Dual Scholarships - Allowed?

[captainzwife]

Does anyone know if DS/DD is allowed to receive a school scholarship in addition to the ROTC scholarship?

 

[gill0610]

There are no rules against it. But it depends on the school. DS’s school withdrew his scholarship offer once he received the ROTC scholarship. Another school that he applied to but chose not to attend would’ve allowed him to keep it. Check with the bursars office at the school you are considering.

 

[Impulsive]

+1 to @gill0610

I believe if your school has an ROTC program, and you receive a school based scholarship, once you receive the ROTC scholarship the Unit notifies the school and the school based aid is modified to only cover what the ROTC scholarship does not. Some schools do not cover room and board and usually if there is a school based scholarship involved that money can be used to cover room and board. But I do not believe that ANY school would allow a student to actually profit from financial aid. Can you imagine, ROTC covers room and board, the student gets $30K a year in school aid, and graduates/commissions with $120K in the bank!! Sorry, don't think so, there would probably be IRS and school problems if it was discovered...

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Perfect posts above. It varies by school. When allowed, the scholarship moneys from all sources cannot exceed the "total cost of attendance" number which includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, lab fees (except flight fees which are distinct/ separate entirely if the student is a pilot), even some travel cost estimates to/ from school in some cases (my DSs for example). And some schools cancel additional scholarships while others allow them to be stacked/ all used *as long as they don't exceed that total cost number which the school can provide to you. As covered in other threads, any moneys from scholarships used toward room and board is taxable income fyi. Monthly stipends from the armed forces are tax free. Good luck/ advise if any additional details would help.

 

[captainzwife]

Perfect posts above. It varies by school. When allowed, the scholarship moneys from all sources cannot exceed the "total cost of attendance" number which includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, lab fees (except flight fees which are distinct/ separate entirely if the student is a pilot), even some travel cost estimates to/ from school in some cases (my DSs for example). And some schools cancel additional scholarships while others allow them to be stacked/ all used *as long as they don't exceed that total cost number which the school can provide to you. As covered in other threads, any moneys from scholarships used toward room and board is taxable income fyi. Monthly stipends from the armed forces are tax free. Good luck/ advise if any additional details would help.

Thank you for the insight. My follow up question would be, if school A pays for room/board after the ROTC scholarship and school B gives stipend for room/board but doesn't fully cover, wouldn't school A be a better option? I did not realize money towards room/board from a university would be considered taxable income.

 

[captainzwife]

+1 to @gill0610

I believe if your school has an ROTC program, and you receive a school based scholarship, once you receive the ROTC scholarship the Unit notifies the school and the school based aid is modified to only cover what the ROTC scholarship does not. Some schools do not cover room and board and usually if there is a school based scholarship involved that money can be used to cover room and board. But I do not believe that ANY school would allow a student to actually profit from financial aid. Can you imagine, ROTC covers room and board, the student gets $30K a year in school aid, and graduates/commissions with $120K in the bank!! Sorry, don't think so, there would probably be IRS and school problems if it was discovered...

Yes, that's what I was thinking. One would rule the other out essentially. I assume this is the same whether it's a state funded public university or a private university?

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Thank you for the insight. My follow up question would be, if school A pays for room/board after the ROTC scholarship and school B gives stipend for room/board but doesn't fully cover, wouldn't school A be a better option? I did not realize money towards room/board from a university would be considered taxable income.

Thanks for this note - just to clarify, it's my understanding that any moneys from a school or other scholarship used toward room and board is taxable.

In evaluating which school is best, I think you're on-point to look at the whole picture and what they can afford relative to the best fit school. Get all the details in front of you on what it will cost. And then decide what is best.
For some families, covering say 30k (or 70k) for room and board over 4 years to the best fit school is not an option. For others, it makes sense.

Best option financially and best option for the best fit need to find a common landing point. I recommend trying to find the best fit for the least money. and decide how much pain you can tolerate with covering specific non-covered costs. Why start adult life with 70-250k in college loans - people actually do that - I am vehemently opposed and will do everything I can to avoid that.

Hope that answers your question?

 

[captainzwife]

Thanks for this note - just to clarify, it's my understanding that any moneys from a school or other scholarship used toward room and board is taxable.

In evaluating which school is best, I think you're on-point to look at the whole picture and what they can afford relative to the best fit school. Get all the details in front of you on what it will cost. And then decide what is best.
For some families, covering say 30k (or 70k) for room and board over 4 years to the best fit school is not an option. For others, it makes sense.

