Hey guys, I've heard something about colleges providing free tuition for military personnel. Can someone provide more info on this, and if possible, names of such colleges?
One important program that aims to provide financial assistance to military personnel for their college education is the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This program covers the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at public colleges for up to 36 months (approximately four academic years). For private and foreign schools, it pays up to $26,042.81 per academic year (as of 2022). Yellow Ribbon Program schools make additional funds available for education without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement, which might fully cover your tuition and fees depending on your circumstances.
Many colleges attract military personnel with more generous benefits. For instance, schools like Columbia University, George Washington University, and University of Notre Dame participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program without cap, meaning they strive to cover all remaining tuition and fee expenses not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Meanwhile, some state colleges extend in-state tuition to all veterans, regardless of their state of residence. For example, institutions such as University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Michigan do this.
If you are active military members, you might qualify for military tuition assistance, a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process, and restrictions.
In addition, service academies provide free tuition in exchange for an obligation of service after graduation. The U.S Military Academy (West Point), Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy are examples.
So overall, many colleges provide differing levels of tuition assistance to military personnel, and it's worth researching the specific financial aid offerings at each school you're interested in.
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