Paying for College while Serving in the Military - Is that Possible?

I've heard that the military offers a ton of benefits, one of them being paying for your education. So, I was wondering if you can continue with or start your college education while you are actively serving in the military? If yes, how does one go about it and what are the requirements for eligibility?

Yes, it is indeed possible to further your education while serving in the military. In fact, the military offers several programs to assist active duty service members with continuing their education.

One well-known program is the Tuition Assistance program. With this program, some branches offer to cover up to 100% of tuition expenses for members attending a high-school, vocational, undergraduate, or even graduate school.

Another significant program is the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits can be used for undergraduate and graduate degrees, vocational or technical training, and even tutoring assistance.

When it comes to eligibility, it varies depending upon the specific program. For the Tuition Assistance program, you typically need to have served at least two years of active duty. In the case of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you need to have served at least 90 days of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, or have received an honorable discharge after 30 days for a service-connected disability.

It's recommended that you reach out to your unit's education officer or visit your branch's respective education portal website to learn more specifics about each program and find out how to apply. Remember, even while the military presents wonderful educational opportunities, balancing service and studies would require strong resilience and good time management skills!