Military Scholarships

• This scholarship must be used with military TA (tuition assistance) unless you are using MGIB-SR Chapter 1606 VA benefits or are the spouse of an active-duty service member. 

• The scholarship cannot be used with other VA benefits (exception VA 1606), or certain state/military benefits. 

• This scholarship cannot be used with any other scholarships awarded by A-State or certain State benefits. 

• For students using TA, only the courses listed on your TA requests are eligible for the reduced tuition rate. Any courses not listed on your TA will be at full cost. 

• Scholarship can only be used toward one degree at each level (one associate’s, one bachelor’s degree, and one master’s degree). 

• Scholarship can only be used by one member of a household at a time. 

• Amount awarded will not exceed the credit hour requirements of the student’s initial program. Should students change their degree program, they will be held to the original degree programs credit hour requirements. 

• The following programs are not eligible for the Military Scholarship discount:
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Doctor of Occupational Therapy
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nurse Anesthesia
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine 

• Must meet all A-State program requirements 

• Must maintain a 2.0 Cumulative GPA at the Undergraduate level or a 3.0 Cumulative GPA at the Graduate level throughout the degree program 

• Must be in Academic Good Standing with the University 

• Must maintain all requirements for Tuition Assistance if applicable 

• If you fail to meet the academic requirements, you will not be eligible for the scholarship the following semester. 

To receive the scholarship, the student must meet at least one of the following requirements. If you are unsure whether you qualify, please contact us. 

• Active-Duty service member receiving TA.

• Reservist or Guard member receiving TA or Chapter 1606 VA Benefits.

• Federal Employee/Civilian receiving TA from the Military.
  • Please contact your Career Field Manager to ensure that receiving this scholarship will not violate any guidelines for CTAP or other TA programs that could result in the discontinuation of your TA. This program is classified as an institutional scholarship.

• Retired Service Member receiving TA from the Military.
  • Most retired service members qualify for VA benefits. We suggest checking your eligibility for these benefits before applying for the scholarship.
  • If you decide to use TA, please contact your Career Field Manager to ensure that receiving this scholarship will not violate any guidelines for CTAP or other TA programs that could result in the discontinuation of your TA. This program is classified as an institutional scholarship. 

• Spouse of an Active-Duty/Reserve Service Member
  • Please upload a copy of your Military Spouse ID Card showing your name, your spouse’s name, your spouse’s military Active-Duty status, and a valid expiration date. This will be used to determine if you are eligible for the scholarship. Information on the Military Spouse ID Card.
  • If you are the spouse of an active-duty service member and do not have a Military ID card, you can complete the Verification of Spouse form. This will be sent to you as an email after submitting your application.

General Information 

The MIA/KIA Dependents Scholarship Program, created by Act 188 of 1973, was amended by Act 2127 of 2005, and subsequent legislation to include the dependents of disabled veterans. The Program, now called the Military Dependents Scholarship Program (MDS), provides financial aid for undergraduate students seeking a bachelor’s degree or certificate of completion at any public college, university or technical school in Arkansas who qualify as a spouse or dependent child* of an Arkansas resident who has been declared to be missing in action, killed in action, a prisoner of war, or killed on ordnance delivery, or a veteran who has been declared to be 100% totally and permanently disabled during, or as a result of, active military service.

*The Department of Higher Education uses the criteria of “dependent child” as defined by the U. S. Department of Education. 

Basic Eligibility Criteria 

An applicant must: 

• Be a bona fide Arkansas resident.

• Be a citizen of the United States or permanent resident alien.

• Be the biological or legally adopted child OR spouse of an eligible Arkansas veteran.
  • NOTE: Spouses are ineligible if they remarry.

• The student’s parent or spouse must have been declared to be a totally and permanently disabled veteran, prisoner of war, missing in action, killed in action, or killed on ordnance delivery during the course of active military duty after January 1, 1960.

• Be enrolled, or accepted for admission to, an approved Arkansas public or private institution.

• Provide required documentation as determined by the ADHE.

• Complete scholarship application.

• Death certificate or other documentation certifying the veteran’s death.

• Report of Casualty from the appropriate branch of the United States Armed Services or a copy of the veteran’s DD214 form.

