Educational Resources for Spouses 

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If you have post-secondary education goals for yourself and/or your children

keep reading below for information regarding funding sources

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Scholarships/Grants

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There are several organizations, both Coast Guard specific and military wide, that offer scholarships and grants for military spouses and dependents who are pursuing a college education. Scholarships and grants are not typically offered year-round, but rather, are open for applications during specific windows throughout the year. A list of some current scholarships and grants for Coast Guard spouses and dependent children can be found linked below. Funding via scholarships and grants is not always guaranteed, however, you can't be awarded funding if you don't apply!

 

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Discounts on Tuition

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Another option to help save money when pursuing a college education is to find a school that offers a discount. There are many institutions across the country that offer discounts on tuition to spouses and/or dependents of Active-Duty members. If you have flexibility with where you pursue your degree, you may want to consider searching for schools that offer this type of discount. A list of some schools that offer discounts to AD spouses and/or dependent children is linked below. Note: This list does not reflect every school that offers a military discount, they are simply suggestions to help you get started in your search. These schools are not endorsed in any way.

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Credit-by-Examination Program

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If you are looking for a more non-traditional way of gaining college credit, the Credit-by-Examination Program can help significantly reduce the time and cost of pursuing an undergraduate degree. These college level exams are free for Coast Guard spouses (both of AD and SELRES members) to take. If passed, they can be substituted for undergraduate credits (typically general education and/or elective course requirements) at many colleges and universities. Unfortunately, there is a cost for dependent children taking these exams, however, they are not very expensive (around $100 per exam). More information can be found linked below.

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Transferred GI Bill Benefits

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One more option to help reduce the costs of a college education for spouses and dependent children is to utilize transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. The Post 9/11 GI Bill allows service members (AD or SELRES, officer or enlisted) to transfer unused education benefits to their spouse and/or dependent children. Service members who find that they do not need to use their Post 9/11 GI Bill (or at least not all of it) may be able to transfer their unused months so this valuable benefit does not go to waste! There are very specific criteria you must meet if you're interested in this option, and service members are encouraged to reach out to their local Education Services Officer (ESO) for more information.

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Professional License Portability

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As a military spouse if you have a professional license and are required to move to a new state due to military orders, there is a law that was enacted in 2023 to help you find employment in your new state. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) ensures that military spouses’ professional licenses and/or certifications are considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline applied for in their new state if certain criteria are met. The Coast Guard’s Spouse License Reimbursement Program (SLRP) will also reimburse expenses up to $1,000 if you decide to move forward with obtaining your new state’s license when moving due to military orders. More information on the SCRA is linked below.