As a member of the Armed Forces, many benefits are available to you to help you pay for your undergraduate or graduate education. These benefits include the GI Bill, Federal Student Aid, Scholarships, Service Specific Aid, and State Veteran Benefits.
GI Bill: There are two GI Bill options: the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Both of these bills provide financial assistance for your education based on your amount of service in the military. To learn which GI Bill is the best for you, use the
GI Bill Estimator.
Federal Student Aid: If your VA education benefits are not enough to cover your education expenses, you may also apply for federal student aid. This comes in the form of grants, loans, and work study programs.
Here is a list of helpful resources when researching Federal or state financial aid:
Guide to Federal Financial Aid:
www.studentaid.ed.gov/
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
www.fafsa.ed.gov
Going2College.com (A state-by-state guide to financial aid):
www.going2college.org
Financial Aid Fact List:
www.knowhow2go.org
Scholarships: While your GI Bill selection may cover all of your college costs, if you have additional tuition expenses you may want to research scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are offered by a number of support and community groups tied to each branch of service. One source of information is searching the internet for scholarship opportunities that may apply to your service. Another source is your local American Legion Auxiliary. This organization not only helps veterans, but is a useful tool to active duty servicemembers. Check
www.legion.org to learn more.
Service Specific Aid: In addition to the GI Bill, your branch of service may offer additional financial assistance for education expenses. To learn more, visit your branch's website to see what programs are available and if you are eligible.
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine
Corp
State Veteran Benefits: To honor you for your military service, some states offer some type of education benefit for veterans and active duty personnel. Learn more about your state's benefits,
click here