Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Are you an active-duty military member or have already ended your military service? If so, you’re likely entitled to an array of military education benefits that can advance your career in and out of the military.
In this article, we’ll cover the military education benefits that may be available for service members, veterans, and in some cases, their families.
How to Take Advantage of Your Military Education Benefits
Ready to further your education? Here are some of the major military education programs available to service members, veterans, and their families.
Tuition Assistance
With tuition assistance, you get financial help with the cost of education tuition and fees. This program is eligible to almost every military service member, but the criteria for eligibility do differ with each branch and are dependent on when you enlisted and your discharge status, among other things. This program covers up to 100% of tuition fees, although there are some exceptions based on credit hours.
Post- 9/11 G.I. Bill®
This bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits to servicemembers and veterans for the following things:
- College
- Business Technical or Vocational Courses
- Flight Training
- Licensing & Testing programs
- Apprenticeship
- Job training
Service members and veterans who have served at least 90 days on active duty since 9/10/2011 can be eligible for this program. Survivors of military members who died during this period may also be eligible for the Fry Scholarship Program, which offers the same benefits.
Both programs offer paid tuition and fees, and a housing and book stipend, but these benefits are based on the number of days the person served on active duty.
Montgomery G.I. Bill®-Active Duty & Veteran
This bill offers similar military education opportunities to the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®. Active Duty members who have served a minimum of 2 years on active duty may be eligible for this program, and the benefits of the program depend on when you enlist and how long you’ve served.
The program can offer up to $1,928 a month for full-time institutional education.
Loan Repayment
Beyond paying tuition costs, the military may partially pay or fully repay any college loans you may have.
This repayment program is generally for enlisted members only, and there are several factors that impact your eligibility, such as your branch and the terms of your contract. It’s also important to note that your loans must be in good standing to qualify for repayment.
Tuition Assistance “Top-Up” Program
Is the assistance from the G.I. Bill® not enough to cover your educational costs? This program is designed to provide supplemental tuition assistance.
To qualify for it, you need to be approved for the federal Tuition Assistance program by your military department and be eligible for the G.I. Bill® benefits. This program will cover the remaining costs of your education.
Final Thoughts on Military Education Benefits
Whether you’re an active military member or a veteran, you deserve the educational opportunities possible as a sincere thanks for serving our country. By exploring the education options in this article, you can pursue the best education path for you.
Are you looking to advance your education? Want to know more about what certificate and degree programs are available? Let us know in the comments!
More info here https://intercoast.edu/military/veterans/
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.gov/gibill