Training funding, scholarships and grants for veterans
Scholarships, grants, VA benefits and other money that can pay for training, certification exams or school.
59 programs listed. 43 are free with no VA benefit needed, 13 are free or paid through a VA benefit (GI Bill, VR&E or VET TEC 2.0), and 3 are paid or have unclear cost. 3 closed programs are listed last. Last checked Sep 30 to Oct 4, 2026.
Use the program finder to filter by who you are, your benefits, state and format. Questions about benefits? See the FAQ.
Check before you apply: details change often, so confirm on each program's official page. Verify details = some details not fully confirmed.
Programs (59)
- Offensive Security (OffSec) via VetSec
OffSec · Free
Periodic OSCP/learning subscription scholarships through VetSec
- SBIR/STTR (America's Seed Fund)
U.S. federal agencies via SBA · Free
Non-dilutive R&D funding ($50K to $2M+) for small tech businesses
- CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS / CyberAI SFS)
NSF / OPM · Free
Full tuition + fees, stipend, professional allowance at participating schools (BS/MS/PhD in cyber; now includes AI (Artificial Intelligence) under CyberAICorps)
- DoW (DoD) Cyber Service Academy Scholarship
Department of War (formerly DoD) CIO · Free
Full tuition, fees, books, laptop + stipend at NCAE-C (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) schools; service obligation in DoD (Department of Defense)…
- NC A&T State University - SFS (M.S. Cybersecurity, online)
North Carolina A&T State University · Free
MS Cybersecurity (fully online option) with SFS (Scholarship for Service) scholarship opportunity
- NC State University - CyberCorps SFS
NC State University · Free
SFS (Scholarship for Service) scholarship at NC (North Carolina) State
- Pat Tillman Foundation - Tillman Scholars
Pat Tillman Foundation · Free
Scholarship for degree costs (tuition, fees, living) + lifelong leadership network
- UNC Charlotte - CyberCorps SFS
UNC Charlotte College of Computing and Informatics · Free
SFS (Scholarship for Service) scholarship for cyber BS/MS students
- Florida tuition waivers for veterans (Purple Heart / combat decorated) Verify details
Florida Department of Education · Free
Tuition waivers at FL public institutions for qualifying veterans
- Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Verify details
Illinois Student Assistance Commission · Free
Tuition and fees at IL public colleges
- Maryland Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Verify details
Maryland Higher Education Commission · Free
Scholarship for MD residents who served in Iraq/Afghanistan
- Massachusetts Categorical Tuition Waiver (veterans) Verify details
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education · Free
Tuition waiver at MA public institutions
- NC Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans Verify details
NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs · Free
Tuition, fees, board for children of qualifying disabled/deceased wartime veterans
- New York Veterans Tuition Award Verify details
NY HESC · Free
Tuition awards for NY veterans
- Texas Hazlewood Act Verify details
Texas Veterans Commission · Free
Up to 150 credit hours tuition exemption
- Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) Verify details
Virginia DVS · Free
Tuition waiver for dependents of disabled veterans
- Wisconsin GI Bill Verify details
Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs · Free
Tuition remission at UW and WTCS
- PMI Military / Veteran Resources Verify details
Project Management Institute · Free
PMP (Project Management Professional)/CAPM training via O2O; PMI (Project Management Institute) chapter veteran scholarships
- Coursera Financial Aid
Coursera · Free
Application-based financial aid that discounts a paid Coursera course (course-by-course) so you can earn its certificate
- Department of Labor Credentialing via COOL (Army COOL)
U.S. Army · Free
Credentialing Opportunities On-Line info; Army Credentialing Assistance is for current soldiers only
- SpouseWorks Scholarship (formerly MyCAA)
DoD / Military OneSource · Free
Scholarship for military spouses toward licenses, certifications or associate degrees for portable careers (e.g. healthcare, IT, real estate)
- WIOA training funds (Individual Training Accounts) at American Job Centers - veteran priority
U.S. Department of Labor (ETA) through state and local workforce boards · Free
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult and Dislocated Worker funds can pay for approved training (Individual Training Accounts for programs on your state's…
- Google Career Certificates for Veterans (via Coursera / partners) Verify details
Google / Coursera · Free
Google Career Certificates (Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, IT (Information Technology) Support, AI (Artificial Intelligence) Essentials, Project Mgmt) free via partner scholarships
- Edina Realty Veterans to Realtors program Verify details
Edina Realty · Free
$1,500 of licensing education, training, technology tools or marketing support at no cost
- Gold Coast Schools veteran real estate scholarship (Florida) Verify details
Gold Coast Schools · Free
Scholarship covering Florida real estate pre-licensing courses and textbooks
- Linux Foundation Training Scholarships (LiFT) Verify details
Linux Foundation · Free
Scholarships for LF training + cert exams (incl. veterans/military categories in some years)
- Minnesota GI Bill Verify details
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs · Free
Grants for MN veterans in education
- NC Vocational Rehabilitation Services (state VR) Verify details
NC DHHS Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities · Free
Training, tuition help, assistive tech, job placement for people with disabilities
- NCWorks Career Centers - WIOA Training (Veteran Priority) Verify details
NC Department of Commerce / NCWorks · Free
WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) Individual Training Accounts can fund approved training/certs; veterans get priority of service; DVOPs for disabled vets
- mikeroweWORKS Work Ethic Scholarship (trade school)
mikeroweWORKS Foundation · Free
Scholarship toward trade school training for people pursuing skilled trades careers
