G.I. Dependent Scholarship — Ten Semesters per Child, From 40%
Children and stepchildren of a veteran rated 40% or more (or POW, MIA, died of a service cause or in the line of duty) receive five academic years — ten semesters — of undergraduate study at any qualifying state school. Spouses and unremarried widow(er)s receive six semesters at the 40–90% ratings, but five academic years where the veteran is rated 100% permanently and totally disabled. Tuition bills at up to $400 per credit hour, books and fees to $1,000 per student.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
Children and stepchildren of a veteran rated 40% or more (or POW, MIA, died of a service cause or in the line of duty) receive five academic years — ten semesters — of undergraduate study at any qualifying state school. Spouses and unremarried widow(er)s receive six semesters at the 40–90% ratings, but five academic years where the veteran is rated 100% permanently and totally disabled. Tuition bills at up to $400 per credit hour, books and fees to $1,000 per student.
What it's worth: Children: 10 semesters; spouses/widow(er)s: 6 semesters at 40-90%, 10 at 100% P&T — tuition to $400/credit hour, books and fees to $1,000
- Other scholarships and grants apply to education expenses first; the programme bills what remains within its caps.
- A spouse or unremarried widow(er) of a veteran rated 100% permanently and totally disabled receives five academic years — ten semesters — rather than the six semesters that apply at the 40–90% ratings.
- The 90-day service requirement has an exception: a veteran honorably discharged for a qualifying service-connected disability after LESS than 90 days of continuous service qualifies.
- Dependents of an Alabama National Guard member who dies while honorably serving on active state service qualify, as do dependents where the death results proximately from an injury or illness incurred in such service and occurs within three years of it.
- A transition rule covers claims pending before 23 May 2017: where the final award is at least 20%, the dependent must apply within six months of final adjudication.
Who is entitled to it
- The veteran is rated 40% or higher.
- The veteran served 90+ consecutive days and was honorably discharged.
- The veteran meets the state residency tests.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
- 1Veteran gates: honorable termination after 90+ consecutive days, a 40%+ rating (or POW, MIA, death from service cause or in the line of duty), and one year of permanent civilian residency immediately before entering service — with an alternate door for 100% permanent and total veterans: five years of bona fide residency before application or death.
- 2Children and stepchildren: ten semesters of undergraduate study, started before the 26th birthday (to 30 in certain situations), used within eight years of the application being received. A stepchild qualifies only if the marriage predates their 19th birthday.
- 3Spouses and unremarried widow(er)s of the 40–90% rated: six semesters, used within six years. Every dependent claims once, but there is no limit on how many dependents one veteran qualifies.
- 4The student must be a current state resident, file the FAFSA every covered year, and hold satisfactory academic progress. Benefits are never retroactive — apply before enrolling, not after.
- Form
- ADVA scholarship application portal
- File with
- The state veterans department, online
- Documents you will need
- va benefit summary letter · dd214
- Annual
- Claimed once a year.
Sources
- authority · published policyADVA — G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program pamphlet (Ala. Code §§31-6-1 to 31-6-17)
Why only one source type: The department's own pamphlet carries every gate, cap and clock; the statute chapter is named on its face.
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.