Best option financially and best option for the best fit need to find a common landing point. I recommend trying to find the best fit for the least money. and decide how much pain you can tolerate with covering specific non-covered costs. Why start adult life with 70-250k in college loans - people actually do that - I am vehemently opposed and will do everything I can to avoid that.

Hope that answers your question?

Yes, that helps. We are in the process of trying to decide what is best - one offers room/board/tuition and the other offers money towards room/board BUT have offered an academic scholarship independent of the ROTC. Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Herman_Snerd]

Yes, that helps. We are in the process of trying to decide what is best - one offers room/board/tuition and the other offers money towards room/board BUT have offered an academic scholarship independent of the ROTC. Thank you for the feedback!

Good luck. I would definitely call each school to confirm exactly how the school and ROTC scholarships work together, or don't. What can be stacked, what can be applied toward just tuition or tuition and room/ board. Also if you're down to 2-3 schools I would get boots on ground and spend an overnight shadowing an ROTC student/ attending a military class/ regular class, eat on campus, sleep in a dorm at each if you can - at least for the top 2. DS had awesome experiences with these and ultimately though it cemented his decision on where to attend. I also can I went along but mostly was offsite, and yet spent an hour with a group of students at each school and they were awesomely informative on their experiences and the schools.

 

[captainzwife]

Good luck. I would definitely call each school to confirm exactly how the school and ROTC scholarships work together, or don't. What can be stacked, what can be applied toward just tuition or tuition and room/ board. Also if you're down to 2-3 schools I would get boots on ground and spend an overnight shadowing an ROTC student/ attending a military class/ regular class, eat on campus, sleep in a dorm at each if you can - at least for the top 2. DS had awesome experiences with these and ultimately though it cemented his decision on where to attend. I also can I went along but mostly was offsite, and yet spent an hour with a group of students at each school and they were awesomely informative on their experiences and the schools.

Thanks! DS has done campus visits to both and also the ROTC unit which was the leading reason he chose both universities; two different universities but same ROTC unit for both. One is directly on campus, other is a short (5 minute) walk. DS is really financially focused and wants to try and graduate with zero debt.

 

[FastFood44]

My ROTC scholarship covers full tution, while my school’s presidential scholarship covers all room and board. Additionally, I received over 10k over 4 years in private scholarships that I applied for in HS that I use towards Books/miscellaneous academic things. Best of luck

 

[captainzwife]

My ROTC scholarship covers full tution, while my school’s presidential scholarship covers all room and board. Additionally, I received over 10k over 4 years in private scholarships that I applied for in HS that I use towards Books/miscellaneous academic things. Best of luck

Thank you, very helpful information!

 

[cb7893]

Can you imagine, ROTC covers room and board, the student gets $30K a year in school aid, and graduates/commissions with $120K in the bank!! Sorry, don't think so, there would probably be IRS and school problems if it was discovered...

I didn't imagine it, because it happened.

This several years ago, but yes DS received a full tuition scholarship valued greater than the cost of room and board. The money was put into his account at the beginning of the semester and a check was sent to him at the end of each semester. We never questioned it, but we advised him not to spend it, assuming there must be an oversight. We provided the 1099's, 1099-T's, and W-2's to my account accountant and DS paid taxes on every penny of it. I can tell you he was not alone, although according to him, he was the only one paying taxes on it.

Any scholarship money received in excess of tuition, mandatory fees, and necessary educational expenses are taxable. Money for room and board is taxable which is important in deciding to take the xROTC scholarship for tuiton or Room and Board. The monthly stipend is not taxable.

Best of Luck!

 

[captainzwife]

I didn't imagine it, because it happened.

This several years ago, but yes DS received a full tuition scholarship valued greater than the cost of room and board. The money was put into his account at the beginning of the semester and a check was sent to him at the end of each semester. We never questioned it, but we advised him not to spend it, assuming there must be an oversight. We provided the 1099's, 1099-T's, and W-2's to my account accountant and DS paid taxes on every penny of it. I can tell you he was not alone, although according to him, he was the only one paying taxes on it.

Any scholarship money received in excess of tuition, mandatory fees, and necessary educational expenses are taxable. Money for room and board is taxable which is important in deciding to take the xROTC scholarship for tuiton or Room and Board. The monthly stipend is not taxable.

Best of Luck!

Thank you! DS is leaning towards the college that covers tuition/room/board vs the one who offers scholarship towards room/board.