2026 Coast Guard Foundation Scholarship Season Opens February 1

The Coast Guard Foundation will begin accepting scholarship applications on February 1, 2026. Annual scholarships are available for children of Coast Guard members, including graduating high school seniors and students already enrolled in college or trade school. Applications will be accepted through April 1.

Scholarships are awarded annually in amounts of $2,500 or $5,000 and are paid directly to an accredited college, university, trade school, or training program. Applications are reviewed through a comprehensive process that considers academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement. Financial need is also a factor in determining award levels, and a FAFSA report is required as part of the application package.

In 2025, the Coast Guard Foundation awarded 255 scholarships, and the Foundation plans to increase the number of awards in 2026.

Who can apply?
The scholarship program supports college-aged dependents of active-duty Coast Guard members, reserve members serving on active duty for at least 180 days, and retired Coast Guard members.

Applicants must be dependents of enlisted members or commissioned officers and may attend a community college, four-year university, or trade school. Eligible students may apply for up to four years, provided they continue to meet all program requirements.

What can the scholarship be used for?
Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, room and board, fees, books, and other necessary education expenses.

Scholarships are not limited to traditional four-year degrees. The Coast Guard Foundation also supports students pursuing trade school and technical training programs. Career paths in areas like aviation maintenance, maritime trades, construction, culinary, and cosmetology provide a hands-on route into the workforce.

How to apply
Applications open February 1. The process includes several required sections, including forms that must be completed by a Coast Guard sponsor and a guidance counselor. Students are encouraged to begin early to ensure all materials are submitted before the April 1 deadline.

Questions can be directed to Coast Guard Foundation program manager Sage Williams at 860-535-0786 or swilliams@coastguardfoundation.org.

Supporting Coast Guard Students for More Than 30 Years

Since the program first began in 1990, the Coast Guard Foundation has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships totaling $9.2 million. These opportunities are made possible through the generosity of scholarship donors who help ease the financial burden of education for Coast Guard families.

Each year, the Foundation hears directly from graduates about the impact of this support.

Among scholarship recipients surveyed in 2025, 48% graduated completely debt-free. Those with student loans reported owing an average of $21,153, below the national average of $29,500. Graduates are now moving forward into full-time careers, graduate school, military service, and other professional paths.

Layne O’Connell, a William & Mary graduate with a double major in English and music, completed her degree with zero debt and is now attending law school to study international public interest law. The Foundation’s scholarship, she said, “enabled me to explore opportunities like study abroad that I otherwise would have had much more difficulty making happen.”

Daniel Goldsmith, a Penn State graduate with a degree in early childhood education, is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership while working as a substitute teacher in the same Philadelphia school where he completed his student teaching.

Dylan Ornot, a three-year Coast Guard Foundation scholarship recipient who graduated from the University of Central Florida with no college debt, shared this advice for students applying this year:

“Apply for everything that you can! You never know the opportunities that you can receive just from simply applying. Whether you are applying for scholarships, school programs, or internships or study abroad, just apply. You will learn so much through applying for different opportunities, and it can open so many doors for your future. The CGF scholarship helped me through all three years of my undergraduate degree, and I couldn't be more grateful.”