The military provides numerous educational benefits to service members and their dependents through chapters; each program has different eligibility requirements.
Budget carefully when using education benefits; student life often means living on a limited income.
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides tuition and fees coverage to qualified veterans and their families. In addition, this program allows transfer of any unused benefits to eligible dependents.
The GI Bill has played an invaluable role in assisting veterans make the most of their service by taking advantage of education benefits available to them after service. Current veterans may be more inclined than prior generations to utilize these benefits due to more varied career options and an economy that prioritizes higher education.
Still, it is important to remember that the Post-9/11 GI Bill may not cover all your educational costs. Because of this, many schools take part in the Yellow Ribbon Program which splits costs with Veterans Affairs between a small percentage to all remaining cost differences for an agreed-upon number of veteran students enrolled at specific schools - this loophole allowing many for-profit schools to target veterans more aggressively than usual.
2. Yellow Ribbon Program
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers your highest public in-state undergraduate tuition at any eligible institution; however, that may not cover all your tuition costs at private universities or graduate school.
Yellow Ribbon Program can fill any educational gaps that exist for veterans. As part of its supplemental benefits, schools like GGU may negotiate agreements with the VA to cover costs that exceed your maximum GI Bill limit in any year. GGU pays half of any additional expense while VA covers half.
Your school determines its Yellow Ribbon contribution by first adding up all of your tuition and mandatory fees, then subtracting any aid you receive such as scholarships, grants or your GI Bill tuition payment. Finally, they apply it towards that total sum.
Start by qualifying for the GI Bill and receiving your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Next, take it directly to your school certifying official or financial aid/military liaison office and request to apply for Yellow Ribbon.
3. Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)
Though veterans may be aware of the GI Bill, not everyone knows they may qualify for other educational benefits like the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program (DEA), which could offer them access to higher education or job training.
The Dependent Education Assistance (DEA), also known as Chapter 35, offers education and training opportunities to the dependents and survivors of Veterans who died while on active duty or due to service-connected disability; or those still missing in action or captured and not recovered since WW2. Generally, eligibility can be transferred onto spouses or children of deceased veterans.
DEA beneficiaries may use their benefits at any contract school like UAF. Furthermore, they have the option to receive the benefit as in-state tuition without impacting eligibility for other financial aid opportunities such as federal grants and need-based aid programs. Learn more at the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
4. MGIB-AD
The original GI Bill was an overwhelming success, enabling millions of World War II veterans to secure VA-backed home loans and take part in education and training programs. Meanwhile, its latest version offers vocational and educational financial aid benefits for active duty service members as well as veteran service members.
The Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (MGIB-AD) provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. This program covers traditional degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses as well as remedial, deficiency and refresher courses under certain circumstances.
MGIB-AD provides monthly housing allowance, book stipend, and basic living allowance. Payments made into MGIB-AD will be returned if you switch to the Post-9/11 GI Bill; recipients don't need to pay taxes on these benefits and may use them toward daily costs of living expenses.
