Coast Guard veterans who have been honorably discharged can take advantage of their military education benefits to pursue a degree. Scholarship programs can help to make it easier for them to cover these expenses.
Even though education benefits available to veterans are very generous, they may not be high enough to cover the full cost of obtaining a college degree. Scholarship funds can help to bridge the gap and since they don’t have to be paid back, they are a much better choice for post-secondary students than taking out a loan. Depending on the program, the funds can be used to help pay for tuition, books, room and board, or other expenses the student must cover to pay for the cost of his or her education.
Thomas Edison State College Foundation Scholarships
The College offers scholarship funding to military veterans (including former Coast Guard members) and their dependents. The awards are financed by donations made by students, staff members and the Foundation. The exact amount awarded each year depends on the level of donations received. Separate scholarships are offered annually to applicants and students enrolled at the College.
Women’s Memorial Foundation Scholarship
The Foundation offers up to $5,000 in scholarship funds to female military veterans who are working toward a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. A separate program administered by the Foundation awards a $1,000 scholarship to a student pursuing an undergraduate degree in Nursing.
Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship
Veterans of all branches of the military, including the Coast Guard, are eligible for the Pat Tillman Military Scholarship. Full-time students, whether they are taking classes on campus or online, are eligible to apply for this type of educational assistance.
No minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) is required to apply for a scholarship. In order to qualify for funding in subsequent years, recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A number of criteria are considered when choosing Tillman Scholarship recipients. The applicant’s educational and career goals, as well as personal achievements are looked at. Prospective Tillman Scholarship recipients should also be able to demonstrate that they have been involved in community service activities.
Part of the application process involves writing two personal essays. The applicant’s answers to these questions are carefully considered, along with the other materials submitted, when determining whether to award a scholarship to a particular applicant.
Applying for a scholarship should not take the place of investigating other options for paying for a post-secondary degree. Coast Guard veterans who want to further their education should make a point of learning about all of their options for paying for school. Military veterans can take advantage of student loan programs to fill in any gaps in funding between what they are entitled to under the Montgomery Bill or the New GI Bill.
Coast Guard veterans should also be aware that they can transfer their education benefits under the New GI Bill to a dependent child if they wish. This flexibility means that the money can be put to good use by someone in the family.