The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is a federal grant program that helps eligible students whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11 pay for the costs of higher education.

Who is eligible for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant?

To be eligible for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• Be enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate degree program at a Title IV-eligible institution.
• Meet the basic Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements other than the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) requirement. This means you must be a Pell Grant-eligible student based on factors such as your financial need, age, and enrollment status, but you do not have to have a zero EFC.
• Have lost a parent or guardian who was a member of the U.S. armed forces as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11.
• Have been under the age of 24 or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parents or guardians death.

How much money can I get?

The amount of money you can receive from the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is equal to the amount of a maximum Federal Pell Grant for the award year, but it cannot exceed your cost of attendance for that award year. For the 2023-2024 award year, the maximum Pell Grant award is $7,395. However, due to automatic federal budget cuts known as the sequester, the maximum Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant award for the 2023-2024 award year is $6,195.

How do I apply?

To apply for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. You can submit the FAFSA form electronically at studentaid.gov or by mail.

The deadline to apply for the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant for the 2023-2024 award year was October 31, 2023. However, you can still submit a FAFSA form now to apply for the 2024-2025 award year.

Additional resources

• Federal Student Aid: Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants: <invalid URL removed>
• Federal Student Aid: Apply for Federal Student Aid: <invalid URL removed>
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/