20 great college scholarships for families of law enforcement

By Megan Wells, Police1 Contributor

The cost of a college education is rising at an unbelievable rate. The Wall Street Journal just reported that the class of 2015 is the most indebted class to graduate, ever, with debt averaging around $35,000 per student. With college price tags continuing to climb, options for affordable financing can’t keep up.

Luckily for law enforcement officers, there are a few pots of money reserved specifically for you and your kin – you just need to know where to look. Many of these scholarships can be paired with other scholarships and financial aid, too. The more money you can find up front, the less you’ll have to pay back later.

Scholarships for dependents of law enforcement officers

These scholarships are offered to the widest group of LEO dependents:

1. Children of active-duty police officers can apply for the Electronic Security Association’s Youth Scholarship Program, which awards two scholarships each year. The first-place winner receives $7,500, and the second-place winner receives $2,500.
2. The 2016 Wives Behind the Badge Law Enforcement Children’s Scholarship Program provides two $1,000 scholarships, annually, to children of law enforcement officers.
3. The America’s 911 Foundation awards 15 scholarships of $2,000 each year to children of first responders.
4. FLEOA Foundation offers children of current, retired or deceased members of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association scholarships of $500 or $1,000.

Does your child want to pursue a job in law enforcement?

If your child wants to follow in the footsteps of his or her LEO parent or grandparent, these scholarships are great to consider:

1. The Sheryl A. Horak Law Enforcement Explorer Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based award worth $1,000 for high-school seniors looking to pursue a career in law enforcement.
2. The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives offers three separate scholarships for students looking to pursue a degree in law enforcement: The Irlet Anderson Scholarship Award ($2,500), the Charles Fonseca Scholarship ($2,000) and the Bernard and Sylvia Davis Thompson Scholarship ($1,500).
3. The O’Grady-Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund awards scholarships for students seeking careers in law enforcement. The scholarship amount varies each year depending on how much funding is available and how many qualified applicants they receive.

Characteristic-based scholarships

There are many scholarships reserved for distinct groups:

1. The National Black Police Association offers the Alphonso Deal Scholarship for eligible candidates. In 2015, The NBPA awarded 10 scholarships.
2. For future law enforcers from Hispanic ancestry, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association provides a merit-based scholarship.
3. The Out to Protect Scholarship is awarded to gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender students currently enrolled in basic law enforcement training. The scholarship awards range from $500 to $1,000.
4. The Women in Federal Law Enforcement organization offers a scholarship for members or member-sponsored applicants seeking degrees in criminal justice or related disciplines.
5. If an LEO family member has died or become disabled in the line of duty, his or her children may be eligible for the NLEAFCF Scholarship.
6. The NRA provides a scholarship of up to $2,500 per semester for children of current law enforcement officers who are current NRA members, as well as those killed in the line of duty who were also NRA members.
7. If you are a LEO and also a member of the Blue Knight International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, your kids are eligible for one of five $1,000 academic scholarships available each year to immediate family members of a Blue Knight member.

Bonus tips for landing extra assistance

We’ve mentioned a boatload of options here, but don’t stop your research here. There are plenty of places to seek for extra college assistance:

1. If you are a veteran with an unused GI Bill, you can transfer your benefits to your kids.
2. After the sixth grade, if your son or daughter is interested in law enforcement, get him or her started in the Law Enforcement Exploring program and they could eventually land a college scholarship. (Not to mention the experience is a great resume and college application enhancer.)
3. Ask the school your child plans to attend about scholarships. Some schools, like Alexandria Technical and Community College offer LEO scholarships specific to their institution.
4. If you want to start saving before your child enters college, consider a 529 account, which offers tax incentives that make it easier to save for college.
5. Look for scholarships at the police department or station where you work. Local departments and police fraternities often offer scholarship money for children of officers in their own ranks.
6. Most states and cities have a foundation to support law enforcement families in the pursuit of higher education. Here are a few examples:

• South Carolina’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Foundation
• California’s Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program
• Miami’s Roger Castillo Perseverance and Amanda Haworth Perseverance scholarships
• Northern Virginia’s Vance International Inc. Scholarship
• Mississippi’s HELP Scholarship
• Minnesota’s LEO Scholarship Program
• Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have the Ronnie Williams Foundation
• Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police Scholarship Program
• Maine’s Police Emerald Society

As the costs for continued education climb, scholarship research becomes a crucial part of the application process. Finding a chunk of money to help offset the cost is incredibly helpful. If you’ve had success with a particular scholarship program, please let our community know about it. Comment below, or leave us feedback on Facebook.