Understanding How College Benefits Work in the US Military

Hey, I've been hearing about college benefits that come with joining the US military... are these things like tuition assistance and scholarships? How exactly do they work? And for someone planning to study after service, do all colleges accept these benefits, or just a select few?

Yes, you're spot on! The military, in the U.S., does provide benefits which are meant to alleviate the cost of higher education for its members and veterans. They often come in the form of scholarships and tuition assistance programs, with the most well-known being the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill.

These programs can cover a large portion, if not all, of the costs for tuition, housing, books, and more, depending on the length of your service and when you served. For example, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 100% tuition coverage at in-state public school rates, a monthly housing allowance, and a stipend for textbooks and supplies, for individuals with at least36 months of service after September 10,2001.

But it's not just about the GI Bill programs. Tuition assistance is another benefit where active duty, National Guard and Reserve Component service members may qualify to have up to100% of their tuition expenses paid, given that they do not exceed certain caps (which can vary from branch to branch, for example, the Army caps it at $250 per semester hour of instruction).

As for whether all colleges accept these benefits, the answer is that most colleges and universities in the U.S. do accept these benefits since they're federal, but their application can vary. For instance, at private or out-of-state schools, the Yellow Ribbon Program can help cover the amount that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn't cover. The program allows colleges and the VA to cover these additional expenses, but not every school participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. So, if you are interested in a school, it could be useful to do some research or reach out to the school's financial aid department to ask about their policies related to military benefits.

One more thing to note is that many institutions have offices and staff specifically dedicated to helping military students take advantage of these benefits, adjust to college life, and eventually transition to civilian careers. So, make sure to leverage these resources as well!