Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)
Offered by Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) · Free to apply
The VAIC Scholarship helps veterans and service members who served in Afghanistan (on or after October 24, 2001) or Iraq (on or after March 19, 2003), and their children, stepchildren and spouses, attend a Maryland college. A high school senior qualifies through a parent's qualifying deployment; no death or disability is required. Awards are up to $9,189 a year for students living on campus, $5,756 off campus, or $5,186 living with parents, and cover tuition, fees, room and board. Veterans get priority over dependents, and within each group awards go in order of complete application date, so applying the day it opens matters. Students apply through the MHEC One App in MDCAPS with a birth certificate and military orders or DD-214 showing the deployment. Renewals continue for up to four years full time.
Other deadlines near this one
- Connecticut Minority Teacher Incentive ProgramDue October 15, 2027 · Up to $5,000/yr for two years, plus $2,500/yr loan reimbursement for up to four years teaching
- Florida First Generation Matching GrantDue October 15, 2027 · Varies by institution (state matches private contributions raised by each campus)
- Daniels Scholarship ProgramDue October 15, 2027 · Up to full cost of attendance at partner schools; up to $25,000/yr at other schools outside CO/NM/UT/WY; up to $7,500/yr at other schools inside those states
How hard is the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) to win?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure.
- Odds
- no published selection data
- Paperwork
- ~3 hrs to file
What drives the odds here
Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.
- Fewer rivalsOpen only to Maryland residents
- Fewer rivalsRequires a military or national-service connection
How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.
Who can apply for the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Must be a resident of Maryland
- Must attend a college in Maryland (the award does not travel out of state)
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- For families with post-9/11 service in Iraq or Afghanistan
- Parent must have served in Afghanistan or Iraq (or contiguous waters or airspace) in the qualifying periods
- Must be a Maryland resident admitted to a Maryland college
- Veterans are awarded before dependents; dependents are ranked by complete application date
Personalized matching
Does your student actually qualify?
Not sure your student clears every rule above? Solyo checks 20+ criteria against their real profile: GPA, state, grade level, intended major, and more, across every award in this directory at once.
What the application takes
No essay, recommendation letters, or transcript are required. This is one of the lighter applications in the directory.
Deadline and application cycle
The next projected deadline is October 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual October 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open January 15. Gather the parent's DD-214 or orders before January 15 and submit on opening day; awards follow completion date.
- Application opens
- January 15, 2027
- Application closes
- October 15, 2027 (estimated)
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)
How much is the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) worth?
The Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) awards up to $9,189 per year and is renewable in later years.
When is the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) deadline?
The next projected deadline is October 15, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual October 15 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. Applications open January 15. Gather the parent's DD-214 or orders before January 15 and submit on opening day; awards follow completion date.
When do Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) applications open?
Applications open January 15, and close October 15, 2027 (estimated). Gather the parent's DD-214 or orders before January 15 and submit on opening day; awards follow completion date.
Who is eligible for the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)?
Key requirements: Must be a resident of Maryland; Must attend a college in Maryland (the award does not travel out of state); Open to high school seniors and current college students; For families with post-9/11 service in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Does the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) require an essay?
No essay is required. The application is light on requirements. Expect to spend about 3 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC)?
A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first. No published applicant or winner counts exist for this award, so Solyo shows no odds figure. What is known: open only to Maryland residents and requires a military or national-service connection. Plan on about 3 hrs of work.
Is the Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) free to apply?
Yes. The Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship (VAIC) is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.
More military & service families
- Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy and Jean B. Cryor Memorial ScholarshipsUp to $14,086 per year · due July 15, 2027
- Florida Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled VeteransFull tuition and registration fees at Florida public institutions; a matching fixed amount at eligible private institutions · due April 1, 2027
- Folds of Honor Higher Education ScholarshipUp to $5,000/yr · due March 31, 2027
- Fry ScholarshipFull in-state public tuition, or up to $30,908.34/yr private, plus housing allowance · due August 1, 2027
- Georgia HERO ScholarshipUp to $2,000 a year ($8,000 total) · due June 30, 2027
- Hazlewood Act Legacy (Transfer to a Child)Exempts tuition and most fees at Texas public institutions, up to the veteran's unused credit hours · due August 31, 2027
Lists this award appears on
Award details are curated by Solyo and verified against the official scholarship page. Deadlines and requirements can change between cycles, so always confirm on the provider's site before applying.