Friday, February 3, 2017

How the Military Can Help Pay for College


The cost of college education is sky-high, and it is only increasing. Luckily, the military offers various tuition assistance programs for past, present, and future servicemen and women. In this blog post we will explore six opportunities that can help cover tuition costs for those enlisting in one of the five military branches.

Montgomery GI Bill

To receive the Montgomery GI Bill, an individual must pay $100 a month (of his or her own money) during the first year of service. After that, he or she may receive over $50,000 to help pay for college. The bill can be used not only for college degree programs, but also for certificate programs, flight training, and distance education courses, among others.
Visit www.gibill.va.gov for more information.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill

Under this bill, individuals may receive the cost of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance and a maximum books and supplies allowance of $1,000. Any individual who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 is eligible. The individual must have served at least 90 days of active duty after September 11, 2001, still be on active duty, or honorably discharged or released. 
Visit www.gibill.va.gov for more information. 

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

The ROTC programs include training for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. The programs train young men and women to become officers after college graduation. The ROTC program is available in over 1,000 colleges and universities throughout the country. ROTC candidates take academic courses and wear uniforms once a week during military labs, drills military science presentations and other training activities.
ROTC scholarships are also available to those who qualify based on merit and grades. Individuals must have a high school GPA of 2.5, a high school diploma, an SAT score of 920/ACT score of 19 and meet physical standards. Once selected, the individual may receive up to full tuition and allowance for books and supplies. Those who receive scholarship are also eligible for a monthly living allowance. Those who don't qualify for scholarships may still receive the living allowance in their third or fourth year.
Visit www.todaysmilitary.com/training/rotc for more information.

Community College of the Air Force 

This two-year college is open to men and women who are enlisted in the Air Force. The college offers nearly 70 associate degree programs. Some of the fields include air and space operations technology, computer science, allied health sciences, information management and more. 
Visit www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf for more information. 

Service Academies

There are four military service academies that offer another way to pay for college: The U.S. Military Academy (West Point, New York), the U.S. Navel Academy (Annapolis, Maryland), the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado) and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (New London, Connecticut). These academies pay for tuition, books, board, medical and dental care. Participating individuals also receive a monthly stipend.
Admissions is highly competitive, though. These academies seek high-achieving men and women with leadership potential. Criteria includes academic performance, SAT/ACT scores, athletics and other extracurricular activities, leadership positions, community involvement and work experience. A congressional nomination is also necessary to be considered. Those who are admitted will receive a Bachelor of Science degree and a leadership job as a junior officer in one of the five military branches. 

Loan Repayment Programs

The Army and Navy offer programs that help enlisted servicemen and women to pay off college loans accumulated prior to service. The Army offers loan repayment at a 1/3 rate for each year of full-time duty. The maximum repayment amount is $65,000. The Navy also offers a $65,000 loan repayment program. 
Visit MyArmyBenefits for more information on the Army's loan repayment program. 
Visit CNRC Navy for more information on the Navy's loan repayment program. 

As you see, the military can offer financial assistance toward education in numerous ways. If you are considering enlisting in one of the five branches, it is important to understand the assistance options that may be available to you. Once you find the right program, the burden of tuition costs will be decreased dramatically. 
To learn more about these financial opportunities, visit the following links:
http://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/tuition-assistance-ta-program-overview.html

If you have any questions or comments, please email jenkinse@technologyproject.ohio.edu or message OHIO Upward Bound on Facebook.

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