Fry Scholarship

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (commonly called the Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Recipients receive benefits at the 100% level — the same as a veteran who served 36 or more months of active duty under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Because the Fry Scholarship provides benefits at the 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill level, it covers the same items a veteran with full eligibility would receive:

• Tuition and fees: Paid directly to the school, up to the full in-state tuition rate at public schools. For private and foreign schools, up to the annual cap set by the VA.
• Monthly Housing Allowance (BAH): Based on the E-5 with dependents Basic Allowance for Housing rate for the ZIP code of the school. Only paid to students enrolled more than half-time. Online-only students receive a reduced rate.
• Books and supplies stipend: Up to $1,000 per academic year, paid proportionally per term.

The Fry Scholarship provides up to 36 months of education benefits total.

To qualify for the Fry Scholarship, you must be the child or surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.

Children

• Must be the child of the deceased service member
• Can use benefits between the ages of 18 and 33
• May begin earlier if they have completed high school or obtained a GED

Surviving Spouses

• Must use benefits within 15 years of the service member's death
• Remarriage before January 1, 2013 ends eligibility for the Fry Scholarship
• Remarriage on or after January 1, 2013 does not end eligibility — this was a significant rule change that restored access for many surviving spouses

Fry Scholarship recipients are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. If your school participates, Yellow Ribbon can cover tuition costs that exceed the Post-9/11 GI Bill cap — such as at private schools, out-of-state public schools, or graduate programs. The school contributes a portion and the VA matches it. Check the VA's Yellow Ribbon school search tool to see if your school participates.

Both the Fry Scholarship and the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA / Chapter 35) program are available to dependents of service members who died in the line of duty. However, they work very differently:

The Fry Scholarship is generally much more valuable financially because it pays tuition directly to the school and provides a housing allowance, while DEA only provides a flat monthly stipend that must cover all expenses. If you are eligible for both, carefully compare the total value for your specific situation.

You cannot receive both the Fry Scholarship and DEA simultaneously. You must choose one. However, you can switch between them if you have remaining entitlement.

• Combined entitlement cap: If a child is eligible for both transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (from the deceased service member) and the Fry Scholarship, the combined total of both benefits cannot exceed 36 months. Using months from one reduces the other.
• Remarriage rules changed in 2013: Surviving spouses who remarried before January 1, 2013 lost eligibility for the Fry Scholarship. Those who remarried on or after that date remain eligible. If you previously lost eligibility due to remarriage, check whether the 2013 rule change restored your access.
• Must be enrolled in an approved program: The school and program must be approved for VA education benefits. Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool on VA.gov to verify before enrolling.
• Spouse time limit: Surviving spouses have 15 years from the date of the service member's death to use Fry Scholarship benefits. Plan accordingly and do not wait until the deadline is near to start.
• Enrollment verification: Like other VA education benefits, you may be required to verify your enrollment regularly to continue receiving payments.

To apply for the Fry Scholarship, you will use the same form used for DEA — VA Form 22-5490 (Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits). When filling out the form, select the Fry Scholarship as your chosen benefit.

1. Complete VA Form 22-5490: Apply online through VA.gov, or download and mail the paper form.
2. Select the Fry Scholarship: On the form, indicate that you are applying for the Fry Scholarship (not DEA). This is the same form for both programs.
3. Provide supporting documents: You will need the service member's information, proof of relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate), and details about the school and program you plan to attend.
4. Wait for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE): The VA will process your application and send a COE confirming your benefit level and remaining entitlement.
5. Contact your school's certifying official: Give your COE to the School Certifying Official (SCO) at your school so they can certify your enrollment each term.

If you have questions or need help applying, call the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551.

• VA Fry Scholarship page on VA.gov
• VA Form 22-5490 — Dependents' Application for VA Education Benefits
• GI Bill Comparison Tool
• Yellow Ribbon Participating Schools