Paying for College With Military Benefits

Hey! I've been considering the military as a way to help pay for college. Does anyone know how this works? I can't seem to find much info online. I'm particularly curious if there are any strings attached if I decide to use military benefits for college. Do I need to commit a certain number of years to service?

Hello! The military does indeed have several programs that can help with college costs, one of them being the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This offers up to 36 months of education benefits to veterans and their dependents; these can be used for college tuition, housing, books, and more.

However, there are commitments involved. To be eligible for 100% of the benefits, you must have at least 36 months of Active Duty after September 10, 2001, or be discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. For less than 36 months, the percentage of benefits you're eligible for decreases.

Another common program is the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) scholarships, which covers tuition fees and includes a monthly allowance for living expenses in exchange for service commitment after graduation.

Another factor to consider is the Montgomery GI Bill, another education benefit program for those who have been in active duty, with a commitment of two years of service.

Lastly, the military branches also offer tuition assistance programs for active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component service members, with some variations by branch.

It's important to remember while these benefits can significantly aid in paying for college, they come with a serious commitment to service in the military, which is not a decision to be taken lightly. If you're seriously considering this route, it's a good idea to speak with a local recruiter or a school's military liaison to get all the specific information.