Does the military cover living expenses while you're in college?

A little stressed about all the spending related to college. Considering joining the military but unsure if they would help cover any of my college living expenses. Anyone have insight on this?

Absolutely, joining the military can provide numerous benefits to help cover not only your tuition, but also potentially your living expenses. One of the well known programs is the Post-9/11 GI Bill which provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

The way it works for housing is quite straightforward. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on the Basic Allowance for Housing for an E-5 with dependents, which varies per the cost of living in each specific location. This allowance is sent directly to the service member or veteran each month while they are enrolled in school (barring breaks between semesters or vacation periods). The allowance is primarily intended to cover rent, utilities, and other recurring bills related to accommodations.

Do keep in mind that you'll need to be at more than half-time status in school for the MHA to kick in. Also, if you are attending classes entirely online, your MHA will be half of the national average, so that's something to consider as well.

In addition, enlistees can use programs such as the Tuition Assistance (TA) program to cover the costs of tuition. This is separate from the GI Bill and can cover up to 100% tuition for college courses taken during off-duty hours.

Of course, the specific benefits can vary depending on the branch of the military you're considering. It's highly advisable to speak with a recruiter or search through the military branches' official websites to get the most accurate and specific information regarding educational benefits.