My mom's in the military, and I've heard that I may be eligible for college tuition assistance as a military child. Can anyone guide me on how this works? What's the process like?
As a child of a military service member, you may indeed be eligible for tuition assistance. There are several programs that provide educational benefits.
One program is the Post-9/11 GI Bill. If your parent is/was an active duty service member on or after September 11, 2001, they may be able to transfer their benefits to you, which can cover up to the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at public colleges, and up to $26,042.81 per academic year for private and foreign institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year.
To determine eligibility and transfer these benefits, your mother, as the service member, must apply through the Department of Defense's Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) portal. If approved, you can apply to use the transferred benefits through the VA.
Another option is the Military Dependent's Scholarship (also known as the Fry Scholarship) for children of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. This provides up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level defined by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
There are some state-specific benefits as well, like tuition waivers for public colleges and universities for dependents of disabled or deceased veterans. These vary by state, so you should research what's available in your state.
Finally, there are numerous scholarships available specifically for military dependents. Some of the more well-known ones include the Scholarships for Military Children Program, sponsored by the Defense Commissary Agency, and the AMVETS National Scholarship Program.
Note that these benefits have specific eligibility criteria and may not be transferable or applicable in all situations. You should contact the relevant organizations directly or work with your mother's military personnel office to get accurate information for your situation.
Remember, you should still fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for federal grants, loans, and federal work-study jobs, which can supplement these benefits.
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