Can the Military Pay for College?
Serving in the military can be a valuable experience, providing individuals with skills, discipline, and a sense of purpose. However, many people are deterred from joining the military due to concerns about how they will pay for college after their service. Fortunately, the military offers various programs and benefits to help cover the cost of higher education.
Direct Answer: Can the Military Pay for College?
The short answer is yes, the military can pay for college. The military offers several programs and benefits to help service members and veterans cover the cost of higher education. These programs can include:
- Education Assistance Programs: The military offers education assistance programs that provide financial aid to help service members and veterans pay for college. These programs include the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the Tuition Assistance Program.
- Scholarships: The military offers various scholarships to help service members and veterans pay for college. These scholarships can be merit-based, need-based, or a combination of both.
- Fellowships: The military also offers fellowships to help service members and veterans pay for graduate school. These fellowships can be merit-based or need-based.
Education Assistance Programs
The military offers three main education assistance programs:
- Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB): The MGIB is a monthly stipend program that provides financial aid to help service members and veterans pay for college. The program is available to active duty, reserve, and National Guard members.
- Post-9/11 GI Bill: The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a monthly stipend program that provides financial aid to help service members and veterans pay for college. The program is available to veterans who have served at least 90 days of active duty since September 10, 2001.
- Tuition Assistance Program: The Tuition Assistance Program is a program that provides financial aid to help service members pay for college. The program is available to active duty and reserve members.
Scholarships
The military offers various scholarships to help service members and veterans pay for college. These scholarships can be merit-based, need-based, or a combination of both. Some examples of military scholarships include:
- National Defense Student Scholarship: The National Defense Student Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that provides financial aid to help service members and veterans pay for college.
- Scholarship for Military Children: The Scholarship for Military Children is a need-based scholarship that provides financial aid to help children of military personnel pay for college.
- Air Force Aid Society Scholarship: The Air Force Aid Society Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship that provides financial aid to help Air Force service members and veterans pay for college.
Fellowships
The military also offers fellowships to help service members and veterans pay for graduate school. These fellowships can be merit-based or need-based. Some examples of military fellowships include:
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship: The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship is a merit-based fellowship that provides financial aid to help graduate students pay for research.
- Air Force Research Laboratory Fellowship: The Air Force Research Laboratory Fellowship is a merit-based fellowship that provides financial aid to help graduate students pay for research.
- Veterans Affairs Education and Rehabilitation Program: The Veterans Affairs Education and Rehabilitation Program is a need-based fellowship that provides financial aid to help veterans pay for graduate school.
Table: Military Education Benefits
| Program | Eligibility | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) | Active duty, reserve, and National Guard members | Monthly stipend up to $1,368.55 |
| Post-9/11 GI Bill | Veterans who have served at least 90 days of active duty since September 10, 2001 | Monthly stipend up to $1,368.55 |
| Tuition Assistance Program | Active duty and reserve members | Up to 100% of tuition and fees |
| National Defense Student Scholarship | Merit-based | Up to $5,000 |
| Scholarship for Military Children | Need-based | Up to $2,000 |
| Air Force Aid Society Scholarship | Merit-based | Up to $2,000 |
| National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship | Merit-based | Up to $30,000 |
| Air Force Research Laboratory Fellowship | Merit-based | Up to $40,000 |
| Veterans Affairs Education and Rehabilitation Program | Need-based | Up to $10,000 |
Conclusion
The military offers various programs and benefits to help service members and veterans pay for college. These programs can include education assistance programs, scholarships, and fellowships. By taking advantage of these programs, service members and veterans can help pay for college and achieve their educational goals.
Key Takeaways
- The military offers three main education assistance programs: the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the Tuition Assistance Program.
- The military offers various scholarships to help service members and veterans pay for college, including the National Defense Student Scholarship, the Scholarship for Military Children, and the Air Force Aid Society Scholarship.
- The military also offers fellowships to help service members and veterans pay for graduate school, including the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Air Force Research Laboratory Fellowship, and the Veterans Affairs Education and Rehabilitation Program.
- By taking advantage of these programs, service members and veterans can help pay for college and achieve their educational goals.
