Education scholarships and interest-free loans empower Navy and Marine Corps spouses and children to pursue their academic and career aspirations.
WASHINGTON (March 10, 2025) — Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is pleased to announce its Education Assistance program is now accepting grant and interest-free loan applications for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application online through the NMCRS Education Assistance Application website. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2025.
For more than 60 years, the NMCRS Education Assistance program has inspired thousands of Navy and Marine Corps spouses and children to achieve their educational goals.
“These scholarships and loans can have a remarkable impact on the spouses and children of our service members as they chase their educational and professional goals,” said Andrea Nevin, NMCRS Education Assistance program manager. “Military life can present unique challenges for students, and this program aims to boost the journey toward a degree for children and spouses who indirectly serve too.”
The scholarships range between $500 to $3,000. The grants and interest-free loans are based on financial need and tuition costs for both full-time and part-time students with at least a 2.0 GPA pursuing undergraduate or master’s degrees at accredited two- or four-year post-secondary, technical, or vocational institutions.
Applicants with the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- Child: Career and Technical Education (CTE) or undergraduate students under the age of 23 as of September 30, 2025, and a dependent of an active-duty, retired, or deceased Sailor or Marine.
- Spouse: Pursuing a CTE, initial undergraduate or master’s degree and married to an active-duty or retired Sailor or Marine.
- Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) and Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP) Student: Enrolled in the MECEP or MECP are eligible for interest-free loans only.
Since 1964, NMCRS has provided educational assistance through scholarships and interest-free loans to eligible children and spouses of active-duty and retired Marines and Sailors. The impact of this program is seen in tangible, demonstrative ways amongst its past recipients.
“The support from NMCRS reaffirms the importance of investing in the education and growth of military families, ensuring that we can continue to contribute meaningfully to our communities and beyond,” said a Navy spouse who received a scholarship. “Thank you for recognizing and supporting the unique challenges faced by military families and helping us achieve our dreams and goals.”
A child of a Sea Service member reflected on how meaningful educational support from NMCRS was by remarking, “By aligning my career with my passions and values, I hope to not only achieve professional success but also cultivate a sense of personal fulfillment and pride, mirroring the satisfaction my father feels when he reflects on his military career.”
All NMCRS services and programs are made entirely possible through generous donations. For more information about the NMCRS Education Assistance program, as well as the many ways NMCRS supports active-duty and retired Sailors, Marines and their eligible family members, visit nmcrs.org.