Education Benefits: The Basics
As a servicemember you’ve earned the right toseveral educational benefits. Learn the basics here.
Asolid education is essential for a good career. That’s why themilitary offers so many options to help with the costs of higherlearning. Whether you choose to work on a degree or certificationwhile you are in active duty or after your term of service iscompleted, you should definitely take advantage of the many benefitsavailable to you.
TheG.I. Bill and the Tuition Assistance programs are the most widelyused and offer the greatest benefits. Under the G.I. Bill, you mayqualify for as much as $1,075 per month for school or trainingprograms. Remember that you can use more than one benefit at once andmay be able to combine the G.I. Bill with other supplemental benefitsto get the most coverage.
Eachservice has an array of specific scholarships and grants, so you canuse our Scholarship Finder to locatefunds that may fit your particular situation. Plus, you can alwayscheck with an educational counselor to find out more aboutbranch-specific benefits.
Takea look at a breakdown of the standard military educational benefits:
MontgomeryG.I. Bill—Active Duty and Veteran
Definition: Atuition payment program that pays for up to 36 months, which is fourregular school years, of education for the following: college,technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses,apprenticeship or job training, or flight training.
Eligible Recipients: Allactive duty members with at least two years of active duty completedand most veterans. Veterans fall into four categories of eligibilitydepending on length of duty and dates of enlistment.Note: Benefitsare only valid for up to ten years from the date of your lastdischarge or release from active duty.
Benefit: Up to $1,075 per month for full-time education. Note: You mustcontribute $100/ month of your pay for the first year of active dutyto qualify.
MontgomeryG.I. Bill—Selected Reserve
Definition: Atuition payment program that pays for up to 36 months, which is fourregular school years, of education for the following: college,technical or vocational courses, correspondence courses,apprenticeship or job training, or flight training.
Eligible Recipients: Guardand Reserve servicemembers who have agreed to a six-year contract andmaintain a Selected Reserve Status. Must hold a high school diplomaor GED. Note: Benefits are only valid for up to fourteen years fromthe date you became eligible for the program.
Benefit: Up to$297 per month for full-time education.
Loan Repayment (LRP)
Definition: Aloan repayment program offered to select servicemembers.
Eligible Recipients: Loansmust be in good standing. Typically only available to enlistedservicemembers. Eligibility is determined by branch, MOS, and termsof your contract.
Benefit: Repaymentof college loans—either fully or partially. Note: Special programsexist for health professional officers.
TuitionAssistance “Top-Up” Program Program
Definition: Asupplemental benefit to the Tuition Assistance program.
Eligible Recipients: Memberswho qualify for both the Tuition Assistance program and MGIB-ActiveDuty benefits.
Benefit: Addedbenefits up to the amount that a member would get if working throughthe MGIB-Active Duty program.
VeteransEducational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Definition:Monetary support available to those who chose to make contributionsfrom their military pay.
Eligible Recipients: Participantsmust meet all of the following:
- Entered military service for the first time between the dates of January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985
- Created a contribution account before April 1, 1987
- Contributed between $25-$2,700
- Finished first period of service
- Release or discharge was not classified as dishonorable
Benefit: Forevery $1 contributed to account, the government matches on a $2 for$1 basis.
Survivors’and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA)
Definition:Support for eligible dependents of veterans who wish to pursue adegree, certification, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job training.
EligibleRecipients: Sons, daughters, and spouses of servicemembers whodied, are MIA, or are permanently disabled as a service-relatedcondition while on active-duty.
Benefit: Tuition payments are reduced.
Work-StudyProgram
Definition: Payment for work through a VA work-study allowance.
EligibleRecipients: Must be enrolled full-time or 3/4-time in a degree,vocational, or professional program. Only available to individualstraining under on the VA benefit programs: G.I. Bill, VocationalRehabilitation for Veterans, VEAP, or DEA. Dependents may also beeligible.
Benefit: Hourly pay at minimum wage—Federal or state, whichever ishigher.
Tutorial Assistance Program
Definition: Assistance with programs of difficulty through the help of atutor.
EligibleRecipients: Anyone receiving VA benefits at half-time or more.
Benefit:VA will provide a tutor or provide information for finding one.
