Transfer Your Gi Bill Benefits Now If Eligible
In 2009, the government began allowing military members to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits in exchange for extending their service obligation. This was created as a retention tool to keep experienced servicemembers in uniform longer.
There are certain GI Bill transfer eligibility requirements and rules you must meet in order to transfer your benefits to your spouse or children. In short, you must have at least 6 years in service and agree to extend your obligation by a minimum of 4 years. You can only transfer benefits while you are in the military. Because this is a retention tool, you cannot transfer benefits if you have already retired or otherwise separated from the military.
Transferring benefits now ensures your family members wont miss out on this valuable benefit. So do this now, if you are eligible, and they will be grandfathered into the system. You also dont have to worry about how much of the benefit you transfer to each beneficiary right now, so long as you transfer at least one month. You can change your benefit allocation at any time. So you have a lot of flexibility when planning how your dependents will use this benefit.
Another reason to transfer benefits now: If you havent yet made the transfer, then please read this article on possible changes to transferred GI Bill benefits that may reduce the Monthly Housing Allowance for children to 50% .
Best Gi Bill Online Classes
Numerous universities and colleges switched from an in-person to an online mode of study in recent years. However, the GI Bill can still be used for independent and distance learning online. You will receive a housing allowance based on 50% of the national average if youre using your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits while taking only distance-learning courses.
Weve put together a list of the best approved GI Bill schools for online classes which actively support current and former military members and their families.
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Scholarships & Grants Specifically For Family Members Of Servicemembers
Many dependents are fortunate enough to have received Post 9/11 GI Bill entitlement from a parent through a Transfer of Education Benefits . Depending on the number of months transferred, it often is not enough to pay all the expenses required to complete a degree. In these cases, the student should apply for these types of financial aid to make up for the shortfall. Below are five examples worth seeking:
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Save Your Benefits For Your Most Expensive Tuition Bill
Theres no need to use your benefits immediately. If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your GI Bill is redeemable for up to 15 years. If you were discharged after January 1, 2013, your GI Bill has no expiration. The GI Bill covers 36 months of schooling, which is how much you’ll need for a bachelors degree program if you take a full-time course load. If you need more time to complete your education like if you want a graduate degree, too it may be advantageous to start at a community college and apply your GI Bill benefits later to pricier tuition.
Keep in mind, though, that while the government can cover your tuition as an in-state student completely for up to 36 months if you attend a public school, it will cover only $26,043 per year if you attend a private one. Dont rule out private colleges, though: You can get extra money toward many private schools through the Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program if you are eligible for 100% of your GI Bill.
Military And Veterans Educational Benefits
Learn more about the educational benefits offered for military personnel, veterans and their families.
Military students who are serving on active duty, in one of the reserve components or the National Guard, veterans, and eligible family members may use their educational benefits at The Art Institutes.
The links below provide further information regarding the individual benefits and opportunities available through the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs . While benefit and eligibility information is provided, the ultimate approval of a students ability to use a particular benefit is determined by the respective government agency offering the benefit.
In addition to the information weve provided, the knowledgeable staff at The Art Institutes are available to help guide you through the process. Speak with one of our experienced admissions representatives to get started. For further information on participation and eligibility, contact us at 1-855-991-9325.
Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard
Military Tuition Assistance
Each military branch has its own TA application form and procedures, and each determines the eligibility requirements and the amount of assistance available. The service member must apply for the program and receive approval before starting classes. Prior to your course enrollment, you may be required to develop an education plan or complete TA orientation.
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Using The Gi Bill At Overseas Public And Private Schools
It is possible to use your GI Bill benefits to attend schools overseas, but there are complications. One of the main issues is that overseas schools are not versed in VA processes, requirements, and submission procedures. You will need to begin your application process far earlier than most in order to make sure your school is able to meet the VA requirements for application, processing, payment, class attendance, etc.
The school you choose overseas must be approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs before you apply, but that is only the first stepyour chosen school must be able to follow VA requirements for receiving GI Bill funds.
Assuming your selected institution of higher learning meets the criteria, what does it take to use your GI Bill overseas? ALL of the following must apply at application time:
- The applicant is eligible for VA education benefits
- The VA has approved your program
- Your program is located at an institution of higher learning where youll earn a standard associates degree or higher or a degree of equal value
- The VA approves of programs overseas issuing degrees similar to degrees granted by accredited U.S. colleges and universities
- Overseas private schools must provide degrees of equal value to those granted by public colleges and universities in the same country and entrance requirements must be comparable
Veterans: 5 Ways To Maximize Your Gi Bill Benefits
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If youre a veteran, the GI Bill can be your ticket to a debt-free college education. Thats huge, given about 83% of 2020 graduates who left school with a bachelors degree also carried student loan debt, with an average of $36,140 per borrower, according to the data aggregator and analysis site education.org.
Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may be eligible for 36 months not necessarily consecutive of college or career training if you served on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, and were discharged honorably or are still on active duty. Plus, you can get a monthly housing allowance and yearly book stipend for the period covered under your GI Bill. You need to serve at least 36 months on active duty or be a post-9/11 Purple Heart recipient to receive the full suite of benefits, but you can get a portion if you served less active time.
Your benefits can go far if you use them strategically. Heres how:
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What Does The Post 911 Gi Bill Bah Mean
Post-9/11 GI Bill provides full tuition and fees to public schools. It also pays most students a monthly housing allowance , which is equal to the Basic Housing Allowance for E-5 with dependents. Students who are enrolled at a foreign school will have their MHA increased from $1,789 each month to $1,833.
