Can military reserves help pay for college?

Hi there, I'm in my junior year and the idea of joining the military reserves to help cover some college costs has been on my mind. Does anyone have info on how this works or what type of financial aid/assistance I can expect from the reserves for college tuition?

Yes, the military reserves can indeed help cover your college costs through a variety of programs. The specifics can vary by service branch, but generally here are three major ways reserve service can aid with your education expenses:

1. Tuition Assistance (TA): This is a benefit paid to eligible members of the military reserves. The Department of Defense has directed each branch of the Armed Forces to provide TA that pays up to 100% of the tuition expenses of its members, with certain caps per fiscal year. However, the availability of TA funds can sometimes vary based on the branch’s budget.

2. Reserve GI Bill: The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR) program provides up to 36 months of educational benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve. Normally, these benefits are applicable to degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs.

3. College Loan Repayment Program (CLRP): Some services offer to repay a part of federally insured student loans for non-prior service and prior service applicants. The Army and Navy Reserves offer up to $20,000 and $10,000 respectively in CLRP. The Air Force Reserves, however, currently do not offer CLRP.

Keep in mind these benefits change over time, so it's best to talk directly with a recruiter or the aid office at the college you're interested in to see what current offerings might be available. Moreover, be sure to understand the commitments that come with joining the reserves. It's not just a financial decision, but also a considerable time and potentially lifestyle commitment as well.