If you’ve served in the U-S armed forces, the government wants to say thank you. Making a college education accessible is just one of the ways. Through college grants and the GI Bill, the U-S government has millions of dollars available to veterans and their dependents to help pay for college. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are just two places veterans and their dependents can look for education funding.
The best known military education program is the Montgomery GI bill, or MGIB. The bill became law in 1944 under President Roosevelt. Since World War II the bill allowed more than two million veterans to attend college. The GI bill provides monthly benefits for active duty service members, reservists and veterans. To qualify you must have served at least two years on active duty and have your high school diploma or the equivalent. The GI bill pays for 36 months of education benefits, an estimated $40,000 value.
The GI Bill is not considered financial aid by colleges and universities, because the money is paid directly to you. That means veterans are still eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants. However, GI Bill payments reduce the amount of student financial aid you are eligible to receive. GI money can be used not only for tuition,but also, fees, books and living expenses. The tax-free money can also be used to pay for independent study programs, required continuing education, licensing, certification, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. Once you leave the armed services, you have ten years to use your benefits.
Last year, Congress approved a new GI Bill. The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides education benefits for service members who have served on active duty for 90 or more days since Sept. 10, 2001. The Post 9/11 GI Bill covers 100% of tuition. It also provides a monthly allowance for housing and up to $1000 a year for books and supplies. The new bill does not refund military members for courses completed before July 2009.
Armed Forces Tuition Assistance, TA, is a benefit for eligible members of all the armed services. Each division can pay up to 100% of tuition expenses of its members. TA is not a loan, it’s like money a veteran has earned. Each arm of the military has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process. Unlike money from the GI Bill, tuition assistance is paid directly to the school.
Private scholarships and grants provide more than $300 million for members of the military, veterans and their families. Many scholarships are awarded to veterans fitting a specific description. Veterans of foreign wars, disabled veterans and veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom are just a few of the scholarships available. Even if you are getting money through the GI Bill, college loans can be used to off-set the costs of books, fees, and living expenses.
Don’t forget your years in the service gave you valuable experience and training. Much of that can be used for college credit. The American Council on Education, ACE, can help you and your school figure out how many college credit hours you’ve completed even before you arrive on campus.
The government has programs in place to help military veterans and their dependents with grants for college. The GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, scholarships and grants offer money to help going to college affordable.
