Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program

The Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program for Dependent Children is based on applicants’ financial needs and was established to assist children of Soldiers in obtaining their first undergraduate degrees. Applicants may receive assistance for up to four academic years of full-time study but must meet eligibility criteria and reapply each year.

Award amounts vary each year based on the:

• Number of applicants
• Total approved scholarship budget
• Applicant’s Student Aid Index (per FAFSA)
• Average cost of attendance to attend a college or university in the United States (per College Board)

UPDATE: The 2025-2026 application cycle runs from January 1 through April 1, 2025.

All applicants must read the corresponding Program Guidelines and FAFSA instructions, found online. A link to submit applications is in the Program Guidelines.

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

• The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program offers need-based scholarships to dependent children of Army Soldiers. Need is determined by the results of the 2025-2026 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for each applicant. See the FAFSA Instructions on the AER website for FAFSA guidance.
• The MG James Ursano Scholarship Program is not an entitlement and applications are not automatically approved. Students must reapply each year and are eligible to receive funds for up to four academic years of full-time enrollment.
• Because AER is funded by donations, award amounts vary and are not guaranteed year to year. Award amounts are determined based on the total budget allotted, number of applications received, and each applicant’s Student Aid Index (SAI) reported on the FAFSA Submission Summary.
• Students are awarded by email prior to the fall and spring semesters and must accept their awards for each semester. The scholarship funds are mailed or transmitted electronically directly to the school and may be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing (either on or off campus), and food.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Student must be a dependent of a Soldier on federal active duty, a retired Soldier, or a deceased active or deceased retired Soldier. Children of National Guard/Reserve Soldiers are eligible if the Soldier is on Title 10 Orders for the entire academic year.
• Student must be registered as a dependent of the Soldier in DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System).
• Student must be under the age of 24 (eligibility ends at the end of the semester in which the student reaches their 24th birthday. Example – turning 24 in December would mean the scholarship would be awarded for the fall semester ONLY.)
• Student must remain unmarried for the entire academic year.
• Student must not be a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or other military branch.
• Student must not have already earned a bachelor’s degree and must be enrolled, accepted, or pending acceptance as a full-time student in an accredited post-secondary or vocational institution listed in the US Department of Education’s Database https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. The MG James Ursano Scholarship will not be awarded for second bachelor’s degrees or for graduate degree programs.
• Because financial need is already met, a student attending a Military Service Academy is not eligible.
• Student must maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Any MG James Ursano Scholarship recipient who also receives funding from other sources (i.e., GI Bill, school or organizational scholarships, VA benefits, etc.) may not be eligible to receive their full scholarship from AER. The Financial Aid Office at each school will determine the recipient’s final eligibility based on the student’s complete financial aid package. No student can receive funding above the school’s established Cost of Attendance once all costs are covered, the school must return any remaining funds to AER.