College Scholarships for Children of Police Officers and Firefighters
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When you’re a first responder earning a civil servant’s salary, sending your child to college may seem out of reach. Higher education isn’t cheap these days. Though prices can fluctuate, tuition at a traditional state four-year college for in-state residents is on average, $10,950 for the 2022-2023 academic year. A private college will set you back about $39,400 per academic year. This doesn’t even take into account room and board and other expenses that may arise.
Don’t give up hope just yet. Some organizations and businesses offer scholarships specifically for the children (and other family members) of police officers, firefighters, and other first responders. While full-ride scholarships are the exception, smaller awards are available in more abundance than you may think. The following are some to consider.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind About These College Scholarships
✔ This information is current as of this writing. Awards, rules, and availability of prizes can change and are at the discretion of the scholarship provider.
✔ This list outlines general information. For complete details and instructions, please refer to the scholarship provider. I’ve provided links below.
✔ A broken link doesn’t necessarily mean the organization no longer offers scholarships. Some create new scholarship pages for each specific year. If you see a promising scholarship but the link takes you to a non-existent page, I’d still do an online search.
✔ Since the following organizations tend to offer scholarships on a regular basis, I didn’t include dates and timelines.
✔ Some scholarships are open to spouses, too!
For additional insights, you might find these books helpful:
LAUNCH: How to Get Your Kids Through College Debt-Free and Into Jobs They Love Afterward, by Jeannie Burlowski (paid Amazon link)
How to Pay for College: A complete financial plan for funding your child’s education, by Ann Garcia (paid Amazon link)
General College Scholarships for Children of First Responders (Police, Fire, EMT)
The Brookings Industries Scholarship
Award: (1) 10,000 award and (4) $500 awards
Eligibility: Child of full-time police officer or other first responders
Please note: Award is based on an original, one to two minute video describing the applicant’s dream career. First responders include park rangers, paramedics, animal control officers dispatchers, and other categories. They require that the degree complements a career within a first responder field.
Federal Resources Warrior’s Legacy Scholarship Fund
Award: $5,000 award
Eligibility: Child of police officer, EMT, or military member
Please note: Requires a 500-plus word essay and GPA of at least 3.0.
Federal Resources scholarship details
America’s 911 Foundation College Scholarships
Award: (15) 2,000 awards
Eligibility: Dependents of currently-employed police officers, paramedics, firefighters, park rangers, and other first responders. First responders are also eligible.
Please note: Requires essay of 250 to 500 words.
911 Foundation scholarship details
First Responders Children’s Foundation College Scholarships
Award: Maximum award of $6,250 awarded per academic year. The number of awards varies each year. May be renewed annually for up to four years depending on fund availability.
Eligibility: Child of a first responder and full-time college student
Please note: Based on financial need, academic merit, and other achievements. Priority is given to students whose parents have become disabled or died in the line of duty. Also based on financial need.
First Responders scholarship details
ESA Youth Scholarship Program
Sponsored by the Electronic Security Association
Award: Doesn’t specify an amount, but that it’s contributed more than $750,000 in awards since 1996. The first place winner in 2021 won $13,000 and second place was awarded $4,500.
Eligibility: Children of police, firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs between ages 15 to 20
Please note: Based on academic achievement, national test scores, extracurricular activities, and an essay.
Folds of Honor First Responder Scholarships
Award: A maximum of $5,000 and $2,500 per term
Eligibility: Children and dependents of first responders who have fallen; or who have been injured and unable to perform their duties.
Please note: Requires proof of relation to first responder.
Folds of Honor scholarship details
College Scholarships Specifically for Children of Police Officers
Kathryn M. Milton Scholarship Fund
Administered by the National Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary
Award: (1) $500 and (1) $300 award
Eligibility: High school senior or student enrolled in college, vocational, or business school. Must be an FOP Auxiliary member. Recipient can be the Auxiliary member or the child, grandchild, or spouse.