• Documentation from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs citing service-connected, one hundred percent (100%) total and permanent disability.

• Copy of the application and statement of acceptance or denial of the federal program for dependents of veterans, Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA), and VA Certificate of Eligibility.

• Copy of legal adoption or court appointed legal guardianship for a dependent child.

• Copy of birth certificate (if dependent child).
• Copy of marriage license (if spouse).

Continuing Eligibility Criteria 

• Student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Student must complete a minimum of 24 semester hours per academic year.

Award Amount 

• Waives in-state tuition, on-campus room and board, and mandatory fees at eligible Arkansas institutions. 
• The MDS Program will cover the unpaid portion of the cost (if any) of tuition and mandatory fees and a room and meal plan when provided in on-campus facilities after three (3) months of Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) or Chapter 35 benefits have been deducted from the total costs. If there is no positive balance after deduction of DEA benefits, then no benefits will be paid.
• The MDS Program cannot be used to cover the cost of books, auto permit, damages or accessories to dorm room, or utility bills.
• The institution will be reimbursed for covered charges after verification of full-time (12 or more credit hours) enrollment each semester.
• Eligibility is limited to eight semesters or the achievement of a degree, whichever occurs first.
• The spouse will no longer be eligible if he or she remarries.

Deadlines 

• Deadline for the Military Dependent Scholarship application is July 1.                       
• Deadline for submission of supporting documentation is July 15. 
  
  

Apply on the ADHE website. 

Contact Information 

Please contact Kerry Smith, A-State's ADHE Program Specialist, for assistance with using the MDS at A-State. Email her at kesmith@astate.edu.

For assistance with Ch 35 VA benefits: 

• On-Campus/Traditional Students contact DJ Basham (dbashamjr@astate.edu) or call 870-972-3023 
• Online Students contact Brooke Hazelwood (militaryonline@astate.edu) or call 870-680-4840 

General Information

The National Guard Tuition Waiver, or NGTW, is an education benefit for current service members in the Arkansas Army National Guard or the Arkansas Air National Guard. The NGTW may be used with a National Guard Soldier’s Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill education benefit. Specific eligibility requirements can be found here. 

What you need to do:  

• The application period is 90 days long; 60 days prior to the start of the semester and 30 days after the start of the semester.
• Applications must be submitted each semester. See here for more information and to access the application.
• Applications must be submitted to the following email address: ng.ar.ararng.list.education-office@army.mil.  
• Air National Guard applicants must submit an NGTW application with Commander’s Letter of Good Standing through their Wing Headquarters.  
• A-State Online Students need to submit their application as early as possible. If your application is not accepted and processed by the school before the payment deadline, you may need to pay up front and be reimbursed by the scholarship later (unless you are also receiving FAFSA/federal financial aid).
  • For assistance with your bill, please contact onlinebilling@astate.edu. 

Contact Information:  

To check on the status of your application, please contact the National Guard.

Contact Kerry Smith, A-State's ADHE Program Specialist, for assistance using the NGTW at A-State or to check if we have received your scholarship from the ADHE. Email her at kesmith@astate.edu for assistance. 

For assistance with MGIB-SR Chapter 1606 VA benefits: 

• On-Campus/Traditional Students contact DJ Basham (dbashamjr@astate.edu) or call 870-972-3023 
• Online Students contact Brooke Hazelwood (militaryonline@astate.edu) or call 870-680-4840

• Apply for Tuition Assistance – Contact your Education Center 
  • Active-Duty/Reserve Service Members can go here to find out how to apply under your branch of service. You can also contact your branch’s Education Center for more information. Additional information here.
  • Civilians with a federal job can contact their branch’s Education Center and/or Career Field Manager for information on how to apply for TA.
    
    

• Register for Courses – We suggest registering for courses before you request your TA. This is to ensure that you will be registered for the same courses on your TA and that you know the correct term dates. If this information does not match, we will not be able to accept your TA. 
  
  
• Request TA – Using your branch of services TA portal, get a TA request for the courses you will be taking during the upcoming term and select the correct term date information. If the courses and dates are not correct, we cannot accept the TA, and you will have to contact your branch's education office to get a new one. 
  • If you cannot find a degree plan or course in the TA portal, contact militaryonline@astate.edu and we will add it. 
    
