Does Military Pay for Entire College?

So, I'm thinking of joining the military after high school. I'm wondering how much of college tuition the military covers? Does it fully pay for our education or are there certain limitations?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of the main programs that the military uses to help pay for the education of service members. If you qualify, the GI Bill can cover up to the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at public colleges or up to $26,042.81 per academic year for a private or foreign school during the 2024-2025 academic year. This amount can change each year on August 1st.

Additionally, the GI Bill provides a monthly housing allowance based on the zip code of your school and the number of credits you're taking, and it offers $1,000 a year for textbooks and supplies.

Important to note, however, is that your benefits may vary based on a few factors including your length of service, the type of education or training you're pursuing, your enrollment status, and whether you served active duty or in the reservist or National Guard. Also, service members have15 years to use these benefits once they leave active duty.

In addition to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, there's also the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is specifically designed to help veterans cover the cost of more expensive, private institutions. Participating schools commit a certain amount of money to cover education costs that exceed the maximums set by the GI Bill, and the Veterans Affairs matches each contribution.

Lastly, the military provides Tuition Assistance for active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component service members, which can pay up to 100% tuition and fees not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour or $4,500 per fiscal year.

I would encourage you to talk to a recruiter or a school's financial aid office for more specific information, because they can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of what benefits would be available to you based on your individual circumstances.