How To Use Military Benefits for College in Pennsylvania

Securing a college degree is a fantastic way to enhance a military or civilian career. However, tuition and other school costs can sometimes make enrolling in a degree program difficult. The good news is educational benefits like the Pennsylvania State Education Assistance Program and Post-9/11 GI Bill are available to help Pennsylvania service members, veterans, and their family members pay for college.

Learning how to use military benefits for college before applying is important. Most military benefits let you use funds for tuition costs at Pennsylvania schools and some allow you to cover housing, books, fees, and relocation.

Below, we'll explore the steps you can take to make the best use of educational benefits for active duty service members, veterans, spouses, and dependents.

Steps for Using Military Educational Benefits for Pennsylvania College Students

Great military-based benefits programs are available to help you cover the cost of your college education. The key to taking advantage of these educational benefits is understanding the basics of the programs, their eligibility requirements, and how to apply.

Understand Your Benefits

Each military educational benefit you encounter should have a complete summary of its financial offerings. Details about ways to use your benefits (ex. paying for courses, covering mandatory fees, or buying books) should also be available. You can learn about the enrollment process and the documents you should submit by the application deadline.

Pennsylvania State Education Assistance Program

The Pennsylvania State Educational Assistance Program offers Air Force members with six or more years of enlistment funds each semester to cover their college education. Full tuition is available for students attending one of the 14 PA State System of Higher Education Schools. Full tuition is also covered for students attending any school with tuition rates that fall below the maximum covered amount.

Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program

The Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program provides up to $500 per semester to children of eligible veterans between the ages of 16 and 23 who have been Pennsylvania residents for five or more years before applying. Eligible veterans must be honorably discharged, have service-connected disabilities, and have served during war or armed conflict. Children of veterans who died in service also qualify.

Pennsylvania National Guard Educational Assistance Program

The PA National Guard Educational Assistance Program (EAP) is a financial aid opportunity from the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). This program offers tuition assistance to students who agree to a six-year service commitment with the PA National Guard. Eligible recipients can receive as much as the full cost of tuition plus their technology fee.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) covers up to the full cost of public, in-state tuition and fees for eligible military service members who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. These GI Bill benefits also provide a monthly housing allowance for students in school more than half time. Additional benefits include a stipend for books and supplies and money to move from a rural area to attend school.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30) offers up to 48 months of entitlement for education and training programs to service members who have served at least two years on active duty. Benefits are granted to individuals who were honorably discharged from service and meet other eligibility criteria.

The Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) provides up to 36 months of education and training benefits. Eligible service members can include members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.

Check Eligibility

After learning the basics of the educational benefits you're pursuing, you should review the eligibility requirements. Program qualifications will vary, but could include:

• minimum education requirements
• military status
• Armed Forces branch
• dates of service
• Pennsylvania residency
• familial relationship (spouse or dependent children)
• college of attendance

Apply for Benefits

After you've gathered information about educational benefits, completing the application process is your next step. The application process will vary depending on the benefits. For example, you can apply for the Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program through the PHEAA. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website is an option for applying for GI Bill benefits.

Application Deadline

Application deadlines will vary by program. Contacting the benefits administrator or your school's financial aid office can help you gather all submission documents and deliver your application on time.

Choose a VA-Approved School

A VA-approved school accepts many active duty and veteran education benefits and helps students apply funds to their college education. Here are some VA-approved schools in Pennsylvania.

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania supports military-affiliated students, including active duty service members, veterans, and military-affiliated dependents. The school helps students determine eligibility for benefits like the Yellow Ribbon Program and Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA). It also helps students apply for GI Bill benefits like Chapter 30, Chapter 33, and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35).

Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania State University offers the Veterans Affairs and Services office for veterans, service members, and dependents seeking financial, academic, and career assistance. This office can help service members secure a waiver to avoid application fee costs. You can also learn ways to get college credit for your military experience. If you're interested in applying for Tuition Assistance or GI Bill benefits, Penn State can help.

Temple University

Temple University supports military and veteran students seeking counseling services, career help, disability resources, and academic support. Students can also find information about VA educational benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Fry Scholarship, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31).

Speak With Your School's Veteran's Office

The veteran's office at VA-approved colleges and universities helps veterans (and other military-affiliated students) understand available benefits and how to qualify. This office can provide details about education benefits, test waivers, VA certifying officials, and work-study programs.

Explore Additional Funding

Alongside federal and state-based educational benefits are scholarships and grants. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), first-time undergraduates in the 2021-22 academic year received an average of $12,664 in grant and scholarship aid. This free money helps cover college costs without repayment requirements.

Military Scholarships

Several military scholarships are available to active duty service members and veterans. Here are a few to consider:

• Veterans of Foreign War Scholarships
• AVECO Scholarships
• AM Vets Scholarships
• Course Hero - Hero Student Scholarship

Family members of veterans can also qualify for scholarships. Some include:

• Fisher House Scholarships
• Folds of Honor
• NMFA Military Spouse Scholarships
• Huebner Scholarships

Military Grants

Military-affiliated students can pursue federal grants like the Federal Pell and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) programs. Both grants are provided to students with financial need.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant supports students whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service performed in Iraq or Afghanistan following 9/11. Students can only qualify for this grant if they aren't eligible for the Pell Grant.

Tuition Assistance Programs

The Military Tuition Assistance Program pays up to 100% of tuition expenses costing $250 or less per credit hour (or $166 per quarter hour). This program covers undergraduate and graduate programs, distance learning, vocational/technical schools, and independent study. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force service members are eligible.

Who Is Eligible for Pennsylvania Blind Veterans Pension?

The Pennsylvania Blind Veterans Pension pays a monthly pension of $150 to eligible veterans who lost their eyesight. To qualify, veterans must:

• be a Pennsylvania resident upon entering the military
• have an honorable (or under honorable conditions) discharge
• have lost vision resulting from an injury or disease connected to service

Eligible veterans should also have visual acuity with a correcting lens of 3/60 or 10/200 or meet other vision criteria.