Education grants for veterans are available to qualified applicants who have served the U.S. as a military servicemember. Transitioning from active duty back to civilian life is an experience unique to veterans and is often financially challenging due to any number of service-related issues.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has many military education grants that help veterans pay for college. Read more about VA education grants below.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees several financial aid programs and scholarship opportunities designed to help U.S. veterans afford to go to college. The most popular of all veteran education grants is the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
To qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, you must be meet the following criteria:
- Be a U.S. veteran
- Served a minimum of 90 days on active duty
- Started service after September 10, 2001
- Have an honorable discharge
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits could be used to pay for any of the following:
- Undergraduate and graduate college degrees
- Technical training
- Certificate programs
- Licensing and certification fees
- Flight training
- On-the-job training expenses
- Tuition Assistance Top-Up
If you do not want to use your VA education benefits yourself, you may transfer them to your spouse or children.
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits could pay for your entire college tuition. A portion of your monthly rent up to $1,000 could also be covered. The total amount of money you receive is largely dependent on the amount of time you served during active duty.
To receive full program benefits, you must have served in an active-duty capacity for no less than 36 months, beginning after September 10, 2001.
If you served less than 36 months, your Post-9/11 VA education benefits are reduced in the following capacities
- Between 30 and 36 months of active duty service: 90% of the full benefits offered
- Between 24 and 30 months of active duty service – 80% of the full benefits offered
- Between 18 and 24 months of active duty service – 70% of the full benefits offered
- Between 6 and 18 months of active duty service – 60% of the full benefits offered
- Between 90 days and 6 months of active duty service – 50% of the full benefits offered
If you were honorably discharged before January 1, 2013, you can use your GI Bill benefits any time within 15 years of leaving military service. If your discharge occurred after this date, your benefits do not expire.
