Financial Aid for Kids of Active Duty Military?

My dad is in active duty and money's kinda tight at our place. I was wondering if colleges provide financial aid for kids of folks in active duty. If yes, what's the process?

Absolutely, there are various kinds of financial assistance available to children of active-duty military personnel.

One of the prime resources is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is used by colleges across the country to determine a student's eligibility for need-based financial aid. Based on your family's income and assets, the FAFSA uses the Student Aid Index (SAI) to measure your family's financial strength and determine how much you can pay. The resulting financial aid package can include federal grants, work-study funds, and loans.

Next, you have programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If your parent chooses to transfer some or all of their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to you, you can use it to help pay for your education. This program could potentially cover all resident tuition and fees at public colleges or up to a certain amount per year at private or international schools, as well as possibly providing a housing allowance and stipend for books.

There also exist specific scholarships and grants for children of active-duty military members, such as the Military Commanders' Scholarship Fund, AMVETS Scholarships, and more. Requirements vary for each scholarship, so it’s important to check the criteria.

To start this process, you should fill out and submit your FAFSA as early as possible. For the Post-9/11 GI Bill, your parent would need to initiate the benefits transfer. And for military-specific scholarships and grants, you would need to search and apply through each individual program.

Remember, every bit helps when it comes to funding your education. The combination of federal aid, GI Bill benefits, scholarships, and other resources can potentially make a significant impact on your college costs. Best of luck!