Are you a veteran, veteran spouse or dependent? Then you may be eligible for tuition assistance through the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which can help pay for you to go back to school. What’s more, you may also be eligible for military specific scholarships.

Military scholarships provide educational funding for active duty servicemembers, veterans, spouses and dependents. They’re an excellent way to head back to school without having to get into serious student debt. You may easily qualify for scholarships that will save you literally thousands of dollars on your education.

However, trying to find scholarships can be half the battle. Many aren’t widely advertized and as a result many military members and their dependents never apply to them simply because they don’t know that they exist.

To make your hunt for a military scholarship that little bit easier, we’ve rounded up some of the absolute best military scholarships out there, and here they are:

Ten Top 2013 Scholarships for Active Duty Military and Veterans:

1. Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship

The Pat Tillman Foundation awards scholarships to veterans and to their dependents that are seeking a variety of advanced education opportunities – including undergraduate and graduate degrees. Application requirements include responding to two essay questions and providing documentation proof of military service experience or of being a military dependent.

2. American Legion Auxiliary

The American Legion Auxiliary Student Scholarship annually gives out a $2000 scholarship to one successful applicant. This scholarship is open to both veterans and their dependents that are members of The American Legion Auxiliary. All applicants must be pursuing a program that is certified, professional, trade or technical programs or a an associate or bachelor’s degree to qualify.

3. Army Women’s Foundation Scholarship

The Army Women’s Foundation Scholarship  financially assists female military veterans and their children with their educational goals by awarding up to $1000 to those that are pursuing community college or certificate qualifications and up to $2500 those that are pursuing four-year college programs. All female veterans, from all military branches are encouraged to apply, as are their children.

4. Veterans United Foundation Scholarship

The Veterans United Foundation Scholarship bi-annually awards five $2000 scholarships to veterans and their children. To qualify all applicants require a 2.5 GPA and must be pursuing an associate, undergraduate, masters or doctorate degree. To complete an application those interested must fill out an application form and submit an essay.

5. AMVETS National Scholarship

AMVETS National Scholarship awards two scholarships annually to veterans and each scholarship is worth $3000. Scholarships are typically awarded to applicants who demonstrate on their application that they are interested in returning to school because it will improve their career opportunities and long term career goals. Recipients can put the money toward various educational programs and to both online and in-person schools.

6.  The David W. Fox Fellowship

The University of Chicago Booth annually awards the David W. Fox Fellowship. It is worth an estimated $50,000 and pays for up to two years of tuition costs. Veterans and active duty servicemembers can apply to the scholarship. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate their academic capabilities, their extracurricular activities as well as their long term career goals in their applications.

7. Operation Education

Operation Education is designed to assist students of the University of Idaho who are veterans that have suffered injuries since serving the military post 9/11. Successful applicants receive money to assist with their tuition costs as well as other opportunities such as free tutoring, mentorship programs and help with finding a job after graduation.

 8. AFCEA Military Personnel Scholarships

The AFCEA annually provides scholarships to active duty servicemembers, veterans and their dependents. Applicants need to be enrolled in undergraduate programs in electronics, aerospace, physics, mathematics, information technology or information technology security to qualify. A minimum 3.0 GPA is also required for applicants to qualify.

9. Helen Dyar King Scholarship

The Helen Dyar King Scholarship is provided by Arizona State University and is available for veterans that live in Arizona. Each scholarship is worth $4000 and is awarded to ASU students at any year of their education. Veterans and active duty military members are encouraged to apply.

10. Texas A&M University Scholarship

Texas A&M University recognizes the service military members have given to our country and as a result offers multiple scholarship options each year to its students that are veterans or dependents of veterans. Each scholarship ranges from $1000 to $3000 in value and there are least 9 different scholarships to choose from.

Top 10 Scholarships for Military Dependents in 2013:

1.      Fisher House Foundation Scholarships

Fisher House Foundation offers scholarships for both military spouses and military children. Each amount given for either scholarship depends on the financial needs of each recipient but the minimum amount given is $1500. In the last twelve years, Fisher House Foundation has awarded over $10 million dollars in scholarships for military spouses and dependents.

2. Air Force Aid Society Scholarships

The Air Force Aid Society Scholarships provide scholarships that are worth $2000 each to the children of either Air Force active duty servicemen or veterans. To date over 96,000 scholarships have been given out and scholarship money can go toward tuition, books, general supplies and student accommodation.

3. Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation 

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to the children of active duty and veteran Marines that are deceased due to their participation in the wars since 9/11. Each scholarship is worth up to $30,000 and to qualify students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA.

4. Folds of Honor Foundation Scholarship 

The Folds of Honor Foundation provides scholarships to spouses and dependents of disabled or deceased military members and veterans. Amounts given are needs based and all applicants must demonstrate proof of their eligibility when applying. Applicants must also have at least a 2.0 GPA to qualify.

5. Scholarships for Military Children 

Scholarships for Military Children awards a minimum of a $1500 scholarship to each successful applicant each year. Applicants must be the child of active duty or veterans (alive or deceased) and fill out an application form, write an essay and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to apply.

6. Freedom Alliance Scholarship

The Freedom Alliance scholarship provides scholarships specifically for children of veterans and active duty servicemembers whom have lost their lives or a limb while serving in the armed forces. Scholarship amounts are need based but each scholarship can have up to a $40,000 value. All applicants must be under 26 years old when submitting their application to qualify.

7. Salute to Spouses Scholarship

The Salute to Spouses provides scholarships worth $6000 each to go toward a higher education at Bryant and Stratton College. Applicants need to be a spouse of an active duty military member to qualify. The application includes a short essay and completion of an application form to qualify.

8. National Military Family Association Scholarship 

The National Military Family Association provides scholarship money to military spouses which can go toward completing the GED, undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees. Applicants can be a spouse or widow of a military member from any of the military branches. To apply applicants will need to complete an essay and submit an application form.

9. HSBC Military Spouse Scholarship

The HSBC Military Spouse Scholarship awards scholarship money to military spouses studying at University of Maryland University College. Each scholarship is worth $1500 per semester and to apply applicants must provide proof of being a military spouse and write a short essay.

10. Joseph A. McAlinden Divers Scholarship

The Joseph A. McAlinden Divers Scholarship gives out annual scholarships worth between $500-$2500.  Eligible applicants are children of an active duty, veteran or deceased Navy or Marine Corps member. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 2.0 GPA.

Get a great education for less by applying to the above scholarships. College doesn’t have to be a financial burden thanks to the many opportunities listed above. Good luck!