G. I. Dependents' Scholarship Program

This nationally renowned program was created by Act 633 and approved October 1947 by the Alabama Legislature.  It is administered by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and is governed by the Code of Alabama 1975, Section 31-6-1.  The veteran must meet the following qualifications to establish eligibility of his/her dependents.  A dependent is defined as a child, stepchild, spouse or the un-remarried widow (er) of the veteran.

Military Service: The veteran must have honorably served at least 90 or more days of continuous active federal military service or honorably discharged by reason of service-connected disability after serving less than 90 days.

Disability Requirements: The veteran must be rated 20% or more due to service-connected disabilities or have held the qualifying rating at the time of death, a former prisoner of war (POW), declared missing in action (MIA), died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died while on active military service in the line of duty.

Residency Requirements: The veteran must have been a permanent civilian resident of the State of Alabama for at least one year immediately prior to (a) the initial entry into active military service or (b) any subsequent period of military service in which a break (1 year or more) in service occurred and the Alabama civilian residency was established.  Permanently service-connected veterans rated at 100% who did not enter service from Alabama, may qualify after establishing at least five years of permanent residency in Alabama prior to filing of an application or immediately prior to death, if deceased.

Entitlement: Four standard academic years or part-time equivalent at any Alabama state-supported institution of higher learning or a prescribed course of study at any Alabama state-supported technical school without payment of any tuition, required textbooks or instructional fees.  Exception: A spouse or un-remarried widow (er) of a veteran who is rated 20 - 90% due to service-connected disabilities are only entitled to two standard academic years without payment of tuition, required textbooks and instructional fees or a prescribed technical course not to exceed 18 months of training.  Note:  Widow (er) forfeits benefits upon remarriage. Spouse forfeits benefits upon divorce from veteran in which the spouse derived their eligibility.

Age Deadline: The child or stepchild must initiate training prior to their 26th birthday. Age 30 deadline may apply in certain situations. There is no age deadline for submission of the application by the spouse or un-remarried widow (er).

Application Assistance: The department maintains an office in each county of the State which can furnish information and assist in filing your application.  To find the office nearest you, click here.