- Operation Code
Operation Code · Free
Free mentorship, Slack community, scholarships for coding/conference
- Apprenticeship.gov (DOL) - Veterans apprenticeship finder Verify details
U.S. Department of Labor · Free
Registered Apprenticeship search incl. AI (Artificial Intelligence)/IT occupations; GI Bill OJT optional
- Hello Alice Small Business Grants (veteran grants when offered) Verify details
Hello Alice · Free
Periodic grants for veteran-owned businesses
- AMVETS National Scholarships Verify details
AMVETS · Free
Scholarships for veterans pursuing education
- Center for Cyber Safety and Education (ISC2) Graduate Scholarships Verify details
Center for Cyber Safety and Education · Free
Graduate cyber scholarships (amounts vary)
- Folds of Honor scholarships (including Path to Pro skilled-trades scholarships) Verify details
Folds of Honor (with The Home Depot Foundation Path to Pro) · Free
Scholarships for spouses and dependents of fallen or disabled U.S. service members (K-12, higher education and, through The Home Depot Foundation's Path to Pro, skilled-trades…
- Sentinels of Freedom (Bridge for Education, mentoring, STEM tutoring grants) Verify details
Sentinels of Freedom · Free
Bridge for Education Program, veteran mentoring, transition assistance, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) tutoring grants, veterans resource centers
- Student Veterans of America (SVA) Scholarships Verify details
Student Veterans of America · Free
Corporate-sponsored scholarships for student veterans (amounts vary)
- VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship Verify details
VFW / Sport Clips · Free
Up to $5,000 scholarship for service members/veterans
- BHHS PenFed Realty Real Heroes program Verify details
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty · Free with benefit (Up to $2,500 of licensing costs; terms apply)
Covers upfront real estate licensing costs up to $2,500 plus support joining PenFed Realty (Mid-Atlantic region)
- Western Governors University (via VR&E)
Western Governors University · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (~$4,500 to $5,500 per 6-month term; $0 if VR&E approves)
Online competency-based BS/MS (Cyber, Data Analytics, CS, AI (Artificial Intelligence)/ML MS) at flat-rate tuition
- VA GI Bill Flight Training
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Uses GI Bill entitlement)
GI Bill help paying for approved flight training toward advanced pilot certificates (Post-9/11 pays up to the annual cap; MGIB reimburses 60%)
- VA GI Bill for Non-College Degree Programs (trade and technical schools)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Uses GI Bill entitlement)
Use GI Bill benefits for approved non-college degree programs such as trade, vocational and technical schools
- VA GI Bill On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeships
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Uses GI Bill entitlement)
Use GI Bill benefits while you learn a trade on the job (e.g. plumbing, electrical, law enforcement, firefighting); Post-9/11 GI Bill pays a monthly housing payment plus books…
- NC State / UNC System online programs (in-state) Verify details
UNC System · Paid; GI Bill / VR&E may cover it (In-state tuition; $0 via VR&E)
In-state tuition for NC (North Carolina) residents; online MS in CS/Data Science/Analytics options
- Check Rudisill/Perkins extra GI Bill entitlement (up to 12 more months) Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Possible restoration of up to 48 total months of GI Bill (MGIB + Post-9/11) for veterans with qualifying periods of service
- Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Up to 9 extra months of Post-9/11 GI Bill for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) degrees
- VA Licensing and Certification Test Reimbursement Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Free if entitlement remains)
VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) pays cert/license exam fees (charged against GI Bill entitlement)
- VA VET TEC 2.0 Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit (Free (VA pays provider))
High-tech training at approved providers with housing allowance
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31) Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Full tuition, fees, books, supplies, tools (laptop), tutoring for degrees/certs aligned to a suitable career goal; also job placement and Self-Employment track
- VR&E Special Employer Incentive (SEI) Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) reimburses employer up to 50% of salary for up to 6 months for hiring an eligible VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment) veteran
- VR&E Self-Employment Track Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Business plan development, training, and possibly startup equipment/supplies for approved self-employment
- VR&E Non-Paid Work Experience (NPWE) Verify details
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Free with benefit
Training/work experience at federal/state/local gov while receiving VR&E (Veteran Readiness and Employment) subsistence
- VetFran Verify details
International Franchise Association · Not always free (Discounted (not free))
Franchise fee discounts for veterans
- Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) Verify details
DVNF · Free
Supply relief, grants to veteran-serving nonprofits, resource referrals
- NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) Verify details
State of North Carolina · Free
State benefits help, veteran service officers, NC4ME, scholarships
- FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship (Accredited Financial Counselor) Closed
FINRA Investor Education Foundation with AFCPE · Free
Covers AFC (Accredited Financial Counselor) training and testing for military spouses
- AFCEA War Veterans Scholarship Closed Verify details
AFCEA Educational Foundation · Free
$2,500 merit scholarship for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)/C4ISR undergrad
- StreetShares (veteran business lending) Closed Verify details
StreetShares / MeridianLink · Cost unclear
Former veteran-focused small business lender and veteran business award