General Information
College bound students who are veterans or who have a parent that is an active duty service member, veteran or deceased veteran should research their veterans educational benefits.
Students who are interested in military service options that will pay all or part of college expenses will find quite a few options to explore.
Veteran’s Benefits
- One or both of the student’s parents is active service member, retired from the Armed Services or a deceased veteran.
- The student is a veteran.
Military Service
- The student is considering military service as an option after high school instead of going directly to college.
- The student is considering attending one of the Service Academies or other Military Colleges.
- The student is considering Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) as an option for attending college and military service.
Summary of Education Benefits
The following table is a brief summary of each of the major education benefits offered to servicemembers, veterans and in some cases their families. Follow the associated links to learn more details about each program.
| Program | What is it? | Who is Eligible? | Benefit |
| Tuition Assistance | Tuition Assistance is a military benefit that pays the cost of tuition and some fees. | Virtually all military servicemembers are eligible. However, criteria for eligibility is determined by each branch. | Tuition Assistance covers up to 100% Tuition and Fees Not to exceed:
$4500 @ Fiscal Year |
| Post-9/11 GI Bill | The Post 9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months (4 regular school years) of education benefits to eligible servicemembers and veterans for:
|
Servicemembers (Active Duty, Guard and Reserve) and Veterans who have served at least 90 days on active duty since 9/10/2001.
Survivors of military member who died on active duty after 9/10/2011 may be eligible for Fry Scholarship program which pays the same as Post-9/11 GI Bill |
Paid Tuition and Fees, Living (Housing) Stipend and Book Stipend.
Benefits are tiered based on number of days on active duty. Some limitations apply to those currently on active duty. Benefits can be transferred to Spouse or Family member. |
| Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty & Veteran | MGIB provides up to 36 months (4 regular school years) of education benefits to eligible veterans for:
|
Active Duty members who have served at least two years on active duty.
Veterans – there are four categories of Veteran eligibility depending on when you enlisted and how long you served on active duty.
|
Up to $1,857 per month for full-time institutional education. |
| Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserves | Same as MGIB-AD at reduced rates. |
|
Up to $368 per month for full-time institutional education. |
| Loan Repayment (LRP) | Your service may partially or fully repay college loans. | Generally for enlisted members only. Several factors determine your eligibility, including your branch, your MOS, and terms of your contract.
Your loans must be in good standing, i.e. not in default. |
About repayment programs:
There are also specialized loan repayment programs for health professional officers. |
| Tuition Assistance “Top-Up” Program | An additional benefit intended to supplement tuition assistance from the military with GI Bill benefits. | To be eligible for the Top-up benefit, the person must be approved for federal Tuition Assistance by a military department and be eligible for GI Bill benefits. | Normally Tuition Assistance will pay up to 75% of the cost of classes, the top-up program will pay the remainder of the cost. |
| Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) | Education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. May be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. | You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of a servicemember who died, is missing, or was permanently disabled while on duty or as a result of a service-related condition. | Up to $1,021 per month for full-time institutional education. |
| Work-Study Program | If you’re a full-time or 3/4-time student in a college degree program, or a vocational or professional program, you can “earn while you learn” with a VA work-study allowance. | The VA work-study allowance is available to persons training under one of the VA benefit programs:
|
You’ll earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater. |
| Tutorial Assistance Program | Tutorial assistance for programs you are having difficulty with.
If you have questions on this program please contact our toll-free number 1-888-442-4551. |
If you are receiving VA benefits at a half-time or more rate, you are eligible. | VA may provide you with a tutor or with information for finding one. |
Summary of Programs by Branch of Service:
Because each branch has unique eligibility requirements they been grouped by Branch of Service
| Air Force | Army |
| Navy | Marine Corps |
| Coast Guard |
