MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program
Offered by Military Officers Association of America (MOAA Scholarship Fund) · Free to apply
The MOAA Scholarship Fund, run by the Military Officers Association of America since 1948, helps children of military families pay for college with a package of grants and interest-free loans. Children of any officer are eligible (the officer parent must hold a paid MOAA membership if the child is selected), as are children of active-duty or retired enlisted personnel; children of former enlisted members who left before retirement are not. Students must be 24 or younger, have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA (graduating seniors may apply), and enroll full time in a first bachelor's degree, an accredited two-year program or a trade school. One application, with academic, activity, military and financial questions and an essay on college plans, matches each student to board grants, $500 donor-named scholarships and loans; students then choose which parts to accept and can reapply each year. The fund approved $16.5 million for more than 1,500 students in 2025-26. Applications for 2027-28 are open November 1, 2026 to March 1, 2027.
Other deadlines near this one
- American Legion Auxiliary Children of Warriors National Presidents' ScholarshipDue March 1, 2027 · $5,000
- American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year ScholarshipDue March 1, 2027 · $10,000 (winner); $2,500 (3 runners-up)
- Arkansas Governor's Distinguished ScholarshipDue March 1, 2027 · Up to $10,000 a year for 4 years ($40,000 total)
How hard is the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program 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
- ~4 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.
- More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
- Fewer rivalsAn essay is required, which filters out casual applicants
- Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
- Fewer rivalsRequires a military or national-service connection
- Fewer rivalsRequires at least a 3 GPA
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 MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program?
These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.
- Open to high school seniors and current college students
- GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted)
- For active-duty military or veteran families
- Age 24 or younger
- Children of officers qualify (officer parent must hold a paid MOAA membership if selected); children of active-duty or retired enlisted members qualify; children of former enlisted members do not
- Must be 24 or younger with a 3.0 GPA; others may apply for case-by-case review
- Part of the package may be an interest-free loan repaid after graduation
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
- Essay required.
- Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.
Deadline and application cycle
The current deadline is March 1, 2027 at Noon Eastern. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open November 1, 2026.
- Application opens
- November 1, 2026
- Application deadline
- March 1, 2027 at Noon Eastern
- Finalists announced
- May 2027
Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.
Common questions about the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program
How much is the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program worth?
The MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program awards grants (incl. $500 donor scholarships) plus interest-free loans; amounts vary and is renewable in later years.
When is the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program deadline?
The current deadline is March 1, 2027 at Noon Eastern. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around March 1 each year. Applications open November 1, 2026.
When do MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program applications open?
Applications open November 1, 2026, and close March 1, 2027 at Noon Eastern.
Who is eligible for the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program?
Key requirements: Open to high school seniors and current college students; GPA of 3 or higher (unweighted); For active-duty military or veteran families; Age 24 or younger.
Does the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program require an essay?
Yes. The application requires an essay and a transcript. Expect to spend about 4 hours on it.
How hard is it to win the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program?
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: an essay is required, which filters out casual applicants and an official transcript is required. Plan on about 4 hrs of work.
Is the MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program free to apply?
Yes. The MOAA Scholarship Fund Education Assistance Program 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
- Maine Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits100% of tuition and mandatory fees at Maine public colleges · due June 30, 2027
- Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation$2,500-$10,000/yr (renewable up to 4 years) · due March 1, 2027
- Massachusetts Public Service GrantFull tuition (public) or UMass Amherst tuition (private) · due May 1, 2027
- Michigan Children of Veterans Tuition GrantUp to $2,800 per year full time ($11,200 lifetime maximum) · due June 30, 2027
- Missouri Wartime Veteran's Survivors GrantTuition plus up to $2,500 per semester for housing and books · due June 30, 2027
- Montana War Orphans Tuition WaiverUndergraduate tuition at Montana public colleges · due June 30, 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.