Hey all! So I've been considering enlisting after high school and I read somewhere that there's unique benefits for college through the military on the FAFSA. Can someone here lay out exactly what these benefits are? Thanks a bunch!
Sure, happy to share some information about military benefits that can significantly improve your financial situation for college!
1. Student Aid Index (SAI): If you've served in the military, the Department of Education rewards your service by not factoring in your assets when calculating your SAI (which replaced EFC in FAFSA). This reduction of considered assets can feasibly increase your need-based financial aid.
2. Veteran Education Benefits: Veterans education benefits won’t be counted as income in the calculation of the SAI, which can further lower your SAI and may make you eligible for more need-based aid.
3. Combat pay or special combat pay: Typically, this pay is more than your regular salary and can significantly increase your income for financial aid consideration. However, for veterans, combat pay or special combat pay isn’t considered as income while calculating SAI. This decreases your overall income considered in the calculation, leading to a higher chance of receiving need-based financial aid.
4. Tuition Assistance: Though it’s not directly related to FAFSA, Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid to eligible service members. Each service branch has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process, and restrictions, but this program can pay for a majority of your tuition if you decide to attend college while in the military.
5. GI Bill: Following your military service, you may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which can cover all in-state tuition at public colleges or up to a specific limit at private colleges. It also includes an allowance for housing and books. The amount of benefit you'll be eligible for depends on the length of your service.
It's important to know that the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits don't just apply to you. They can be transferred to dependents and spouses. So if you decide to enlist before attending college, you could make use of these benefits for your own education down the line.
Remember that while potential financial aid benefits offer a pathway to higher education, the decision to join the military should be carefully considered, as it involves commitment and lifestyle changes.
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