Do Military Kids get Free College?

My parents served in the military and I heard somewhere that military kids might have some benefits towards college tuition. Is that real or just a myth? If it's true, how can I get more information?

While it's not completely accurate to say that all military kids get "free college," there are indeed significant financial assistance programs available to children of active duty, retired, or deceased military personnel. A couple of them you might want to look into are the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Military Dependent Scholarship.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In some cases, the service member may choose to transfer all or part of their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependent. This can be used to cover tuition and fees, housing, and even book expenses to some extent. Keep in mind that there are certain eligibility requirements, such as the service member having served at least six years in the military and agreeing to serve an additional four years.

Another source of financial help is the Military Dependent Scholarship, also referred to as the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship. This program provides up to $4,000 of financial assistance to spouses of service members on active duty in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, and O-1 to O-2.

Whether these programs will cover the full cost of tuition will depend on the specific amounts awarded and the cost of the colleges you're applying to. However, it’s definitely worth exploring these and other programs or scholarships aimed at military dependents.

Ensure you directly contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to get the most accurate information regarding these financial assistance programs. They can help you determine if you're eligible and guide you through the application process. In addition to this, you should contact the financial aid office of the colleges you're considering for further guidance and information on what they offer for military dependents. It’s important to know that schools often have additional resources and should be able to assist you throughout this process.