Benefits for Military Kids in College?

So, I'm a rising junior and my parent is currently in the military. I've been hearing around that children of military families get some kind of tuition benefits -- like potentially even attending college for free. Is that true? Can anyone share their experience or knowledge on how this works? Thanks a lot, pals.

Absolutely, many children of military service members are indeed eligible for some type of educational benefits. What kind of benefits you receive will depend on your specifics, but here are some opportunities you might want to look into:

1. The Post-9/11 GI Bill: The Department of Veterans Affairs provides financial support for education to individuals with at least90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or to individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. This can also extend to the dependent children of these service members. The GI Bill can cover up to the full cost of in-state tuition and fees at public colleges, or provide a set amount for private or out-of-state schools.

2. Yellow Ribbon Program: The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover. Not all schools participate in this program so do consider checking in advance.

3. Military Service Academic Credit: In other cases, some colleges award academic credit for military training and education.

4. Scholarships: There are several scholarships available to military dependents including The American Legion Legacy Scholarship, The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and the Army Scholarship Foundation, to name a few. Each has its own eligibility criteria, so do some research to see which ones might apply to you.

Remember, these are just general guidelines. To get the full picture of what you qualify for, you may want to check the Department of Veterans Affairs website or reach out to a military education counselor. One last note -- make sure you understand all the stipulations and requirements. Some benefits programs require the service member to transfer their benefits to their dependents while they're still on active duty. And others have requirements regarding how long the service member served, or the type of discharge they were given. Overall, it's absolutely possible to receive significant help with college tuition as a military kid, it's just about finding the right resources and programs for you. Best of luck in your college journey!