Scholarship FAQs

WHO:

• SEAL Veteran
• SWCC Veteran

WHEN:

• NSF 2024 Scholarship Cycle One: Opens Thursday, January 4, 2024 and closes promptly at 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 15, 2024
• NSF 2024 Scholarship Cycle Two: Opens Wednesday, May 29, 2024 and closes promptly at 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, June 28, 2024

WHAT:

• Post-secondary programs, such as Bachelor’s or Associate Degrees
• Graduate degree programs
• Certificate and licensure programs
• Veteran Education Living Stipend

What is the Veteran Education LIving Stipend?

VELS provides funds to support living expenses for Veterans in full-time programs when no scholarship funds are needed. Veteran applicants may receive either an NSF scholarship or VELS stipend annually, not both. Amounts range from $2,500 – $5,000 based on family size.

What is included in the NSF application?

All applicants complete a 500-word essay. Post-secondary and Graduate degree applicants are required to upload a copy of their most recent transcripts or program acceptance letter.

If required, what transcripts do I upload?

Unofficial, most recent transcripts; Transcripts are not required for certificate or licensure or VELS stipend applicants.

What do I select if I do not have test scores (SAT/ ACT/GMAT/ GRE/ MCAT/ LSAT) to report?

Those applicants for which this question does not apply can select Military Exempt to move forward with the application.

How are NSF scholarships awarded?

NSF staff does not read or review applications. Scholarships are reviewed and scored by an outside review committee. Scholarship awards are merit-based; therefore, award amounts vary. Merit-based scholarship awards are non-transferrable to other applicants or family members.

How and when will I be notified if I am awarded?

Scholarship award notifications are sent via email to the address listed on the applicant profile. Cycle 1 award notification emails are typically sent by mid to late March. Cycle 2 TBD.

Do NSF scholarship awards expire?

If awarded, applicants have up to one year to use scholarship funds. Any unused funds are returned to NSF.

What can NSF scholarship award funds be used for?

NSF scholarships can be used toward current academic-related expenses through institutions. Scholarship awards cannot be reimbursed for prior academic expenses, professional licensure renewals, student loans, or child care. NSF makes scholarship awards payments to educational institutions, not individuals. Scholarship checks are mailed to the recipient’s home address for them to forward to the school/ institution.

Eligible applicants can apply once per calendar year.

WHO:

• Active Duty SEAL spouses
• Active Duty SWCC spouses
• SEAL and SWCC Retiree (over 20 years AD service or medically) spouses
• Gold Star and Surviving spouses

WHEN:

• NSF 2025 Scholarship Cycle One: Open JANUARY 2025

WHAT:

• Post-secondary programs, such as Bachelor’s or Associate Degrees
• Graduate degree programs
• Certificate and licensure programs

What is included on NSF’s application?

All applicants complete a 500-word essay. Transcripts are required for post-secondary and graduate school applicants or a recent program acceptance letter for first-year students. DD214 upload for SEAL and SWCC Retiree (over 20 years active duty service or medically) spouse applicants is required.

What transcripts do I upload?

Unofficial, most recent transcripts; Transcripts are not required for eligible spouse certificate or licensure applicants.

What do I select if I do not have test scores (SAT/ ACT/GMAT/ GRE/ MCAT/ LSAT) to report?

Those applicants for which this question does not apply can select Military Exempt to move forward with the application.

How are NSF scholarships awarded?

NSF staff does not read or review applications. Scholarships are reviewed and scored by an outside review committee. Scholarship awards are merit-based; therefore, award amounts vary. Merit-based scholarship awards are non-transferrable to other applicants or family members.

How and when will I be notified if I am awarded?

Scholarship award notifications are sent via email to the address listed on the applicant profile. Cycle 1 award notification emails are typically sent by mid to late March.

Do NSF scholarship awards expire?

If awarded, applicants have up to one year to use scholarship funds. Any unused funds are returned to NSF.

What can NSF scholarship award funds be used for?

NSF scholarships can be used toward current academic-related expenses through institutions. Scholarship awards cannot be used for reimbursement for prior academic expenses, professional licensure renewals, student loans, or child care. NSF makes scholarship awards payments directly to educational institutions, not individuals. Scholarship checks are mailed to the recipient’s home address for them to forward to the school/ institution.

WHO:

• Active Duty SEAL high school senior or college-age dependent children
• Active Duty SWCC high school senior or college-age dependent children
• SEAL and SWCC Retiree (over 20 years AD service or medically) high school senior or college-age dependent children
• Gold Star high school senior or college-age children

* College-age dependent is defined as 26 years of age or under, unmarried 

WHEN:

• NSF 2025 Scholarship Cycle One: Open JANUARY 2025

WHAT:

• Post-secondary programs, such as Bachelor’s or Associate Degrees
• Certificate and licensure programs

What is included on NSF’s application?

All applicants complete a 500-word essay. Most recent transcripts are required for high school senior and college-age dependent applicants. Sponsor DD214 upload for SEAL/ SWCC Retiree (over 20 years AD service or medically) dependent applicants is required.

Do I need to report SAT/ ACT scores?

High school and college-age dependents are required to submit SAT and/ or ACT scores. NSF understands some applicants may not have taken exams due to state health restrictions in 2020 and 2021. Please indicate the date you are scheduled to take the test in this location.

How are NSF scholarships awarded?

NSF staff does not read or review applications. Scholarships are reviewed and scored by an outside review committee. Scholarship awards are merit-based; therefore, award amounts vary. Merit-based scholarship awards are non-transferrable to other applicants or family members.

How and when will I be notified if I am awarded?

Scholarship award notifications are sent via email to the address listed on the applicant profile. Cycle 1 award notification emails are typically sent by mid to late March.

Do NSF scholarship awards expire?

If awarded, applicants have up to one year to use scholarship funds. Any unused funds are returned to NSF.

What can NSF scholarship award funds be used for?

NSF scholarships can be used toward current academic-related expenses directly through institutions. Scholarship awards cannot be reimbursed for prior academic expenses, professional licensure renewals, student loans, or child care. NSF makes scholarship awards payments to educational institutions, not individuals. Scholarship checks are mailed to the recipient’s home address for them to forward to the school/ institution.