30, 2026 | Veterans pursuing art, portraiture or related creative education |
| California Farm Academy Veteran Scholarships | Full scholarship | 2026 program availability | Veterans interested in farming, agriculture and food systems |
1. American Australian Association Veterans Scholarships
Up to $40,000
Deadline: September 30, 2026
The Veterans’ Fund supports eligible American and Australian Veterans pursuing full-time undergraduate or graduate study between the U.S. and Australia.
Best for: Veterans considering eligible study in the U.S. or Australia.
2. RERF Veteran Stipend
$2,500
Deadline: September 30, 2026
This one is particularly interesting because it isn’t limited to traditional college.
The Recycling Education and Research Foundation offers a $2,500 stipend to U.S. military Veterans enrolled in formal training or licensing programs. Applicants need proof of Veteran status, enrollment, a resume, recommendations and short written responses.
Best for: Veterans pursuing technical training, licensing or careers connected to recycling.
3. Dr. Aurelio M. Caccomo Memorial Scholarship
Two $12,000 awards
AMVETS’ Caccomo Scholarship is specifically for U.S. Veterans or Guard/Reserve members. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and be enrolled or accepted into an eligible education program. The application requires documentation including military discharge/status, transcripts, FAFSA information, tax documentation and a resume.
Best for: Veterans with demonstrated financial need.
Application currently available—verify deadline
4. VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship
Up to $5,000
Spring 2027 application window: August 1–November 15, 2026
This is one of the strongest entries because the sponsor itself confirms that the spring 2027 application period is currently open.
The scholarship can be used for postsecondary and trade-school education. Sport Clips says the program has awarded more than 3,500 scholarships totaling more than $16 million.
Eligibility includes: Veterans and service members, with additional program requirements.
5. Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship
$2,000
Deadline: November 1, 2026
This one is currently open and specifically includes Veterans.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens attending an accredited college or university. The application requires a resume, transcript and a 750–1,000-word essay.
Best for: Veterans currently enrolled in college or graduate school.
6. Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship
Amount varies
Deadline: November 1, 2026
This is a particularly good niche opportunity for Veterans pursuing law school.
The scholarship is for Veterans or current service members admitted to an accredited law school and considers both merit and financial need. Applicants submit military documentation and a statement explaining their service, legal career goals and how the award would affect their ability to pay for law school.
Best for: Veterans headed to law school.
7. DLA Piper BRAVO Scholarship
Up to $6,000 in combined support
Applications: September 8–November 13, 2026
This is another excellent niche opportunity.
BRAVO—Building Relationships to Advance Veterans’ Opportunities—is specifically for Veterans interested in pursuing a legal career.
The award includes:
- $1,000 toward LSAT preparation/application fees
- $5,000 toward law school
Applicants must have served in the U.S. military, including Reserve and National Guard service, and be honorably discharged. A minimum 3.0 GPA is required.
8. Forward Foundation Veteran Scholarship Program
$1,500–$2,500
Applications open October 1; deadline November 15, 2026
The Forward Foundation’s Veteran Scholarship Program provides funding plus one-on-one mentorship through its ALPHA Team. Veterans pursuing accredited education programs can qualify.
- BRAVO Award: $1,500
- CHARLIE Award: $2,500
- 1:1 mentor matching
- Peer community
- Ongoing support
And the fall 2026 application cycle opens October 1.
9. Patriot Art Foundation / Portrait Society Veteran Scholarship
Full conference scholarship
Applications open October 15; deadline November 30, 2026
The Portrait Society of America is partnering with the Patriot Art Foundation to provide one full scholarship for a Veteran, including tuition, a three-night hotel stay and travel allowance for its 2027 conference.
Best for: Veterans interested in fine art, portraiture or using art as part of their next chapter.
10. California Farm Academy Veteran Scholarships
Full scholarships for qualifying Veterans
California Farm Academy says that, with support from the Farmer Veteran Coalition California Chapter, it is offering full scholarships to Veterans for its 2026 courses. The program includes hands-on agricultural education rather than a traditional four-year degree.
Best for: Veterans interested in agriculture, farming, food systems or land stewardship.
Education Funding Veterans Often Mistake for Scholarships
These aren’t technically private scholarships, but they’re education funding programs you should absolutely know about.
11. Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
Eligible Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill may receive up to nine additional months or $30,000, whichever comes first, for qualifying STEM education and training.
12. VET TEC 2.0
VET TEC 2.0 can help eligible Veterans and service members pay for high-tech training. VA’s 2026–27 rates include tuition and fees and potentially housing assistance.
13. Post-9/11 GI Bill
Veterans shouldn’t think of private scholarships in isolation. VA education benefits can cover tuition and fees and potentially housing and books, depending on eligibility and the program.
14. Montgomery GI Bill
For Veterans who qualify, MGIB-AD remains another education benefit worth checking. The important thing is determining which VA education benefit gives you the best overall value before enrolling.
15. VA Work-Study
This one is not a scholarship, but it’s exactly the kind of thing a Veteran searching for ways to pay for college should know about.
Eligible Veterans enrolled at least 75% in an approved program can potentially earn money through VA Work-Study while attending school.
More Legitimate Ways to Secure Funding
16. Your College’s Veteran Services Office
This should be one of the first places you look.
Many school-specific awards aren’t broadly indexed by Google.
Ask for:
- Veteran scholarships
- Department scholarships
- Emergency grants
- Institutional grants
- Program-specific awards
- Alumni scholarships
17. Your Financial Aid Office
Ask specifically:
“What scholarships can I apply for as a Veteran that aren’t automatically awarded through my VA benefits?”
That’s a much better question than simply asking whether the school has Veteran scholarships.
18. Your Degree Department
A Veteran studying cybersecurity should search for cybersecurity scholarships, not just Veteran scholarships.
The same applies to:
- Nursing
- Engineering
- Business
- Teaching
- Aviation
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Technology
19. Trade-School Scholarships
Veterans attending technical schools should search specifically for scholarships tied to:
- HVAC
- Welding
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Manufacturing
- Automotive
- Aviation
- CDL/trucking
- Construction
This is particularly important because the GI Bill can cover certain qualifying non-college-degree programs.
20. State Veteran Education Programs
Don’t overlook state benefits.
You may qualify for state-specific tuition assistance or scholarship programs based on residency, service history, disability status or other criteria.
21. Professional Associations
If you’re entering a specialized career, look at the organizations representing that profession.
Many have scholarships that don’t appear in Veteran-specific searches.
22. Employer Scholarships
If you’re already working while attending school, check whether your employer offers:
- Tuition assistance
- Scholarships
- Certification reimbursement
- Professional development funding
23. Veteran Service Organizations
Check education programs offered by organizations such as:
- VFW
- American Legion
- AMVETS
- DAV
- Student Veterans of America
- Military-specific foundations
Don’t assume every organization has an application open right now—but add them to your scholarship calendar.
24. CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder
This is an excellent official federal resource for finding scholarships based on education level, location and other criteria.
CareerOneStop’s database currently includes Veteran-specific opportunities such as the Boyk Law Veteran Scholarship and DLA Piper’s BRAVO program.
CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder
25. Your GI Bill Benefits Statement
Before applying for another scholarship, know exactly what you’ve already got.
Check:
- Remaining GI Bill entitlement
- Eligibility percentage
- Current benefit type
- School eligibility
- Tuition coverage
- Housing allowance
- Book allowance
Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to understand what benefits are available at the school or training program you’re considering.
