Are there scholarships for military spouses attending college?

I'm a junior in high school with plans to attend college, and I'm also a military spouse. I've heard that there are special scholarships or grants available to military families, specifically for spouses. With college being such a huge expense, any help would be amazing. Can anyone point me in the right direction for finding grants or scholarships targeted at military spouses? Also, I'm curious if anyone has personal experience applying for these types of awards and how competitive they tend to be.

Indeed, there are many scholarships and grants available specifically for military spouses to help cover education expenses. Here are a few that you might want to explore further:

1. My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA): This scholarship provides up to $4,000 of tuition assistance to eligible military spouses. The scholarship assists spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2 who are pursuing licenses, certificates, certifications, or associate degrees necessary for gainful employment in high demand, high growth portable career fields.

2. National Military Family Association (NMFA) Spouse Scholarship: The NMFA offers scholarships to military spouses to help them continue their education, which includes degree programs, licensing or certification costs. The amount varies every year and it's a competitive process.

3. ThanksUSA Scholarship Program: ThanksUSA offers need-based scholarships to the children and spouses of active-duty personnel across all the military services, including the reserves. Scholarships are awarded in the amount of $3,000.

4. Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Program: This career development and employment assistance program helps military spouses pursue licenses, certificates, certifications, or associates degrees necessary for gainful employment in high demand, high growth portable career fields and occupations.

Regarding the competitiveness, it varies from scholarship to scholarship. Some might be more competitive due to the amount awarded or the eligibility requirements. But do keep in mind that the more specific a scholarship is in terms of eligibility (e.g., scholarships for spouses of certain branches or ranks), the pool of applicants might be smaller, which could potentially increase your chances.

Remember, pursuing these scholarships and grants requires effort and a bit of strategy. To increase your chances of success, start the process early, follow the application instructions closely, and ensure you highlight your unique experiences and dedication in your personal statement or essay, if required.

Finally, it's also a good idea to reach out to your post's family services or educational services officer (ESO). They often have information about locally available scholarships and grants and could offer further guidance. Good luck!