    
• Complete the Third Party Billing Authorization - Once you have an approved TA request with the correct information, complete the Third Party Billing Authorization steps. 
  • Complete the Treasurer's Office Third Party Billing Authorization Form.
  • Email the authorization from your third party sponsor (approved TA request) to thirdparty@AState.edu. If you are an A-State Online student, please copy onlinebilling@astate.edu on the email.
    
    
• Apply for the Military Scholarship – A-State's Military Scholarship is for Active, Reserve, and Guard service members who are using TA. The scholarship will reduce the cost of tuition to the Military TA cap of $250 per credit hour. Any other fees such as course materials are not covered by your TA or the scholarship. Please refer to the scholarship's webpage for more details. 
  
  
• When Will TA/Scholarship be Added to My Account? – Once the authorization steps are completed, your name will be added to the list of students receiving third-party funding. This is so we can ensure that you are not dropped for non-payment on the deadline because the school will not receive payment from the military until later. If you are accepted for the scholarship, it will be added to your account at the same time your TA funding is applied. 

Chapter 30 Recipients 

Active-Duty Service members and National Guard and Reserve AGRs are ineligible to receive standard Chapter 30 benefits for courses covered by military TA, except for instances of Top-up.  If a student enrolls in multiple courses, they cannot receive Chapter 30 benefits for those already covered by TA.  However, they remain eligible for Chapter 30 benefits for courses not included under TA coverage. Chapter 30 cannot be used with the Military Scholarship. 

Chapter 33 Recipients 

Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve Service members are eligible to receive Chapter 33 benefits for courses covered by military TA.  Depending on their mobilization duration, National Guard and Reserve Service members may receive Chapter 33 benefits ranging from 50 to 100%.  The university will be required to subtract TA benefits from the total tuition and fees reported to the VA, and Chapter 33 benefits are then applied towards any remaining out-of-pocket expenses. Chapter 33 cannot be used with the Military Scholarship. 

Chapter 1606 Recipients 

Effective May 17, 2021, restrictions have been lifted and reset for concurrent use of Federal Tuition Assistance and MGIB-SR (chapter 1606).  All eligible Selected Reserve Service members are permitted to utilize both TA and MGIB-SR benefits concurrently if enrolled in an educational program at least half-time.  However, concurrent usage is not authorized when enrolled less than half-time. Chapter 1606 can be used with the Military Scholarship, but not while you are also using TA. You can either use Ch 1606 with TA, use Ch 1606 with the scholarship, or use TA with the scholarship. 

If you drop a course that you are receiving TA for, TA funds will be returned to the respective branch of service in accordance with DoW MoU, paragraph 4.f.(2)(d). 

All students need to contact thirdparty@astate.edu to notify the office that they have dropped courses, and TA will need to be returned to the military. For assistance with your A-State bill if you drop courses due to military orders or other extenuating circumstances: 

• Online students please include militaryonline@astate.edu in the email. 

• Traditional students please include dbashamjr@astate.edu in the email. 

Assistance Requesting TA 

• If you cannot find your degree program or your courses and credit hours, please use the appropriate contact below. If you cannot view term dates, please make sure you are within the 45-to-7 day window before courses begin before reaching out. Term dates are not visible to students outside of the TA request window. If your TA portal/website is not working, you will need to contact your branch of service’s education office for assistance. 

• Online Students contact Brooke Hazelwood @militaryonline@astate.edu or call 870-680-4840  

• On-Campus Tradition Students contact DJ Basham @dbashamjr@astate.edu or call 870-972-3023 

Send TA Request Forms 

• Email your TA forms to thirdparty@AState.edu.  

• If you are an A-State Online student, also copy onlinebilling@astate.edu on the email. 

• Complete the Treasurer's Office Third Party Billing Authorization Form.

Assistance with the Military Scholarship 

• On-Campus/Traditional Students contact DJ Basham (dbashamjr@astate.edu) or call 870-972-3023 
• Online Students contact Brooke Hazelwood (militaryonline@astate.edu) or call 870-680-4840