How To Use Military Benefits for College in Ohio

One of the biggest benefits of joining the U.S. Armed Forces is the educational benefits you can receive. These benefits can cover tuition costs, depending on how long you served. Benefits are offered by the Department of Defense, the VA, and even by states such as Ohio.

Keep reading to discover how to use military benefits for college in Ohio.

Steps for Using Military Educational Benefits for Ohio College Students

Service members residing in Ohio or who want to attend an Ohio college can take advantage of several military educational benefit programs. However, these programs aren't automatically applied. There are a few steps required to claim them.

Below, we've outlined the basic steps for using military educational benefits as an Ohio college student.

Understand Your Benefits

Several benefits are available to Ohio college students with military service, each with specific requirements. We've outlined a few popular ones below.

Ohio GI Promise Program

The Ohio Department of Higher Education offers the Ohio GI Promise to bring more military students to Ohio. Through this program, anyone moving or planning to move to Ohio will automatically receive in-state tuition rates without having to be a resident for a year.

To qualify for this program, the veteran must have been honorably discharged or medically separated from service with at least one year of service. Dependents of military veterans can also take advantage of this program.

Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program

The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP) is for current Ohio Army & Air National Guard members, and former members with qualifying deployment time. The program will cover up to 100% of tuition costs at a public institution or the equivalent amount in tuition at a private institution.

This financial aid is for associate and bachelor's degree programs and other undergraduate credentials. The program is designed to cover remaining costs after VA and Department of Defense benefits are applied.

Ohio War Orphans Scholarship Program

The Ohio War Orphan & Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship Program is a financial aid program for the children of deceased or severely disabled veterans in Ohio. These vets must have served in the armed forces during a declared war or conflict.

Students must be full-time Ohio residents enrolled for full-time undergraduate study and pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree at an eligible Ohio college or university. The amount available for funding varies from year to year.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. These benefits are for active service members and veterans who enlisted on or after 9/11.

The amount you receive in aid depends on your years of service. Those who qualify for the full benefit will receive complete tuition coverage at an in-state public college or university and educational assistance for textbooks, materials, and housing.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) is another VA education benefit. There are two types: one for active duty service members and one for selected reserve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard. As you may have noticed, the Montgomery Bill doesn't offer funding for student veterans. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, this bill only covers tuition costs and does not cover additional expenses.

Check Eligibility

If you served any time on active duty, you're likely eligible for some veterans benefits, but probably not all. Additionally, some benefits can be stacked on top of GI Bill benefits, while others cannot.

You can usually find eligibility requirements on the program website. For the GI Bill, visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits.

Apply for Benefits

You can apply for benefits once you understand what you're eligible for. Start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required to obtain most financial aid.

You can find the application for GI Bill benefits at the VA.gov link listed above. Other financial programs will have application information on their website.

Application Deadline

Many programs have application deadlines that you'll need to meet to use the financial aid for the next academic year. Even FAFSA has a deadline; for Ohio students, this is October 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year.

While the GI Bills do not have a deadline, it takes about 30 days for the VA to process applications. This means you'll need to apply at least 30 days before the start of the semester.

Choose a VA-Approved School

The VA approves most accredited colleges and universities. However, for your GI Bill benefits to stretch the farthest, you should look at public schools within Ohio. We've listed some VA-approved Ohio universities below.

Ohio State University

The Ohio State University is a public research university in Columbus, Ohio. As a public university, students could have their full tuition covered under the GI Bill. The university's Military and Veterans Services department helps students navigate their way at OSU. It offers a full range of academic and social support programs to veterans.

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Students here may also have their full tuition covered under the GI Bill. UC offers an Office of Veterans Programs & Services. This office can help military students apply for and manage their financial aid and benefits.

Cleveland State University

Cleveland State University is a public research university in Cleveland, Ohio. Because it's a public university, students can maximize their GI Bill benefits. The university's Veteran & Military Student Success Center helps those in the military access all the tools and programs they're entitled to. This includes various educational benefits.

Speak With Your School's Veteran's Office

Most colleges and universities have some veterans service offices. While they may have slightly different names, they all have the same goal: to help military members and veterans acclimate to an academic setting. These offices will help you apply for benefits and secure financial aid. They can also help with enrollment, finding support services, and accessing housing.

Explore Additional Funding

While the GI Bill and Ohio GI programs we listed above are great resources, other options are available to help military students pay for their tuition. Here are a few common options to help you avoid taking out student loans.

Military Scholarships

Scholarships are financial aid you don't need to repay. These are financial aid gifts given for a specific reason, such as military service. You can find all kinds of scholarships, including military scholarships, through the scholarship finder on the U.S. Government's CareerOneStop website. Some colleges and universities also offer institutional scholarships to military members.

Military Grants

Grants are another type of financial aid that doesn't need to be paid back. They're usually offered by the state or federal government and sometimes by colleges and universities.

Grants are usually need-based but can be offered to specific types of students, like military students. The scholarship finder at CareerOneStop can also help you find grants.

Tuition Assistance Programs

Tuition assistance programs help students cover their tuition costs. One tuition assistance program for military students is the Yellow Ribbon Program.

This is a program that schools need to choose to participate in. It's for students who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill but still need help paying for tuition.

Who Is Eligible for the Ohio Veterans Bonus?

The Ohio Veterans Bonus program offers a bonus for military service between October 7, 2001, and August 30, 2021. The maximum you can earn from this program is $1,500. This money does not have to be used for tuition, but you can put it toward your tuition costs. Both veterans and active duty military members can apply for this bonus.