Hey everyone, my parent is in the military and I've heard there are some college benefits for us military kids. Could someone elaborate on what those benefits might be? Scholarships, grants, anything?
Certainly! As a child of a military personnel, you are indeed eligible for a number of unique benefits in pursuing your higher education. Here are some of the significant benefits you can look upon:
1. Post-9/11 GI Bill: If your parent served at least6 years and agrees to serve at least additional4 years, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to you. This program covers up to100% of tuition at in-state public schools and a stipend for housing and books.
2. Yellow Ribbon Program: If you attend a private school or out-of-state school, the tuition may be covered only up to a certain monetary cap by the GI Bill. That's where the Yellow Ribbon Program comes in. Schools volunteer to pay a certain amount of your tuition and fees, and the VA matches the school.
3. My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship: If your parent is an active duty service member in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2 and O-1 to O-2, you can take advantage of the MyCAA scholarship, which gives up to $4,000 for degree programs, licenses or certifications leading to employment in portable career fields.
4. Military Family Scholarship: Organisations like ThanksUSA offer scholarships to the children of military service members.
5. DoD Tuition Assistance: This program provides financial assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a service member's professional and personal self-development goals.
6. State-Specific Benefits: Depending on your home state, you could be eligible for additional scholarships or tuition waivers for state schools. Some states offer substantial benefits like free tuition at state schools.
7. Service branch scholarships: Each branch of the military has its own set of scholarships available. For example, the Army ROTC offers scholarships that pay full tuition and fees.
Remember, you should contact the financial aid office of the schools you're interested in to find out more about these benefits and whether they participate in programs like the Yellow Ribbon Program. Applications and eligibility requirements can be found on the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs website and the specific service branch websites.
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