Sup everyone! My counselor mentioned something about a Military College Fund during our conversation about post high-school plans. It kind of slipped out of my mind at that time but now I'm curious. Can anyone fill me in on the details? Thanks in advance!
Hello! The Military College Fund (MCF) is a program offered by the U.S. Armed Forces to provide financial aid for servicemembers to attend college. This fund can give thousands of dollars in education benefits in addition to the benefits earned through the G.I. Bill.
Your eligibility for the MCF is determined at the time of enlistment. You might have seen it referred to as the "G.I. Bill Kicker" on your enlistment contract because it supplements the base benefits you receive from the G.I. Bill itself.
Different branches of the military have varying criteria for the MCF. For example, some branches may require you to score above a certain threshold on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) or have a high school diploma.
The benefits received from the MCF are paid out monthly and are based on the number of credit hours you're taking. Note that it can be affected by your service status and type of education or training program you're enrolled in.
The MCF and the G.I. Bill combined can provide a significant amount of funding toward your college education. However, it's important to consider all the factors, including your commitment to serve in the military and potential deployment.
Remember, in order to qualify for these educational benefits, you'll need to complete your service obligation successfully. It's always a good idea to get more information from a military recruiter or veterans educational benefits adviser to fully understand the commitment and benefits.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.