WASHINGTON —The Air Force Aid Society is accepting applications for education grants and scholarships. The single online application opens the door to three education programs.

General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant – the centerpiece and gateway to all of the AFAS education programs. It offers need-based grants of at least $2,000 to dependent children of active, retired and deceased Air Force members. Active duty includes Title 10 Reserve on extended active duty and Title 32 Guard performing full-time active duty. Spouses of active-duty members and surviving spouses of active or retired members are also eligible. All applicants must be enrolled as full-time undergraduates at an accredited college or university during the 2015-2016 academic year, and are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 grade-point average.

Merit Scholarship (incoming freshmen) – with top GPA’s as verified through the Arnold education grant application will be contacted directly by AFAS to compete for these $5,000 merit-based scholarships. A minimum of 10 scholarships are awarded annually.

Supplemental loan program – Even if a student does not have sufficient financial need to receive the Arnold grant, completing the grant application determines eligibility to secure this interest-free loan. Sponsoring members may request up to $1,000 per eligible student to help reimburse out-of-pocket education expenses.

A top student could get them all – a $2,000 grant, plus a $5,000 Scholarship and a $1,000 no interest loan equaling $8,000 in support of a student’s education.

The program has an average selection rate of more than 60 percent of those eligible and provides 100 percent of those eligible with validated financial need. The deadline for applications is March 13, 2015; however, students are encouraged to apply early. 

For more information on eligibility for all of these programs and to access the application, visit the AFAS website at http://www.afas.org/education-grants.