Grants

Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant

If your parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, you may be eligible for an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant for the 2023-2024 school year if

  • you are not eligible for a Federal Pell Grant on the basis of your Expected Family Contribution but
  • meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements, and
  • your parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11, and
  • you were under 24 years old or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent’s or guardian’s death.

How do I apply?

You apply by completing a FAFSA.

How much money can I get?

The grant award is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year but cannot exceed your cost of attendance for that award year. Click here to see the amount of the maximum Federal Pell Grant award for the current award year.

What should I do to maintain the grant?

You will have to fill out the FAFSA form every year that you’re in school. After you have done that, your school, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, will determine your eligibility for an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Effective for 2024-2025, the Iraq and Afghanistan Grant will no longer be awarded.

Once you have earned a baccalaureate degree or your first professional degree, or have used up all 12 semesters of your eligibility, you are no longer eligible to receive an Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.

I’ve heard that the Iraq and Afghanistan Award is being retired at the end of the 2023-2024 school year, what aid will I qualify for instead?

Students who answer “yes” to the 2024-2025 FAFSA question “Parent Killed in Line of Duty’” may be eligible for receive the maximum Pell grant under a Special Rule in the Higher Education Act, Section 401(c). To receive a Pell Grant based on eligibility under the Special Rule, a student must be--

  • The child of a parent or guardian who died in the line of duty while (a) serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001; or (b) actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer; and
  • Less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which the applicant is applying (e.g., for the 2024-25 award year, a student must be less than 33 years old as of January 1, 2024, to be eligible).

Students who indicate that their parent died in the line of duty on the 2024-2025 FAFSA will receive notification regarding documentation our office requires to determine if they qualify for the Pell grant under the Special Rule.