FAFSA and ROTC scholarship

[paradoxer]

Check with the specific school

So my new question would be that because VA benefits (including ROTC benefits) do not effect the EFC calculation. Would we be eligible for other scholarships? For example the school that I am applying to has a scholarship just for maintaining a 3.0, 3.5 etc. Would my VA benefits exclude me from receiving that scholarship? Does it depend on the specific scholarship?

Thanks
Ben

Some schools only will allow academic awards to be used for tuition which means you could choose to use the ROTC award for room and board if that's a better way to go. Other schools will let you use both pieces of aid. You need to check with the financial aid office at the school to see what the policy would be.

 

[Michael_T]

Can the Minuteman Scholarship be used with FAFSA? I'm considering it, to take it to The Citadel (no I'm not trolling), but if I do get it, I still would be responsible for around 8k/year for Room & Board...

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Can the Minuteman Scholarship be used with FAFSA? I'm considering it, to take it to The Citadel (no I'm not trolling), but if I do get it, I still would be responsible for around 8k/year for Room & Board...

FAFSA will or will not award monies including some base loan amounts as noted by others nicely above. Sometimes you receive support which is financial aid that covers some costs, but this thread is focusing on loans from the process. With regards to the minimum loan amounts, please note that these loans, based on their determination may be subsidized (doesn’t start accruing interest you have to pay, until after you graduate or a determined time) or unsubsidized which starts accruing interest right away when paid but you don’t have to start paying it back until a determined date – often the date you graduate. For those taking loans for expensive schools, that interest over 4 years can be significant. Also note that the interest rates may be raised several times this year, which can directly impact the interest rate of the loan offered- I don’t work for the treasury, but I do read the articles that say rate hikes are a-comin in 2022 in an effort to slow inflation.

The ROTC scholarships for NROTC/ AROTC can be applied toward tuition/ fees or room and board. Do your bottom line due diligence as sometimes like in Florida in-state schools with bright futures, it’s a better deal to put the scholarship toward room and board.

Some universities offer either merit or need based scholarships, and external organizations (the union your parent works for, McDonalds, etc.) also offer scholarships that are often need but sometimes merit based too. The bottom line is that some universities allow you to apply those merit monies toward room and board, and others simply do not. When my son received ROTC scholarships some schools rescinded their merit scholarships to an either/or option. You should confirm with your university exactly what they will let you “keep” vs abandon/ on either need based or merit based scholarships- it varies.

Should you “bother” to file the FAFSA? It’s not all that hard to file, and maybe you’ll get some relief from the school which uses the FAFSA too to determine additional scholarship allocations. I just filed it for a third straight year, knowing we won’t with a near certainty won’t see a dime of relief but “at least we tried”. Also more kids in college concurrently means a lower bar to get some relief.

The minuteman https://www.usar.army.mil/MinutemanCampaign/ offers tuition OR room and board – so yes you could use aid if you receive it and the minuteman *as long as your college allows it – expressly confirm.

 

[Cmac154]

Can the Minuteman Scholarship be used with FAFSA? I'm considering it, to take it to The Citadel (no I'm not trolling), but if I do get it, I still would be responsible for around 8k/year for Room & Board...

If you desire active duty you may want to look carefully at this option. I think it puts you in the reserves. I'm only vaguely recalling but at an info session at The Citadel we ruled this out as an option and I think that was why.

 

[kinnem]

If you desire active duty you may want to look carefully at this option. I think it puts you in the reserves. I'm only vaguely recalling but at an info session at The Citadel we ruled this out as an option and I think that was why.

Yup. If you take their money they own you

 

[Michael_T]

If you desire active duty you may want to look carefully at this option. I think it puts you in the reserves. I'm only vaguely recalling but at an info session at The Citadel we ruled this out as an option and I think that was why.

I've come to terms with the idea of Reserves... Hence, I plan to compete for this

 

[glen]

I've come to terms with the idea of Reserves... Hence, I plan to compete for this

Do I understand you have been awarded an AROTC GRFD scholarship and intend to enroll at The Citadel? If so, the absolute best way to get answers to your financial aid questions is to call the Financial Aid Office - they are paid to answer questions like this and if you have been accepted - they definitely want to make sure you have the best information that will allow you to enroll. Take advantage of that! Contact #s:

for scholarship and financial aid, visit Financial Aid site, email financial_aid@citadel.edu or call Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at (843) 953-5187.

Be aware The Citadel “service to Country“ scholarship will pay for Room & Board ($8,229/yr) for cadets enrolling Fall of 2022 who have been awarded national ROTC scholarships prior to enrolling. If the ROTC scholarship is 3 years - with the cadet paying first year tuition, the Service to Country scholarship will cover first year tuition. confirm eligibility minimums so call the Financial Aid Office for these.

 

[justdoit19]

Do I understand you have been awarded an AROTC GRFD scholarship and intend to enroll at The Citadel? If so, the absolute best way to get answers to your financial aid questions is to call the Financial Aid Office - they are paid to answer questions like this and if you have been accepted - they definitely want to make sure you have the best information that will allow you to enroll. Take advantage of that! Contact #s:

for scholarship and financial aid, visit Financial Aid site, email financial_aid@citadel.edu or call Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at (843) 953-5187.

Be aware The Citadel “service to Country“ scholarship will pay for Room & Board ($8,229/yr) for cadets enrolling Fall of 2022 who have been awarded national ROTC scholarships prior to enrolling. If the ROTC scholarship is 3 years - with the cadet paying first year tuition, the Service to Country scholarship will cover first year tuition. confirm eligibility minimums so call the Financial Aid Office for these.

I would also recommend getting written info. So have a school email you something.

Often, when on the phone, we hear what we hear. Not necessarily what is the reality of the situation. Get written word, so you can study/compare/understand the offering/commitment.

This is a huge decision. Make sure you completely understand what’s happening.