Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Education Foundation Scholarship Program

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Education Foundation sponsors a generous scholarship program that helps deserving students reach their educational and professional goals by presenting awards of up to $5,000 to students pursuing trade school, community and four-year college, and graduate degrees. All current and former members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as their spouses and dependent children, are eligible to apply for foundation scholarships. Applicants don't require a connection to FRA to apply for and receive foundation awards. The Foundation presents approximately $90,000 each year to recipients based on financial need, academic standing, character and leadership qualities. They are funded through private donations, corporate sponsorships and were given to 24 deserving students in 2024.

Students may apply for Foundation scholarships if they are affiliated with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard through their own service or that of a spouse, parent, grandparent or great-grandparent. Scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens and full-time students, beginning in Fall 2025, at an accredited U.S. trade school, community college, college or university.

Some scholarships have broad criteria for eligibility, while others are more specific. Here is a list of FRA's scholarships and their eligibility criteria, as well as other scholarships offered by the Auxiliary of the FRA and other affiliated entities.

The FRA Education Foundation makes scholarship applications available from September 1st through April 15th each year. (The applications are posted at the bottom of this page as pdf files.) All applications and supporting documents must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2025. Applications that are incomplete in any way will not be considered.

All eligible applicants will be considered for any scholarship for which they meet the eligibility requirement (based on the desires of the donor). Scholarship recipients are notified by email during the summer about awards for the school year that starts that fall. FRA only notifies the applicants who have been selected to receive a scholarship. Then, after recipients respond with additional information to determine if they still qualify to receive the scholarship, they receive an official letter signed by the Foundation President.

2025 EDUCATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
FRA Member Scholarship Application
2025 FRA Member Scholarship.pdf

Non-FRA Member Scholarship Application
 2025 FRA Non-Member Scholarship.pdf

Colonel Hazel Benn, USMC, Scholarship Application
 2025 BENN Scholarship.pdf

The FRA Education Foundation has also partnered with several institutions of higher learning that offer college courses, degree programs and credits for military training to FRA members at discounted rates. See our Education Resources page for more details.

Karen Custer