Compare verified options
| Program | Best-fit screening question | Current status / amount |
|---|---|---|
| NMFA Joanne Holbrook Patton scholarship | Does your spouse’s service/status and your military ID meet its rules? | Rolling year-round application; new application each October 1–September 30 year; award varies |
| Pat Tillman Scholarship | Are you a current or surviving spouse pursuing full-time bachelor’s, graduate or professional study? | 2026 class closed; provider states applications open December 1 annually; exact next deadline not verified |
| SpouseWorks Scholarship, formerly MyCAA | Is your license, certification or associate-degree program approved under current eligibility? | Current government route verified; amount, eligibility details and individual approval require portal confirmation |
NMFA: check service category and finish the document step
Source: NMFA Joanne Holbrook Patton scholarship
The official FAQ requires qualifying post-September 11, 2001 service/status plus a valid or eligible military/Uniformed Services ID, with a separate 20/20/20 spouse provision. It includes listed categories such as active duty, reserve, retiree, fallen service member and 100% disabled veteran; it does not accept every veteran-spouse circumstance automatically.
Applicants must have at least been accepted to their program. Complete the separate Required Forms Application after the main submission and upload the requested documentation before selection. Funding can serve degrees, credentials, professional expenses and specified business needs. Quarterly selection is not a guarantee of an award or immediate payment. Its FAQ still displays 2026 announcement months, so confirm your current quarter’s timing rather than extrapolating it.
Tillman: a full-time degree and leadership route
Source: Pat Tillman Scholarship
The foundation’s eligibility page excludes certificates and associate degrees. It accepts qualifying full-time study at accredited U.S.-based institutions; attendance at a university partner is not required. The application includes essays, a biography, financial information and a character recommendation through its system. Do not confuse the latter with simply uploading a generic recommendation letter.
The current application page says the 2026 class is closed and announces a recurring December 1 opening. Use that as a watch date, not an invented 2027 deadline. Amounts depend on the scholarship decision; no guaranteed average is used in this comparison.
SpouseWorks: use the current name and approval rules
Source: SpouseWorks Scholarship, formerly MyCAA
Military OneSource now identifies the SpouseWorks Scholarship as the program formerly called MyCAA. Its described purpose is eligible licenses, certifications, continuing-education maintenance and associate degrees needed for employment. The application portal requires JavaScript and personal eligibility review. Old MyCAA dollar caps or rank lists should not be presented as complete current rules without rechecking the new program.
Choose based on the credential, not the largest headline amount
A fictional spouse planning a certification should investigate NMFA’s professional-expense route and SpouseWorks before spending time on Tillman, which excludes certificates. A spouse beginning a full-time master’s may have a Tillman lead, while still needing to check all service and enrollment rules. These are screening examples, not award predictions.
Prepare your exact credential, institution, start date, acceptance status and requested expense. Use the provider’s secure upload process for military records; do not send an unredacted document to a directory or unrelated contact.
Ask about stacking and timing
Before relying on multiple funding sources, ask each administrator which expenses it can cover, whether another award reduces eligibility or payment, and when funds reach the school or recipient. Do not claim duplicate reimbursement for the same bill without explicit permission.
Next step
Start with the route that matches your credential and documented spouse category. Confirm current application status, finish all required forms, and budget only confirmed aid. No list can guarantee funding because you are married to a service member.
