Have you heard about how the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) set a new record last year with its Scholarship Fund? The MOAA Education Assistance Program and its mission to alleviate some of the burden with educational costs has been supporting military families for more than 75 years.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, approximately $4.5 million in grants were distributed to students, and more than a thousand students were supported annually. We connected with MOAA President and CEO, Lieutenant General, U.S. Air Force (Ret) Brian T. Kelly, and their Vice President, Development, Ms. Amanda Centers, to learn more.
What would you like our readers to know about MOAA's Scholarship Fund Mission?
The MOAA Scholarship Fund supports the children of all ranks and branches of the uniformed services- officer and enlisted, active duty and retired- through grants and interest-free loans for undergraduate education. We want families to know this opportunity is open to all who serve, regardless of rank or branch.
Are any higher education trends (rising costs, alternative pathways, credentialing) shaping MOAA’s strategy with educational opportunities?
While college enrollment dipped during the pandemic, trade school interest has grown. Our program also supports students attending an accredited two-year+ trade school program, provided the student hasn't already earned a degree.
Are there any lesser-known grants or scholarships that you would like to highlight?
The MOAA American Patriot Scholarship is available to children of uniformed service members who died in active service or whose parent is receiving Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (T-SGLI) benefits. This scholarship offers up to $12,000 annually and is renewable for up to five years. Applicants must meet all program eligibility requirements (students must be under 24 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, a parent must be currently serving or a retiree, etc.).
Looking ahead, can you share any exciting future plans regarding MOAA's scholarship and educational opportunities?
Last year, we awarded a record $6.7 million in grants and $10M in interest-free loans, the highest in our program’s history. We’re working to sustain this level of support in the years ahead.
Is there anything else you would like to share on this topic?
We recognize the financial burden higher education can have on a family and the unique challenges children of service members face. MOAA and MOAA Charities are committed to partnering across sectors to help close the support gap and uplift the next generation of military-connected students and their families. The application for the 2026-2027 academic school year is open from 1 Nov. until 28 Feb.
Please visit their website to learn more about eligibility or to apply.
Testimonials of MOAA’s Impact
Mechanical Engineering (minor in German) Student:
“Thank you for giving me this unique opportunity as a military child to advance in higher education and allowing me to be the first in my family to attend college full-time after high school. This award will allow me to focus on my education for the near future and reduce the stress that the financial cost of college that burdens many students. With my degree, I want to move around the world and work for different companies and teams within the field to broaden my skills and experience, and most importantly toward being successful. One place specifically that I would like to move to is Germany because of the great food and rich history in not only motorsports but culture.”
Neuroscience and Economics (minor in Spanish) Student:
“I am so extremely grateful for the generous award that I have been gifted. It will truly help with the financial burden I am facing as a direct result of pursuing higher education. In the fall, I will be attending Yale University with the goal of majoring in Neuroscience. In addition to majoring in neuroscience, I will also be a part of the Navy ROTC unit. As of right now, my post graduate plans are to further my education by obtaining a master’s degree, my ultimate goal being to help people answer questions about their brain and the way it works. …Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity and your amazing generosity.”
Finance (minor in Biology, International Business, and Management Information Systems) Student:
“I have the incredible privilege, thanks to [the MOAA Scholarship Fund], to afford a college education and discover my passions. I get to enter the classroom and learn from world-class scholars as I ponder what the intersection of investing and biology means for the future of cancer treatments. I have the ability to speak to professors about how businesses can act with a stronger sense of moral integrity to ensure that people around the globe are paid fair, living wages. I truly cannot thank the donors of this program enough. One of my favorite quotes/parables is "If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime". To me, donors are those who help get a man a rod, show him where to meet his teacher, and the ones who celebrate him when he catches his first fish. The impact that you have had on my life, both professionally and personally, cannot be understated. I hope to be in a financial position in the future to be able to support a program such as this and invest in the future of our country.”
