Postsecondary Education Scholarships for Veteran’s Dependents

To provide eligible veteran's dependent undergraduate postsecondary students with non-need based grant assistance to help meet educational expenses.

The student must be an eligible veteran’s dependent whose parent or guardian was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001. At the time of the parent or guardian’s death, the student was less than 24 years of age or enrolled at an institution of higher education. The applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens and have a high school diploma, or a GED. Applicants must apply annually using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To be eligible, the applicant must meet all IAS Grant eligibility requirements, and must not have a Federal Pell Grant eligible Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Eligible veteran’s dependent undergraduate students, and students pursuing a teaching certificate that are U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens. Students must be: regular students in an eligible program and enrolled in institutions of higher education, making satisfactory academic progress. Incarcerated students, except those incarcerated in local penal facilities, are ineligible. Students must sign a statement of educational purpose, not owe a refund on a Title IV grant, and not be in default on a Title IV loan. Eligible males that are at least 18 years old and born after December 31, 1959, can receive aid only if they have registered with the Selective Service. The eligible veteran’s dependent student cannot receive both an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant and Federal Pell Grant during the same award year.

Student completes a "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" and submits it to the processing agency specified on the form. Students may apply using a paper application, an electronic application, or via the Internet. The Department of Education calculates the student's financial eligibility for assistance and returns a notification to the student of his or her eligibility for assistance. The student submits this notification to the institution of his or her choice in order to have his or her award calculated.

Institutions act as disbursing agents for the Department of Education. The institution that the student attends calculates and disburses the IASG. The Secretary shall award grants under this section in the same manner, and with the same terms and conditions, including the length of the period of eligibility, as the Secretary awards Federal Pell Grants, except that the award rules and determination of need applicable to Federal Pell Grants shall not apply to grants under IASG. The amount of the IASG award is the same as the maximum Pell Grant for the award year, adjusted for the student’s enrollment status and cost of attendance.