Eligibility

Dependent Children Scholarships

• Be a dependent of a current or former qualified member of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force whom has served a minimum of six years on active duty, or served eight years on active duty in submarine support activities.
• Be a high school senior or be currently enrolled as a student in a college or an accredited vocational or technical institute.
• Be unmarried and under the age of 24 at the time of the application deadline, March 15.
• Intend to or be enrolled as a full-time student working toward their first Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree at a two or four year accredited university or college, or be working toward a vocational/technical certification at an accredited institute.
• Scholars attending any Military Service Academy are NOT eligible for the Dolphin Scholarship. (ie. United States Naval Academy, Westpoint, or United States Coast Guard Academy).

Dependent Spouse Scholarships

• Be the dependent spouse of a qualified member or former member of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force whom has served a minimum of six years on active duty, or served eight years on active duty in submarine support activities.
• Intend to or be enrolled as a full-time or part-time student with a minimum of 12 credit hours per year in order to receive their first Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree at a two or four year accredited university, or college or be working toward a vocational/technical certification at an accredited institute.

Dolphin Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, and Spouses (Sponsor must have served a minimum of 6 years total Submarine military service/8 years in assignments in support of the Submarine Force. e.g. Submarine groups or squadrons, training and maintenance facilities, Submarine Tenders etc.).

Laura W. Bush Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren (Sponsor must have served aboard USS Texas (SSN 775) for a minimum of 2 years OR been a Plankowner (crew member on September 11, 2006) + a minimum of 6 years total submarine service).

USS Colorado (SSN 788) Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Colorado (SSN 788) for a minimum of 2 years).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

USS Delaware (SSN 791) Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Delaware (SSN 791) for a minimum of 6 months).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

USS Hampton (SSN 767) Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Hampton (SSN 767) for a minimum of 2 years).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

USS Indiana (SSN 789) Diane Donald Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Indiana (SSN 789) for a minimum of 6 months).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

USS Montana (SSN 794) Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Montana (SSN 794) for a minimum of 6 months).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.
• Scholarship applications open October 1, 2024 for awards in the 2025-2026 academic year.

USS Nautilus Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Grandchildren, Great-Grand Children, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Nautilus (SSN 571), USS Nautilus (SS 168), or Historical Ship Nautilus for a minimum of 30 days).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

USS Oregon (SSN 793) Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Oregon (SSN 793) for a minimum of 6 months).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

USS Washington (SSN 787) Scholarship

• Children/Stepchildren, Spouses, and Service Members (Sponsor or Service Member must have served aboard USS Washington (SSN 787) for a minimum of 6 months).
• This scholarship is non-renewable and students must re-apply annually.

Restrictions

• Former Dolphin Scholars who have received scholarship funding for 8 semesters or the maximum amount of ($16,000) are not eligible to apply for an additional Dolphin Scholarship grants.
• Members of the immediate family of any employee of the Dolphin Scholarship Foundation are not eligible to receive a Dolphin Scholarship.

Additional Eligibility Criteria

• Years of service need not be consecutive; however, qualifying years must have been served on ACTIVE DUTY. Time served as a Naval Academy or NROTC midshipman, in Officer Candidate School, in “Boot Camp”, or as a member of the inactive or Selected Naval Reserve cannot be used to establish eligibility.
• Enlisted sponsor time starts the day the sponsor classes up in BESS. Officer and nuclear trained enlisted time starts the first day of Prototype.
• Time in service requirement may be waived by DSF if the Sponsor qualified in submarines and was medically disqualified (but still eligible to wear the Submarine Warfare insignia), discharged or retired due to injury or illness which occurred in the line of duty.
• There is no minimum period of service for children of qualified submariners who were killed in the line of duty while serving in the Submarine Force.
• All scholarship applicants must be pursuing their first Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, or trade school certification from an accredited educational institution.