How To Use Military Benefits for College in Illinois

A college degree is a great way for active-duty service members and veterans in Illinois to start successful military and civilian careers. One of the challenges of earning a college degree is covering tuition costs. Fortunately, military benefits like the IDVA MIA/POW Scholarship and the Post-9/11 GI Bill can help Illinois service members and their families pay for school.

If you're wondering how to use military benefits for college, your first steps include building your knowledge of benefits and eligibility requirements. Below, we'll explore all the steps you can take to use military educational benefits for college whether you're an active-duty service member, veteran, spouse, or dependent.

Steps for Using Military Educational Benefits for Illinois College Students

Military-affiliated students in Illinois can choose from several educational benefits. We'll explore these benefits and how you can use them to pay tuition and other school costs.

Understand Your Benefits

The first step in putting your educational benefits to good use is ensuring you fully understand them. Most benefit programs provide comprehensive explanations so you have no problem completing the enrollment processes and meeting the application deadlines.

Ensuring you understand your benefits can help you avoid missing out on eligible funds. You can submit all required documents and get your application in on time so you're set to pay for school at the start of each academic year.

IDVA MIA/POW Scholarship

The State of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs offer the Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Veterans' Dependents Scholarship. Eligibility is granted to dependents of veterans who died while on active duty, are missing in action, are 100% disabled or died due to service-connected disabilities, or are prisoners of war. Awardees receive full tuition and mandatory fee payments up to 120 credit hours to any Illinois state-supported college or university.

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant

The Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant offers financial assistance to Illinois National Guard members who enroll at a two- or four-year Illinois public college. Military service members should submit Illinois National Guard Grant applications to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) each academic year.

Illinois War Veterans Compensation Act

Compensation acts provide funds to the families of Armed Forces members who lost their lives in service. The Line of Duty Compensation Act pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to beneficiaries of service members with Illinois residency killed in connection with the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The Survivors Compensation Act pays $1,000 to widows, widowers, dependents, and others connected to Illinois residents who died service-related deaths due to hostile actions with unfriendly forces. The act also pays $3,000 to individuals connected to Illinois residents whose deaths were service-connected as a result of hostile action on or after September 11, 2001.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) helps students cover school and other expenses while training for a job. Eligibility is extended to individuals who served at least 90 days on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 (or meet other requirements). Awardees could qualify for up to 48 months of entitlement with two or more qualifying periods of active duty.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) offers students more than one way to receive military education benefits. The Montgomery GI Active Duty (Chapter 30) program helps students cover the cost of education and training programs. Applicants must have served at least two years on active duty.

The Mongomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) program offers up to 36 months of benefits for education and training. Eligibility is granted to service members in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard.

Check Eligibility

Determining whether you're eligible for military educational benefits is important. Each program has specific criteria you must meet to qualify. Some include:

• military status
• minimum service requirements
• Illinois residency requirements
• academic requirements

After ensuring you meet all eligibility requirements, your next step is to complete the application process.

Apply for Benefits

You must complete and apply to qualify for most military education benefits. Illinois-based benefits programs commonly require students to apply to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). For GI Bill-related benefits, you can apply online via the US Department of Veterans Affairs website or at a VA regional processing office.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for military education benefits depends on the program. Contact the ISAC or your local VA office for information about specific application deadlines.

Choose a VA-Approved School

VA-approved schools accept GI Bill benefits, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, or provide other VA education benefits. You can find a complete list of VA-approved schools using the GI Bill comparison tool on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website. The WEAMS Institution Search tool helps students find institutions offering education programs approved for veteran training.

University of Illinois Institutions

The University of Illinois institutions have been approved to offer VA education benefits programs. For example, the University of Illinois-Chicago offers:

• Montgomery GI Active Duty (Chapter 30)
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
• Post 9/11-GI Bill (Chapter 33)
• Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)
• Mongomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)

Illinois State University

Military-affiliated students attending Illinois State University can choose from several education benefits. Some include:

• AFCEA War Veterans Scholarship
• AMVETS Service Foundation Veterans Scholarships
• IDVA MIA/POW Scholarship
• Illinois Patriot Education Fund

Northern Illinois University

Attending Northern Illinois University provides access to several VA education benefits. Here are a few:

• Montgomery GI Active Duty (Chapter 30)
• Veterans Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32)
• Post 9/11-GI Bill (Chapter 33)
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607)
• Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA)

Speak With Your School's Veteran's Office

After selecting your VA-approved school, contact its veteran service office for assistance. Representatives can help you secure education benefits through the US Department of Veterans Affairs. They can also provide information about:

• admissions
• disability accommodations
• academic advising
• financial aid
• career services

Explore Additional Funding

Alongside education benefits from the Illinois and federal governments are great scholarships and programs for military-affiliated students. Tuition assistance is also available.

Military Scholarships

Military scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of tuition for active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses, and dependents. Here are a few to consider:

• Rogers STEM Scholarship
• Heroes' Legacy Scholarships
• Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarships
• American Legion Scholarships
• Paralyzed Veterans of America

Military Grants

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), about one-third (32%) of undergraduate students received a Pell Grant in the 2021-22 academic year. This grant program is available to undergraduate military-affiliated students with great financial need.

The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) offers additional funds for Pell Grant recipients. The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant is available to students who lost a military parent or guardian while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11.

Tuition Assistance Programs

Many schools support military students through the Military Tuition Assistance Program. This educational benefit pays active-duty service members up to 100% of tuition expenses with a maximum benefit of $250 per credit hour.

Who Is Eligible for the Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)?

The Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) offers tuition and mandatory fees to attend Illinois state-supported community colleges, colleges, and universities. Eligibility is granted to Illinois veterans who:

• have received an honorable discharge
• reside in Illinois six months before entering service or reside in Illinois for at least 15 consecutive years after leaving active duty
• have at least one full year of active duty in the US Armed Forces
• return to Illinois within six months of discharge

Student veterans must submit applications to the ISAC for this veteran education benefit. Additional information is available at the VSO offices of the ISAC, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, and college financial aid offices.