Please note: There is an entry fee of $20.
C.O.P.S. Scholarship Program
C.O.P.S. is Concerns of Police Survivor, a nonprofit that supports the families and co-workers of police officers who’ve been killed in the line of duty.
Award: $1,500 awarded per semester, with a maximum lifetime total of $12,000. Awarded three times annually
Eligibility: Child or spouse of a fallen police officer
Please note: Not awarded to survivors who are entitled to tuition-free education.
Operation Thank an Officer Scholarship
Award: (1) $1,000 award for a high school applicant and (1) 1,000 award for a college applicant
Eligibility: Child of parent of current, retired, or fallen police officer
Please note: Requires an essay.
Thank an Officer scholarship details
The National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) mentions a scholarship, but the page was blank when I last visited it.
College Scholarships Specifically for Children of Firefighters
Fire Family Foundation Scholarship
The Foundation is the charitable arm of Firefighters First Credit Union.
Award: (10) $5,000 awards annually. Eligible for up to two awards.
Eligibility: Child of an active, retired, or fallen firefighter and a high school senior
Please note: Based on GPA (3.2 or above), past achievement, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
Fire Family scholarship details
W.H. “Howie” McClennan Scholarship
Sponsored by the International Association of Firefighters
Award: $2,500 award
Eligibility: Child of fallen firefighter planning to attend an institution of higher learning
Please note: Requires school transcript, short essay, and letters of recommendation.
Sarbanes Scholarship Program
Sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Association
Award: Amount not mentioned, but that since 1997 it has awarded 1,546 scholarships totaling $5,269,223.
Eligibility: Spouse, life partner, child, or stepchild of a fallen firefighter. Child must be under 30 and have been 22 at the time of firefighter’s death.
Please note: Based on financial need and academic performance.
Other Places to Search for College Cash
The college scholarships listed above just scratch the service. Here are a few other places to search for aid.
The School You or Your Child Plans to Attend
Colleges, universities, and trade schools often offer a limited number of scholarships to incoming and current students.
For example, St. John’s University (with campuses in New York and Europe), offers a Child of a Police Officer Service Scholarship and a Child of a Firefighter Service Scholarship, each valued at $2,000.
Check the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend for similar types of scholarships.
Local Nonprofits and Foundations
Are there any organizations in your state or region dedicated to supporting first responders? A few examples:
Behind the Badge Charities Scholarships awards $2,000 scholarships to children of first responders in Fort Bend County, Texas.
The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Officers Association offers a number of scholarships for the children of members.
And the New York City Police Foundation administers several scholarships designed specifically for the children of NYPD officers.
Some organizations don’t require the applicant to be the dependent of a first responder. For example, The Collin Rose Memorial Foundation Scholarship awards a $1,000 scholarship to Michigan students studying law enforcement, firefighting, criminal justice, or paramedic skills.
Police and Fire Labor Unions
Does your labor union sponsor any awards for its members? The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), for example, offers a $5,000 award for the dependents of Texas police officers through its Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation Scholarship.
Find a Job With Tuition Benefits
Some employers offer scholarships and generous benefits that include partial, and even full tuition reimbursement, as well as flexible work options. Not all employers may offer tuition, especially for part-time employment, but it’s worth a look.
Private Organizations and Businesses
Check with any clubs and organizations you’ve every belonged to that may offer scholarships to their members. Fraternal organizations, churches, and hobby clubs are a few possibilities.
Also look at where you do business. One example is the Police Credit Union of California, which awards $2,500 scholarships to its members.
It’s worth mentioning that the average annual tuition at two-year schools is $3,800 for in-state students. Getting those required courses out of the way at a much lower cost is a one way to save thousands of dollars on college tuition. And of course, learning a valuable trade is noble in its own right.
Best of luck.
This post contains references to products from one or more of my advertising partners. When you click on a link to any of these products, I may be compensated. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please visit my Earnings Disclosure & Disclaimer page for more information. Thanks for your support!
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