Can You Get Tuition Assistance for College After Leaving the Military?

Title: Can You Get Tuition Assistance for College After Leaving the Military?

After leaving the military, you can receive tuition assistance as one of the many benefits designed to help veterans pursue higher education. Military education benefits, scholarships, and other military tuition assistance programs can help you cover tuition expenses.

While some benefits, such as Tuition Assistance (TA), are only for active-duty service members, you can receive other forms of financial assistance to pay for tuition costs.

Whether you served in the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, or Space Force, you can use military benefits to pay for college so you can pursue a degree after leaving the military. Knowing your options and eligibility status for different funding programs can ensure you get the most out of your well-earned education benefits.

Can You Use Tuition Assistance After Leaving the Military?

Many colleges accept Tuition Assistance, which is a Department of Defense (DoD) program for military students currently serving. You can only use the TA program if you are on active duty, so after leaving the military you don't qualify for the program. However, there are several other forms of military tuition assistance to help veterans with tuition costs after serving on active duty.

Do You Get Benefits After Leaving the Military?

Yes, going to college after military service still provides many benefits. After leaving the military, you are eligible for several educational benefits offered through local, state, and federal programs. These benefits are designed to support veterans by providing financial assistance and other resources to help them pay for college, job training, and other educational programs.

Is College Free After Military Service?

For many veterans, college is free after military service. Depending on how long you served and the programs you are eligible for, the military can pay education costs, such as tuition and other education-related expenses ? it may cover all expenses. Even if you don't qualify for all the benefits, military scholarships, tuition discounts, and other funding resources are available to help veterans attend college for free.

How Does Tuition Assistance Differ From Department of Veteran Affairs Education Benefits?

Tuition Assistance and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits offer support to help military students pay for educational programs; however, they differ in eligibility criteria, amount of assistance, and application process. Tuition Assistance, which is only available to active duty service members, provides $4,500 each fiscal year, or $250 each credit hour, to help cover college tuition costs and continuing education units.

VA education benefits, on the other hand, are available not only for active-duty service members but also for veterans and their dependents. Other VA benefit programs, such as the GI Bill, offer more funding than the TA program. Depending on your eligibility, you could have your college tuition and other education expenses completely covered by VA education benefits.

Educational Benefits After Leaving the Military

There are several federal, state, and locally funded programs that help veterans pay for their education. Military students can use educational benefits to avoid student loan debt and out-of-pocket expenses while pursuing higher education.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

The Post-9/11 GI Bill offers up to 36 months of education benefits to veterans, service members, and qualifying family members. These benefits can be applied to various educational programs, including college degrees, vocational training, and flight schools. If you meet certain criteria as a student, you may also be eligible for funding to help with your housing and other college-related materials.

Military students attending in-state public schools, who served for at least three years, were discharged because of a military-related injury, or received a Purple Heart are eligible to have their tuition paid in full. Students at private or foreign schools that meet the same service requirements are eligible to receive $28,937 per year in tuition assistance.

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill education benefits are intended to help veterans and active-duty service members pay for college degree programs, apprenticeships, flight training, and other education programs. You need to have served for at least two years to be eligible for the GI Bill benefits and the amount you can receive varies depending on the specific criteria you meet. If you maintain full-time enrollment, you can qualify for up to $2,358 in monthly financial assistance.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program

The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program is a resource for veterans who were severely disabled during active duty and are experiencing work limitations because of it. The program's support resources are available to help disabled veterans find and prepare for employment after leaving the military.

If you were disabled during active duty, the VR&E program can help you return to your previous job or find a new employment opportunity. The program can also coordinate disability accommodations or offer support for job training or education needs so that you can reenter the workforce.

State and Local Benefits

State and local benefits are another way to receive assistance after leaving the military. Many states, local organizations, and even colleges offer education benefits (e.g., scholarships, tuition waivers, discounts, or grants). State and local military benefits are intended to support veterans who are furthering their education and can sometimes be available for their spouses and dependents as well.

Veteran Scholarships and Grants

In addition to the Tuition Assistance program and other military education benefits, there are also scholarship and grant opportunities intended specifically for veterans.

Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship

Pat Tillman Foundation Scholarship provides full-time military students with $10,000 in yearly financial support for college tuition, living expenses, and other academic-related fees. The scholarship is awarded based on merit and is available for veterans, military service members, and their spouses.

The AMVETS National Scholarship Program

If your military education benefits, grants, and other forms of financial aid aren't enough to cover your tuition, the AMVETS National Scholarship can provide additional support for your education. The scholarship, which awards $4,000 each academic year, is available for veterans, military spouses, and students currently serving on active duty in the military, National Guard, or Reserves.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship

Veterans who received a Purple Heart while in the military can apply for the Military Order of the Purple Heart Scholarship, which awards funding for college tuition. The award amounts vary each year and to be eligible, you need to be a member of the organization. The scholarship is also available for Purple Heart recipients' spouses, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

What Is the Tuition Top-Up Program?

Tuition Top-Up is a VA program that provides military students with additional funding to make up for tuition and other education expenses that weren't fully covered by the Tuition Assistance (TA) program and federal student aid.

Even if you are eligible for TA funds, the yearly education benefit for active-duty service members, you still may not have enough to cover the entire cost of your tuition. With the Top-Up program, you can have the uncovered portion paid for as part of the many VA benefits.