Paying for School
Determine eligibility and apply to use your GI Bill education benefits
You may or may not be eligible for certain benefits based on your (or a parent's/spouse's) military service that could cover some or all of the costs of your education, and even pay you a housing allowance and a stipend for books while you are enrolled in school. It's important to verify your eligibility and apply for these benefits through the VA as far in advance as possible.
Post-9/11 GI Bill Eligibility
Generally, military members are eligible after serving on active federal military service for minimum of 90 days.
This is also the chapter of benefits that a military veteran can (under very specific conditions) transfer to their spouse or dependent child(ren).
Montgomery GI Bill Eligibility
If you were active-duty and were having your military pay reduced by $100/month for your first 12 months, you may be eligible under this chapter of benefits. Can also apply to Reservists and National Guardsmen for a 6-year service obligation.
GI Bill Extensions for STEM degrees
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can be extended beyond the normal 36-month entitlement for certain eligible beneficiaries to complete approved technical/medical degrees.
Approved recipients in eligible majors will receive up to nine months (one more academic year’s worth) of additional Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement, or a maximum of $30,000.
VA Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) [Formerly known as "Vocational Rehabilitation and Employability"]
If you're a veteran with a VA-certified service-connected disability that limits your ability to work, you may be eligible for retraining into a new career that is within your capabilities.
This could include college courses to become a computer network specialist, or vocational training, like earning a Commercial Driver's License.
Applying for Financial Aid
If military education benefits won't cover the full costs of college, you'll want to do what EVERYBODY else does and apply for financial aid. This is commonly called the "FAFSA" (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
You only have to fill out one application, and you can choose which schools to send your information to. Financial aid offered will be more or less at different schools, so compare the deals offered by the schools you're considering. Aid may be offered in the form of tuition reductions, working off some tuition in work-study job opportunities, student loan offers, and federal or state grants. Some schools offer the in-state tuition rate to military veterans, while others don't, so check what your total costs will be.
Applying is pretty easy, and again, it's free! There's lots of help on the site, or you can check with your school's Financial Aid office, or ask us! The most difficult part for some people is tracking down their tax records from 2 years prior, but there is a tool within the application that can pull that information directly from the IRS if you don't have copies of the information yourself.
Earn college credits by taking College Level Exam Program (CLEP) tests
This is a great deal that can potentially save you a lot of time and tuition money by demonstrating your knowledge of a subject on a widely accepted standardized test, the CLEP test. “CLEP-ing out” of even one course could lighten your course load in a semester, giving you more time to concentrate on new courses. If you score well on just four exams, you could earn as much as 12-15 college credits, the equivalent of a whole semester! That could help you graduate sooner, saving you both time and money. Check with your school for specifics on CLEP policies.
There is a fee to take each test (currently $95), but military members and other GI Bill beneficiaries can have those testing fees paid. Another option exists if those resources are not available to you, and even if you have to pay the CLEP testing fee out of pocket, you will still save money over the tuition cost of that course.
Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
Current active duty, National Guardsmen, and Reservists of the U.S. military can sign up for CLEP tests through DANTES and have their testing fees covered. Additionally, DANTES-funded candidates who register for a CLEP exam will automatically receive the corresponding CLEP examination preparation guide at no cost.
Testing fee reimbursement through the VA
GI Bill beneficiaries with entitlement remaining can apply for reimbursement of CLEP and other standardized testing fees through the VA.
Free CLEP preparation through the Modern States Education Alliance
Modern States offers free, high-quality, online courses developed and taught by college professors that prepare you for virtually all of the major AP (Advanced Placement) and CLEP (College-level Examination Program) exams, with free online access to textbooks and other study materials. Any student can sign up, and the CLEP exam fees for up to 10,000 students are covered each year through their charitable foundation.
These courses are all self-paced, and you can review and repeat as many times as you need to comprehend the material. Courses are designed so you should be able to work through them in about an hour per day over 4 weeks.
Scholarships for Military and Family Members
Some of these scholarships are for veterans/military only, some for qualifying family members, and some are open to anyone willing to use their education to support military veterans for a defined period of time.
Other Scholarship Search Tools
Fisher House Foundation's "Scholarships for Service" Search tool
Fisher House Foundation is best known for its network of comfort homes where military and Veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment at military and VA medical centers.
"Scholarships for Service" is a free public resource for students of families with a military service background to search and access thousands of scholarship options. Every scholarship listed here is specifically tailored for active, guard and reserve military, Veterans, retired personnel, or their families.
Answer some questions about yourself and your situation, and be guided to a number of scholarships appropriate for you!
JLV College Counseling Scholarship Database
A searchable database of scholarships in many different categories and focus areas. Don’t limit yourself to looking in just the “Military” category! Check for other categories that apply to you: hobbies, activities, age, field of study, life situations, etc.
Student Training & Education in Public Service Scholarship Search Tool
This site guides those seeking careers in public service to a large compilation of scholarships and financial aid available to students in various fields of study or that meet certain demographic categories. Links to the eligibility, deadlines, and application process for each program are provided.
Other Financial Support Resources
The Jeremiah Program
This free program provides affordable housing, life skills classes, and other support to single mothers enrolled or intending to enroll in a two- or four-year college or university. There is a residence and training site in Fargo, ND.