How To Use Military Benefits for College in Georgia

The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Services both work to provide military educational benefits to service members. Many states, including Georgia, also offer financial aid programs. Students can often stack these programs together to maximize their benefits.

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

Steps for Using Military Educational Benefits for Georgia College Students

Active duty service members and veterans are entitled to educational benefits, but these benefits aren't applied automatically. Below, we've broken down the general steps for using military educational benefits as a Georgia college student.

Understand Your Benefits

Several benefits are available to Georgia service members, but each has specific eligibility requirements. Understanding which benefits you qualify for will help the process move faster. Below, we've listed a few common benefits for Georgia residents with military service.

Georgia HERO Scholarship Program

Scholarships are financial gifts and don't need to be repaid. The Georgia HERO Scholarship is for members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in combat zones, and their dependents. This scholarship provides up to $2,000 yearly to Georgia students studying at public, private, and technical colleges.

Georgia Military Scholarship Program

The Georgia Military Scholarship Program is for high school seniors who attend the University of North Georgia and commission as officers in the Georgia Army National Guard after graduating with bachelor's degrees.

The scholarship pays not only for your degree program but for things like room, meals, and books. You must have a 3.0 GPA to qualify and must meet Army National Guard enlistment standards.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

Through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, those who served on active duty on or after 9/11 may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). This bill provides financial aid that covers tuition, books and materials, and housing.

The amount you receive in VA education benefits depends on the length of your service. If you qualify for the full benefit, you'll receive the full cost of tuition and fees at a public, in-state university or up to roughly $29,000 per year at a private university.

Montgomery GI Bill

Another type of veterans education benefit is the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB). There are two types: one for active duty service members (Chapter 30), and one for selected reserve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or National Guard (Chapter 1606). This education benefit program only covers tuition and job training costs, not books and housing.

Check Eligibility

As mentioned above, eligibility requirements for each type of educational assistance program can vary. The amount you earn can vary; you can learn more about GI Bill eligibility and additional information at VA.gov. Other financial aid programs should also list eligibility requirements on their website.

Apply for Benefits

Once you know what you can qualify for, you should apply for benefits. Application information is available on program websites. You must complete your Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). This is an application that all students seeking financial aid must fill out, and it's a requirement to receive most types of aid.

Application Deadline

Many financial aid programs have deadlines if you want to use your funding for the next academic year. Additionally, many colleges and universities have financial aid deadlines. The GI Bill doesn't have a deadline, but it does take about 30 days for the VA to process applications. This means you must apply at least a month before the semester starts.

Choose a VA-Approved School

If a school wants to use VA education benefits, the VA must approve them. The VA has approved most accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. However, you'll want to attend a public, in-state college to maximize your benefits. We've highlighted a few below.

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia is a public research university based in Athens, Georgia. It's the flagship university of the University System of Georgia. Students eligible for the full Post-9/11 GI Benefit can get their full tuition covered at the university. The University of Georgia also offers multiple military and veteran scholarships.

Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta and is another member of the University System of Georgia. The Post-9/11 GI Bill can cover 100% of tuition and costs here. Georgia Tech offers a Veterans Services Center, which acts as a liaison between veteran students and the VA, and a Veterans Resource Center to help students adjust to life on campus.

Georgia State University

Georgia State University is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. It's also a member of the University System of Georgia. Therefore, the Post-9/11 GI Bill may cover 100% of your tuition costs. Georgia State was recently ranked the number one military-friendly tier-1 research university in the country. Each campus has a Military Outreach Center to assist military and veteran students.

Speak With Your School's Veteran's Office

Most schools, including the ones listed above, have a veterans services office to help active duty and veteran students navigate their higher education. Most of these offices include a certifying official, who can help you secure the Certificate of Eligibility you'll need for your VA educational benefits.

Explore Additional Funding

In addition to the GI Bill and state options for the armed forces, you may be eligible for other types of funding. We've listed a few common options below.

Military Scholarships

Many scholarship programs offer financial aid specifically to military members. Some are open to all current and veteran service members, while others are more specific, such as providing financial help to those with a service-connected disability.

Some scholarships also require you to keep your GPA above a certain number or to be studying full-time. The Department of Labor's scholarship finder tool at CareerOneStop.org is a great way to find scholarships.

Military Grants

Grants are another form of financial aid you don't have to repay. These are often need-based, although many are specifically for military members or their family members. The scholarship finder at CareerOneStop.org can help you find grants as well.

Tuition Assistance Programs

Tuition assistance programs are programs that help students pay tuition costs. Some states or colleges offer this, but there are also options available to military students.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a tuition assistance program that some colleges and universities participate in. It's for students who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill but need extra financial assistance above what the bill offers.

One tuition assistance program that provides dependents' educational assistance is the Survivors' and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35). This program is for dependent children and spouses of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has a service-connected disability.

Do I Need To Verify My Enrollment Every Month To Get VA Payments?

VA educational benefits require you to verify your enrollment every month. The Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill require students to confirm enrollment to maintain their benefits. The VA offers multiple ways for students to verify their enrollment. Verification can be done through the VA website, by text, email, and phone.