Are you retired from the military and seeking a new career? Are you the child of a veteran and are preparing for college? Either way, there are many veteran scholarships available to suit your needs. A variety of veteran scholarships are plentiful in today’s marketplace as a way to help with the financial burden that often exists with veterans and their families.

If you are a veteran yourself, then find veteran scholarships that fall into this specific category. Be sure not to apply to ones that are designed for the children of veterans. This can create confusion and can take much more time than is needed to complete the application process.

If you are a veteran, then try not to be discouraged if a specific industry does not pop up as interesting to you. During your time in the military, you accumulated a set of skills that can be applied to a variety of fields, from management to construction to recruitment. Realize that your time in the military or abroad has helped mold you for the non-military world as well, and find veteran scholarships to get you started on your way to making a difference in another way.

If you are the child or dependent of a veteran, then you must have proof of this before submitting an application for veteran scholarships of this kind. There are specific programs that can provide up to 45 months, or almost four years, of education and other training opportunities for those who are eligible. To be eligible, you must be the spouse, son or daughter of a veteran who has died, has been permanently disabled, is missing in action, or is detained by a foreign power. Children must be 18 to 26 years old when applying for these types of scholarships, while spouses are eligible for ten years.

These types of veteran scholarships do not solely apply to four-year colleges and universities. It is important to check each one first, but many offer benefits for those seeking job training or attending a vocational school. It does not matter in which industry you are seeking additional education; all fields are acceptable.

However, whether you are a veteran or a dependent of a veteran, there are many considerations that must be made before veteran scholarships can be given. Additionally, the amount received will depend on each household, as well as which type of institution for which the scholarship will be used.