Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)

DEA, also called Chapter 35, is a federal VA education benefit for the children of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, who died from a service-connected disability, who died in the line of duty, or who is missing, captured or held by a foreign power. It is an entitlement, not a contest: every eligible child can use it. For October 2026 through September 2027 the VA pays the student $1,621 for each full month of full-time college or trade-school enrollment, with lower rates for part-time study. For school or training that starts on or after August 1, 2018, a child can receive up to 36 months of benefits, roughly four nine-month academic years. Children who became eligible, turned 18 or finished high school on or after August 1, 2023 have no age limit to use it. Families apply online at VA.gov or by mail, and the school certifies enrollment each term. Some children qualify for both DEA and the Fry Scholarship but can only use one at a time.

Other deadlines near this one

• Fry Scholarship
  Due August 1, 2027 · Full in-state public tuition, or up to $30,908.34/yr private, plus housing allowance
• South Carolina Tuition Grants
  Due August 1, 2027 · Up to $5,000 per year (2026-27 maximum)
• Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program
  Due August 1, 2027 · Up to $500 per term, for a maximum of eight terms ($4,000)

How hard is the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35) 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.

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 rivalsRequires a military or national-service connection
• More rivalsA large award draws far more applicants

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 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)?

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, current college students, transfer students, and adult learners
• ✓For students who lost a parent in military service or active-duty military or veteran families

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 August 1, 2027 (estimated). The last verified deadline has passed; the next cycle is projected from this award's usual August 1 deadline. Confirm the exact date on the official site. There is no annual deadline. Apply on VA.gov a few months before the first term so the school can certify enrollment; the August 1 date is only an anchor for fall start.

Apply any time after turning 18 or finishing high school

Any time

New monthly rates take effect

October 1, 2026

Common questions about the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)

More military & service families

• Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program (TASSP)
  Up to $30,000 a year (or cost of attendance, if lower) for up to four years · due September 30, 2027
• Texas Tuition Exemption for Children of POW or MIA Service Members
  Exempts all tuition and fees at Texas public institutions · due August 31, 2027
• University of North Georgia ROTC Grant
  Up to $1,500 a year; up to $4,000 a year with an officer contract · due June 30, 2027
• Washington Tuition Waiver for Dependents of Veterans and National Guard Members
  All tuition and fees at Washington public colleges, plus a $500 a year book stipend · due June 30, 2027
• Wings Over America Scholarship
  $5,000 · due March 1, 2027
• Wisconsin GI Bill (Children of Eligible Veterans)
  Full tuition and segregated fees at UW and Wisconsin technical colleges for up to 8 semesters or 128 credits · due June 30, 2027

Lists this award appears on

• No-Essay Scholarships
• Renewable Scholarships (Multi-Year Awards)
• Scholarships for Military Families and Veterans
• Community College Scholarships and Transfer Aid
• Scholarships With August Deadlines