If you're interested in earning a degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) program, or you already have a degree and are trying to get a teaching certification, there is a new program that may help you. In fact, it could pay you up to $30,000 in extra funding - even if you used up all your GI Bill money!
The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program, also known as the Rogers Scholarship, is a new pilot GI Bill program available from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA opened up a new pot of funding on Oct. 1.
What Is The Rogers Scholarship?
The Rogers Scholarship program offers up to nine additional months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to eligible veterans and dependents for an additional maximum payout of $30,000.
Since this is a pilot program, funding is limited. That means that possibly some applicants may not be approved for the program.
Per Public Law 115-48, which created the program, only $75,000,000 is available each fiscal year from 2020-2022, and $100,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter. Since the maximum payout is $30,000 that means funding could be limited to 2,500 people each year. If you're interested in the program you should apply as soon as possible.
Who is Eligible for the Rogers Scholarship?
You may be eligible for this scholarship if you're currently enrolled in an undergraduate STEM degree program or if you have a STEM degree and you're working toward a teaching certification.
If you're working towards a STEM degree, you must:
- be enrolled in an eligible undergraduate STEM degree program that requires at least 120 standard semester credit hours (or 180 quarter credit hours) to complete, and
- have completed at least 60 standard credit hours (or 90 quarter credit hours) toward your degree, and
- have 6 months or less of your Post-9/11 GI Bill (or Fry Scholarship) benefits left.
If you're working toward a teaching certification, you must:
- have earned an eligible post-secondary degree in a STEM field, and
- have been accepted or are enrolled in a teaching certification program, and
- have 6 months or less of your Post-9/11 GI Bill (or Fry Scholarship) benefits left.
Note: You can’t use the STEM scholarship for graduate degree programs.
VA will give priority to those whose GI Bill has run out and need the most credit hours to complete their degree or get their teaching certification. Dependents using transferred GI Bill benefits aren't eligible for this program, but those receiving benefits under the Fry Scholarship program are.
What Can You Use The Rogers Scholarship For?
The Rogers Scholarship is designed for STEM students and those seeking a teaching certification, therefore you must be enrolled in a program for or have earned a degree in one of the following areas:
- Agriculture science or natural resources science program
- Biological or biomedical science
- Computer and information science and support services
- Engineering, engineering technologies, or an engineering-related field
- Health care or related program
- Mathematics or statistics
- Medical residency
- Physical science
- Science technologies or technicians
You can apply for the Rogers Scholarship online.
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