Military Spouses & Dependents
Education Benefits for Military Spouses & Dependents
As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, National University offers 150+ academic degree programs and tuition discounts for military spouses and their dependents. Our bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs with 4- and 8-week course formats have been designed specifically for military students, and are offered online, in-person, and on over a dozen military bases.
Because military families move often, National University is built to move with you. You can start a course every month and study fully online, in a hybrid or in-person setting, or on any of over a dozen military bases, so your education keeps pace with relocations, work, and caregiving.
Whisper Military Spouse Scholarships
National University is committed to supporting the families of our nation’s servicemembers and Veterans. We believe that giving back to the military spouses who make so many sacrifices is one of the most valuable educational services we can provide. The Whisper Military Spouse scholarship is designed to provide you and your family with a helping hand toward a career-focused education that fits your goals and lifestyle.
Apply now, and we’ll also help to ensure you take full advantage of other military benefits and scholarships at NU.
Proud Yellow Ribbon School
As a Yellow Ribbon school and designated Military Friendly School (MFS) Gold Level in the category of Private offering Doctorate, National University is proud to help full-time and part-time students pay for out-of-state or private school tuition and fees beyond the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
Military Spouse-Friendly University
As a military spouse or dependent, we know life is busy. That’s why we offer a variety of financial and support services, including our military spouse-friendly Veteran Center, which provides guidance to help ease the transition from military to civilian life.
Military Spouses Benefits
The GI Bill pays 100% of tuition and fees for eligible military spouses and dependents, up to the maximum in-state tuition for public schools, and, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), up to $29,920.95 per academic year for private or foreign schools (2025-2026 rate). But first, you must have benefits transferred from the servicemember to their spouse. This process is not difficult; if you have questions, contact our Veteran’s Affairs Office at (858) 541-7970 or [email protected].
Post 9/11 GI Bill®
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefit is also known as Chapter 33 benefits. You may qualify to utilize the Post-9/11 GI Bill® if you are the spouse or dependent of a military servicemember or Veteran and the Department of Defense approves the transfer of benefits. To learn more about Chapter 33 education benefits, see the VA’s overview of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).
SpouseWorks Scholarship for Military Spouses
Military spouses may be eligible to receive financial assistance for licenses, certifications, or associate degrees through the SpouseWorks Scholarship. This program provides eligible military spouses with up to $4,000 in financial assistance to pursue an occupation or career field.
How to transfer and apply
Want to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse? According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the process moves through a few clear steps.
- The service member completes at least six years of service and agrees to serve four more years.
- The service member submits the Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) request to the Department of Defense through milConnect, not through the VA.
- Confirm the dependent is enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).
- The spouse applies to use the benefits with VA Form 22-1990e.
Once you’re enrolled, National University’s Veterans Affairs office handles the paperwork for you, certifying your enrollment to the VA within 30 days of class start, with benefits typically disbursing six to eight weeks after certification. If questions come up along the way, the team is reachable at (858) 541-7970 or [email protected].
Military Scholarships for Spouses & Dependents
Please visit our complete scholarship offerings for information on National University’s military scholarships for spouses & dependents. Here you will find eligibility requirements, application instructions, and deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, active-duty military personnel and their dependents are eligible to receive discounted rates when they take courses online, on location, or on base. To learn more about eligibility, contact our Veteran’s Affairs Office at (858) 541-7970 or [email protected].
There isn’t one. According to the VA, a spouse can use transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits right away, with no 10-year waiting period. That rule applies to dependent children, who can only use transferred benefits after the service member completes at least 10 years of service. See the VA’s guidance on when a spouse can use transferred benefits.
Yes. According to the VA, the spouse and children of a Veteran who died, is missing, or has a permanent and total service-connected disability may qualify for the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program, also called Chapter 35. To confirm how these benefits apply at National University, connect with our Veterans Affairs office.
Military spouses at National University can access tuition discounts, the Whisper Military Spouse Scholarship, Yellow Ribbon support, and help using transferred GI Bill benefits. Our Veterans Affairs team can walk you through each option and how it fits your situation.