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The Post 9/11 GI Bill offers financial aid programs to veterans through the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These programs can cover full or partial tuition, as well as a monthly housing allowance and annual book stipend for an undergraduate or graduate degree program — in addition to non-degree job training such as a licensing program or apprenticeship. Rural residents can also receive a one-time benefit. You can only enroll in one program at a time and receive a total of four years of funding.
You can apply online through the VA website. Typically, it takes about 30 days to process your claim.
You must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible for an educational assistance program through the Post 9/11 GI bill:
That depends on where you go to school, the program you enroll in and how long you served.
Here’s the maximum you can get for different types of programs:
Type of financial assistance | Maximum funding amount |
---|---|
Public school tuition and fees | Fully funded for an in-state school |
Private or foreign school tuition and fees | Up to $24,476.79 per academic year |
Non-degree institution | Up to $24,476.79 for an in-state school |
Vocational flight school | Up to $13,986.72 per academic year |
Correspondence school | Up to $11,888.70 per academic year |
Licensing and certification test fees |
|
Monthly housing allowance (MHA) | The same as the military basic housing allowance (BHA) for an E-5 pay grade with dependents per year. But there are a few exceptions:
|
Apprenticeship and on-the-job training | Between 20% and 100% of your MHA, depending on the length of your program. |
Books and supplies | $1,000 per year |
Relocation or travel from a rural area | One-time payment of up to $500 |
Depending on your length of service, you might not be eligible for full benefits. Here’s how it breaks down:
Length of service after September 10, 2001 | Percentage of maximum benefit |
---|---|
36+ months | 100% |
30 to 35 months | 90% |
24 to 29 months | 80% |
18 to 23 months | 70% |
12 to 17 months | 60% |
6 to 11 months | 50% |
3 to 5 months | 40% |
You’re eligible for 100% of the benefit if you were discharged due to a service-related disability after 30 continuous days of service. Purple Heart recipients are also eligible for the full benefit regardless of how much time you’ve served.
If you’re eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, you might be able to get more funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program for out-of-state or private school tuition. The program will match the scholarships and grants you receive from your school to cover tuition and fees.
To qualify, you must be eligible for the full maximum benefit under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Your school also must participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program and have enough funding available.
If the GI Bill isn’t enough — or you just can’t qualify — consider these scholarships instead.
American Veterans (AMVETS) awards this small scholarship to three veterans or active-duty service members each year. If you qualify, you can use the funds for part-time or full-time undergraduate courses, graduate courses, accredited degree or certificate programs, or online programs.
To apply, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility, in addition to a short essay. You can apply between January 20th and April 30th for the 2020 scholarship cycle. Recipients will be announced on June 20, 2020.
Also available through AMVETS, this program works a lot like the AMVETS Scholarship but with higher funding amounts — and only two veterans receive the funds each year. The application process and eligibility requirements are the same as the regular AMVETS Scholarship.
The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation offers this scholarship to five veterans, service members or family of service members per academic year. To qualify, you must be in a counseling-related program.
You also must commit to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC) before graduation, and agree to serve veterans and service members for at least two years after graduating. You can apply online through the NBCC website.
Former Marines and Navy veterans pursuing a teaching degree are eligible for this scholarship, as long as you were injured during one of three military operations.
You can apply at any time during the academic year by mailing in your completed paper application, official transcript, active-duty release form (DD Form 214) and an essay. You can receive funding for multiple years, but you need to reapply each year to qualify.
If you or a family member served in Vietnam, you might be eligible for this scholarship program. You’ll need to provide two letters of recommendation and an essay on the roles and significance of the US Air Force in Vietnam, in addition to proof of service. Applications are due on March 6, 2020.
Each year, the 43rd Infantry Division Veterans Association awards four members or their family members this scholarship to cover education-related expenses. You can request an application form by writing to the scholarship fund or emailing 43rdvets@gmail.com.
Chances are you won’t be able to cover all of your costs with scholarships specifically for veterans — especially if you don’t qualify for GI Bill funding. You might want to consider these options as well:
Your best bet for funding a degree as a veteran is applying for educational assistance through the Post 9/11 GI bill. If that doesn’t cover your full COA, you might be able to qualify for smaller amounts of funding through scholarships specifically available to veterans. But you might also want to check out our guide to student loans to learn more about your funding options.
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