The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (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 while on active duty after September 10, 2001. Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level.

This benefit provides:

• Money for tuition (full in-state tuition costs at public schools and up to $27,120.05 (August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024) per academic year for training at private or out-of-state schools)
• Money for housing
• Money for books and supplies

You may be eligible for Fry Scholarship benefits if you are the child or surviving spouse of:

• A member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty while serving on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or

• A member of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty while not on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or

• A member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001

As the child of a service member

• You can be married or unmarried

• If you turned 18 or graduated from high school before January 1, 2013: You can get a Fry Scholarship until you are 33 years old

• If you turn 18 or graduate from high school after January 1, 2013: You can get a Fry Scholarship at any age over 18 or after you graduate (whichever comes first)

• If your parent was a member of the Selected Reserve and died from a service-connected disability while not on active duty: You can get a Fry Scholarship at any time, no matter how old you are

• If your parent died in the line of duty before August 1, 2011: You may qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program. But you can use only one program at a time. Combined benefits are capped at 81 months of full-time training.

If you are receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): You will need to give up the DIC payments when you start to use the Fry Scholarship.

As the spouse of a service member

• If you remarry: You will no longer be eligible for the Fry Scholarship

You are still eligible to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments while using the Fry Scholarship.

Benefits for Eligible Surviving Spouses and Children:

• Full tuition and fees paid directly to the school for all public school in-state students 

  • Private or foreign school tuition and fees are capped at a statutory maximum

• A monthly housing allowance

• A books and supplies stipend

Rules for eligible Children serving, or who have served, in the Armed Forces:

You must relinquish eligibility under one of the following to receive Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits:

• Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty

• Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve

• Your character of discharge does not impact your eligibility

• If you are on active duty, you will receive benefits at the active-duty rate

• You may qualify for up to 36 months of benefits under the Fry Scholarship Program and another 36 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for your own service

• You may also receive additional entitlement if another parent transfers entitlement to you.

Rules for Individuals who have used or wish to use entitlement under Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA):

Fry and DEA Eligibility: If you are eligible for both Fry Scholarship and DEA (Dependents Educational Assistance), you will be required to make an irrevocable election between the two programs when you apply. Dependents are not eligible to receive both DEA and the Fry Scholarship based on the same event (like a service member dying in the line of duty) unless they are a child whose parent died prior to August 1, 2011. A child of a parent who died prior to August 1, 2011, may still be eligible for both benefits but they may only use one program at a time and combined benefits are capped at a total of 81 months of full-time training. In this situation the two benefit programs cannot be used concurrently.

You can learn more about DEA on the Education and Training website: https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/.

Surviving spouses must decide which benefit they wish to receive. If you elect to receive DEA, you cannot receive the Fry Scholarship in the future. Or, if you elect to receive the Fry Scholarship, you cannot receive DEA in the future. Once you submit your choice, it cannot be changed. Carefully review both programs before making a decision.

Fry and Yellow Ribbon: Recipients of the Fry Scholarship may use the Yellow Ribbon Program.

How to Apply

To apply, take these steps depending on your situation:

• Apply Online or

• Make sure that your selected program is approved for VA training. Please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, GI Bill Comparison Tool for help in choosing a school.

• To apply, obtain and complete the Dependents Application for VA Education Benefits, VA Form 22-5490, Dependents Application for VA Education Benefits. Send it to the Regional Processing Office with jurisdiction over the state where you will advance your education and training. If you are a son or daughter, under legal age, a parent or guardian must sign the application. When applying, you will be required to make an irrevocable election between the Fry Scholarship and the Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program to receive benefits. Children of a service member who died in the line of duty prior to August 1, 2011, may be eligible for both DEA and Fry but they cannot be used at the same time.

If you have started your educational program, take your application to your school or employer. Ask them to complete VA Form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, and send both forms to VA. They can submit an Enrollment Certification electronically using Enrollment Manager. (Note: Schools must contact their VA representative to receive this form.)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship Fact Sheet:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/factsheets/education/Fry_Scholarship.pdf

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Education and Training Pay Rate Tables:
https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/

For more information regarding the Fry Scholarship , call 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit:
https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/fry-scholarship/

For more information regarding the GI Bill:
https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/