Phone: 866-917-2373
[email protected]
We’ve collected our answers to the most common questions about enrolling and eligibility for our scholar families. In our FAQs for Families, you will find information about eligibility, how to enroll, age and GPA requirements, and more.
Our mission is to provide college and trade school scholarships and educational counseling to the children of military personnel who have passed away in the line of duty. Our goal is to bridge the gap in funding between available sources of grants and scholarships (i.e., VA Chapter 33 or 35, federal, state, local and private grants) and the total cost of college.
Dependent children – whether natural, by marriage or adoption – who have lost a parent in the line of military duty, during combat or peacetime. All branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force) and all components (active, reserve and guard) are covered.
We provide scholarships that cover a broad range of educational expenses. Support includes a $500 pre-college stipend for high school juniors and seniors to help with testing and application costs. For college students, we cover tuition and fees, books, and supplies, living expenses, and a one-time $1,650 computer stipend. After graduation, we may also reimburse eligible student loans and out-of-pocket tuition expenses.
A lifetime funding cap and a five-year maximum assistance limit per student has been implemented.
-Chapter 33 (FRY) students: lifetime funding cap of $75,000.
-Chapter 35 (DEA) students: lifetime funding cap of $100,000. Chapter 35 students typically receive less VA funding, often resulting in a greater financial need. Having a higher cap for Chapter 35 students will address this.
This cap is not a promised amount, but rather it is the maximum a student might receive based on documented need. Fallen Patriots will offer funding for up to five years, which doesn’t have to be used consecutively but must be utilized by students before they turn 34 years old.
These changes are necessary to help us serve more students, as demand has increased due to the high number of casualties in Iraq from 2007 to 2008. Our goal is to ensure Fallen Patriots’ resources are stewarded effectively, enabling us to support as many of our students as possible. Analysis of historical data across our current and past student population determined the majority of our students (99%) will not exceed these caps; however, a small number will be impacted by this change. Current students that have exceeded these caps will receive their final Fallen Patriots scholarship in both the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 term to allow time to plan for the Fall 2025 term/semester and beyond. The cap will be in effect as of Fall 2025.
Grants are assessed on a rolling basis and any award does not guarantee future awards. Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation reserves the right to change these policies at any time based on business conditions. These policy changes will enhance our ability to support our students while ensuring the student’s financial resources are allocated appropriately.
Beginning Fall 2025, all students who are living on campus (their housing is billed through their school) will be required to apply their MHA/monthly stipends towards their housing and associated fees. This delay will allow time for these students to apply for other scholarships and save their Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 MHA/monthly stipend and apply these funds to their Fall 2025 bill.
-Chapter 33 (FRY) – Students will be expected to apply their monthly VA MHA payments to their expenses for on-campus housing. Fallen Patriots will reduce the bursar balance less housing costs on statement. If the MHA does not fully cover on-campus housing costs, students can reach out to us, and we will review the remaining balance.
-Chapter 35 (DEA) – Monthly stipend of $1,536 (x3) will be deducted from the on-campus housing cost in the bursar statement. If the monthly stipend does not fully cover on-campus housing costs, students can reach out to us, and we will review the remaining balance.
Please be sure to enroll all students regardless of age or college status. However, students above the age of 33 will be evaluated for assistance on a case-by-case basis.
-Freshmen and Sophomores will be required to use their VA benefits.
-Juniors and Seniors may pause their VA benefits to be used for graduate programs but are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25*to receive tuition assistance from Fallen Patriots.
-Juniors and Seniors who choose to save their benefits but do not meet the Cumulative GPA of 3.25* requirement: the amount equivalent to their term/semester Chapter 33 (FRY) tuition benefit will be deducted from their total tuition bill and Fallen Patriots we will review the remaining balance.
All students living on-campus, their MHA/monthly stipend for that term/semester will be deducted from their housing bill (as explained in section #2). All students may still apply for the living expense stipend, provided they maintained a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in the previous term.
The first step in receiving scholarship assistance is by enrolling yourself or your family into our system. Enroll here.
We realize the strain that surviving families endure, so we strive to make our process as simple, user-friendly and flexible as possible. Our staff can handle many of your needs over the phone. Typical documents needed include:
Our scholarship committee seeks to maintain a streamlined grant approval process for you and your family. Grants are processed on a rolling basis. There are no hard deadlines, EXCEPT for living expenses. We do not retroactively assist with living expenses. We need all documents before the end of the semester in order to assist with living expenses. Grants which are received in a timely fashion with all necessary supporting documentation will be processed within 3-4 weeks of receipt.
Once the grant has been approved, a check will be cut and paid directly to the educational institution. For payments made to the institution, we will include your name and student account number on the check. Reimbursements will be paid by check directly to the person who made the payment and stipends will be addressed to the student in the form of a check.
*Please note that submission of documentation does not guarantee approval. Funding is awarded at the sole discretion of Fallen Patriots management and is based on available resources at the time of submission. Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation reserves the right to change these policies at any time.
