How To Use Military Benefits for College in Texas

While there are many reasons someone may join the military, the educational benefits are an incentive. These military education benefits programs can potentially cover your entire tuition.

Many states, including Texas, offer additional financial aid for service members as well. Students enrolled at Texas colleges can combine funds from federal and state programs. Keep reading to discover how to use military benefits for college.

Steps for Using Military Educational Benefits for Texas College Students

Texas college students who are service members can use many financial aid options to pay for their college tuition. Below, we've broken down the basic steps for using your military educational benefits as a Texas college student.

Understand Your Benefits

There are several types of state and federal education benefits for eligible veterans and active-duty service members. The eligibility requirements and benefits offered can vary, and we've given a brief explanation of some common benefit options for Texas residents below.

Texas Hazelwood Act

The Hazlewood Act is a State of Texas benefit that provides qualified Veterans up to 150 hours of tuition exemption. While this does not cover living expenses, books, or supplies, it does cover most fees.

The Hazlewood Act Exemption can be used at any Texas public college or university. Benefits can also be transferred to dependent children and surviving spouses.

Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program

The Texas Educational Opportunity Grant Program is a program that helps Texas residents pay for a two-year college. This state tuition assistance isn't just for veterans and military members, but those with military service are welcome to apply.

The amount you qualify for depends on the type of institution and whether you attend full-time or part-time, You'll need to show satisfactory academic progress to maintain your benefits. Funds are limited and students should apply as soon as they are able.

Texas National Guard Tuition Assistance Program

The State Tuition Assistance program is a program the Texas Military Department offers to active members of the Texas Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and State Guard. It provides up to $10,000 per semester.

This financial aid must be used at a Texas college or university. Students can use it for undergraduate and graduate programs and combine it with other types of financial aid.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers educational benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). This bill provides financial aid for those who served on active duty on or after 9/11.

The amount you can receive depends on your length of service. If you qualify for the maximum benefit, the VA will cover your tuition and fees at a public, in-state university and provide a stipend for textbooks and housing.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is another way the VA offers educational assistance. There are two versions of this bill, one for active-duty service members (Chapter 30) and one for selected reserve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard (Chapter 1606).

These VA education benefits cover tuition but not textbooks and housing. You can learn more about the different GI Bills at VA.gov.

Check Eligibility

Eligibility requirements vary between benefit programs, and you may be eligible for some but likely not all programs. Additionally, even if you're eligible for a program, the amount you're eligible for can vary.

Researching the eligibility requirements of various programs will tell you what you should apply for. You can usually find eligibility requirements on the program websites.

Apply for Benefits

After you've confirmed what you're eligible for, you can start the application process. Like with eligibility requirements, application information can be found on the program website.

Most types of financial aid require you to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This gives you eligibility for federal and state aid programs and other types of financial aid.

Application Deadline

Typically, financial aid programs and benefits have application deadlines to ensure that your funding will be available before the start of the semester. Colleges and universities usually have deadlines for financial aid as well.

Note that there are no application deadlines for GI Bill benefits. However, it usually takes the VA about 30 days to process those applications, so plan accordingly.

Choose a VA-Approved School

To use your VA education benefits to cover your tuition, your school needs to be approved by the VA. Luckily, most accredited colleges and universities are VA-approved.

To make the most of your benefits, you'll want to attend a public college or university within the state. Below, we've highlighted a few public institutions where you can use your veterans benefits.

University of Texas Institutions

The University of Texas System is a public university system in Texas. The flagship university is UT Austin, and there are eight other campuses across the state.

Because the universities in the UT system are public, your Post-9/11 GI Bill could cover your full tuition costs. Students can also use funding from the Hazelwood Act, and many universities in the system offer scholarships specifically for service members.

Texas A&M Institutions

Texas A&M is another public university system in Texas and has eleven campuses throughout the state. The flagship campus in College Station has the largest student body in the country.

As these universities are public, you may be able to cover your tuition with your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The system's Aggie One Stop provides comprehensive information about benefits and financial aid, including military scholarships.

University of Houston Institutions

Another public university system in Texas is the University of Houston system. It consists of four campuses, and since they are all public universities, you can use your Post-9/11 Bill benefits at any campus.

The Veterans Services office is available to help students understand their Texas and VA education benefits. It can also help students secure other financial aid like scholarships and grants.

Speak With Your School's Veteran's Office

Like the University of Houston, most colleges and universities have a veterans services office. These offices help military members navigate higher education and process their Certificate of Eligibility.

In addition to assisting with benefits and financial aid, veterans services can help with enrollment, career advice, and support services. You can usually find more information about these services on the college or university website.

Explore Additional Funding

In some cases, even if you qualify for the full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you still need additional assistance covering your tuition. This can happen if you choose to attend a private school or decide to pursue graduate school.

When this happens, you may need additional funding to help you pay for your education. We've offered some additional funding options below.

Military Scholarships

Unlike loans, scholarships are financial aid gifts you don't need to repay. Organizations usually offer them for a specific reason, like military service.

Some colleges and universities offer military scholarships, but many other organizations do as well. The U.S. Department of Labor provides a scholarship finder on their CareerOneStop.org website that can help you find military scholarships.

Military Grants

Grants are another type of financial aid you don't need to repay. They're often need-based but can be offered specifically to service members.

The federal government offers the Pell Grant, which can provide significant funding to students with high financial needs. You can find more grants through the scholarship finder at CareerOneStop.org.

Tuition Assistance Programs

Tuition assistance programs help students cover tuition costs. Most military branches offer tuition assistance to active-duty service members within the branch.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is another tuition assistance program for military service members. It is for those who qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill but need additional funding. Schools must opt in and funding amounts can vary.

Can Military Dependents Attend College for Free in Texas?

In some cases, military dependents, like the spouse or child of a veteran, can attend college for free in Texas. This usually happens when a veteran doesn't use all their benefits and passes them on to their family members.

For example, the Hazelwood Act has legacy eligibility, meaning the child of a veteran can use their parents' unused Hazelwood Act benefits. Similarly, the VA allows veterans to transfer their benefits to family members.