By MOAA Staff

Applications to the MOAA Scholarship Fund’s Education Assistance Program soared over a two-year span, with nearly 1,800 students applying for grants and interest-free loans for the 2025-26 school year, up from 1,338 in 2023-2024.

The program, open to children of all officers and of active and retired enlisted members, began in 1948 as a way to help offset the cost of education for military families. In recent years, program officials have allocated more funds to grants rather than loans, providing even greater relief from rising tuition rates. The fund distributed more than $4.5 million in grants in the 2024-25 academic year and will offer a range of funding options to accepted applicants this cycle.

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“We are beyond excited to be able to offer this increased level of support to military families facing the growing cost of higher education,” said Amanda Centers, MOAA’s vice president of development. “But it doesn’t happen without the generosity of our members – whether it’s an individual donor with a one-time gift, a long-standing member of one of our donor societies, or a combined effort from one of our councils or chapters, every donation makes a difference.”

Scholarship Fund 101

Learn all about the program – including eligibility requirements, application timelines, and more – at the MOAA Charities website. Some basics:

• Officer parents must have a paid MOAA membership for their child to participate.
• Students must be 24 years old or younger.
• Applications are accepted Nov. 1 to March 1 for the following academic year, with finalists announced in May and disbursements made by Aug. 31.
• The program does not cover postgraduate programs, but does cover trade schools and accredited two-year programs along with four-year undergraduate studies.

Applicants in this year’s cycle will receive updates via email on their application status. Reach out to edassist@moaa.org with further program questions.