Education Benefits for Surviving Military Families
For families who have lost a loved one in military service, there are education benefits that can provide an important opportunity for surviving spouses and children to pursue college, career training, and other educational goals.
One program available is the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, commonly known as the Fry Scholarship. The program provides eligible surviving spouses and children with education benefits similar to those available under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The Fry Scholarship generally applies to eligible children and surviving spouses of service members or members of the Selected Reserve who died on or after September 11, 2001, under qualifying circumstances. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, qualifying circumstances can include a service member who died in the line of duty while serving on active duty, certain deaths from service-connected disabilities shortly after separation from active duty, and certain deaths involving members of the Selected Reserve. Eligibility rules can differ depending on whether the applicant is a surviving spouse or child and when the qualifying death occurred, so families should verify their individual circumstances directly with the VA.
Eligible beneficiaries may receive up to 36 months of education benefits. For the 2026–2027 academic year, benefits can include:
Public colleges and universities
Private and foreign schools
Monthly housing allowance
Online students
Books and supplies
Additional education and training
Students attending more expensive private institutions may also qualify for additional assistance through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
One particularly important change affects remarriage. A surviving spouse who qualifies for the Fry Scholarship can now retain eligibility after remarrying. In addition, some surviving spouses whose unused Fry Scholarship benefits previously expired may be able to have those benefits restored for use after January 2, 2025. Those seeking restoration need to apply again using VA Form 22-5490. Surviving spouses who receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) can also continue receiving DIC while using the Fry Scholarship.
Eligibility rules for children depend partly on when the service member died and when the child became eligible. Children may be married or unmarried and still qualify. Generally, they must have reached age 18 or graduated from high school or earned a GED before using the benefit.
The often-mentioned age-33 cutoff does not apply to every beneficiary. For example, when the qualifying parent died on or after January 1, 2013, there is generally no time limit for the child to use the Fry Scholarship. Other circumstances can also result in no expiration date. Families should avoid assuming they are no longer eligible simply because a child has reached a certain age.
Eligible family members can apply for the Fry Scholarship online through the Department of Veterans Affairs or submit VA Form 22-5490, Dependents’ Application for VA Education Benefits, by mail. Once an applicant has selected a school or training program, they should also work with the institution's VA certifying official to ensure enrollment information is properly submitted to the VA.
The Fry Scholarship can represent tens of thousands of dollars in education assistance and, in many cases, considerably more once tuition, housing, books, and other benefits are combined. Eligibility rules have expanded and changed over the years, particularly for surviving spouses, Selected Reserve families, and children facing older age limitations. Review the current eligibility requirements with the Department of Veterans Affairs before making a decision.
The Fry Scholarship cannot replace the service member whose sacrifice gave rise to the benefit, but it can help ensure that their surviving family members have an opportunity to continue building their futures through education.
Read the full article here.
