38 USC § 7904 - Preferences in awarding financial assistance

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s7904"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "38 USC § 7904 - Preferences in awarding financial assistance"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
section_number: "7904"
section_name: "Preferences in awarding financial assistance"
chapter_number: 79
chapter_name: "INFORMATION SECURITY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 109–461, title IX, § 903(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3463; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, § 1649(d)(4), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1753.)"
---


# § 7904. Preferences in awarding financial assistance

In awarding financial assistance under this chapter, the Secretary shall give a preference to qualified individuals who are otherwise eligible to receive the financial assistance in the following order of priority:

**(1)** Veterans with service-connected disabilities.

**(2)** Veterans.

**(3)** Persons described in section 4215(a)(1)(B) of this title.

**(4)** Individuals who received or are pursuing degrees at institutions designated by the National Security Agency as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Education.

**(5)** Citizens of the United States.

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 109–461, title IX, § 903(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3463; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title XVI, § 1649(d)(4), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1753.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2017—Par. (4).  substituted “Cyber” for “Information Assurance”.