The Gi Bill Can Be Used For Graduate School
Like undergraduate GI Bill use, grad school applicants have the option of having 100% tuition paid for at a public university, or up to a specific cap at a private university. These caps are subject to change, and its a bad idea to rely on past information without exploring what is currently offered at application time.
You do not have to have 100% of your GI Bill benefits when applying for grad school any remaining entitlement can be used.
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When The Gi Bill Might Not Cover Your Costs
Here are a few situations in which youd likely need to supplement the GI Bill:
Attending a private college
Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits cover the full cost of in-state tuition at public colleges, but only up to $26,043 per year at a private college.
What to do: Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool to see how far your benefits will go at different schools before picking one. If your college is eligible and you’ve earned 100% of your GI Bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon Program can provide additional funds.
Serving less than 36 months
Those who serve less than 36 months receive a percentage of the maximum benefit. For example, if you served at least 18 months, but less than 24 months of active duty, you’ll qualify for 70% of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
What to do: Find the benefit percentage you’ll receive through the VA. This will help you determine how much of your tuition and housing costs will be covered and how large a gap you’ll need to fill.
Transferring colleges and losing credits
More than one-third of students transfer colleges, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. And when transferring, students lose an average of 13 credits, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. If you lose credits by transferring, you might require more than 36 total months to finish a degree.
Transferring benefits to a spouse or child
Needing additional time
College closing
Active Duty Health Professions Student Loan Repayment Program
Health professionals who are also on active duty can qualify for $40,000 per year toward your student loan debt for up to 3 years if youre serving in the dental, medical, allied health, nursing, or veterinary corps while on active duty. You can also be eligible for up to $50,000 in total loan forgiveness over 3 years if youre in the reserves for those professions.
What Loans Qualify for Active Duty Health Professions Student Loan Repayment?
- Stafford Loans
- Supplemental loans for students
How to Apply For Army Student Loan Repayment:
Contact an Army recruiter to learn how to apply, find out whether youre eligible, and learn more about what active duty service in the Army entails.
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What The Gi Bill Pays
The new GI Bill has two different pay rates when it comes to tuition. At a public school, it can pay up to 100% of the in-state tuition rate. For attendance at a private or foreign school, it can pay up to $22,805.34 per year.
In both cases the Post 9/11 GI Bill also pays mandatory fees fees applicable to all students But there is the catch, applicable to all students. As we see next, there can be a host of optional fees not applicable to all students and therefore the responsibility of the student to pay.
Baylor College Of Medicine Houston Tx
Located in Houston, Texas, Baylor College of Medicine is a private, independent university that houses a health sciences center within the worlds largest medical center. It has consistently ranked as one of the top colleges in the nation for its educational offerings.
Why Is Baylor College of Medicine Best for Veterans?
The Baylor College of Medicine does not participate in the Post 9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program. Still, it offers many other benefits and opportunities to Veterans students.
Baylor College of Medicine calculates the net cost of tuition and fees after applying for any waivers, reductions, scholarships, or other federal, state, institutional, or employer-based aid or assistance .
Baylor College of Medicine provides the following benefits to eligible students:
- Housing allowance per month
- Book and supply stipends each year
- Payment of one-time rural benefits
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Going To College Or University
Sure, you can use your GI Bill to go to college, everybody knows that. Did you know that you can use your GI Bill to get an associates degree, bachelor degree, or higher? If you have one degree you can use your GI Bill to get another one.
If you are a bit rusty on your academic skills after being in the military, you can use your GI Bill for refresher training.
You can use your GI Bill at community colleges, state colleges, private colleges, online colleges, foreign colleges and more.
What Costs Does The Post
- Up to 100% Tuition and Fee Coverage
- Ability to Transfer GI Bill to spouse and dependents
If you go to a state school, the VA will pay all your tuition & fees for necessary classes. You will also be provided a monthly housing allowance.
- The GI Bill BAH Rate is equivalent to the Basic Allowance for Housing rate that an E-5 with dependents would receive.
- Your housing allowance rate is based on the ZIP code of the school you are attending.
- You are not eligible to receive a housing allowance if you are on active duty.
- The GI Bill pays you up to $1,000 each year for your books.
There are a few differences if you go to a private or foreign school. Your tuition reimbursement is limited to a legislatively mandated maximum amount which changes each year. The Post 911 GI Bill will currently pay up to a maximum of $26,042.81 for the 2021-2022 school year for private or foreign colleges. This is up from $25,162.14 for the 2020-2021 school year and $24,476.79 for the 2019-2020 academic year.
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How The Va Calculates Your Attendance As A Full
The biggest financial question about attending school on the GI Bill is generally related to your school commitment as a full-time or part-time student. All your payments are determined initially by whether you draw full or part-time benefits.
The VA official site advises future grad students that payment of GI Bill benefits depends greatly on how the school classifies full or part-time attendance. The VA bases payment on:
- Number of classes
VA literature says that for most undergraduate degrees, colleges and universities have the following structure:
- 12 or more hours = full time attendance
- Between 9 & 11 hours = three-quarter time attendance
- Between 6 & 8 hours = half time attendance
- Less than 6 hours = Student is reimbursed for tuition and fees
Top Gi Bill Approved Trade Schools
GI Bill benefits can be used for trade school education and training up to $24,476. It also covers apprenticeships and on-the-job training, and licensing and certification tests up to $2,000. It can also be used to take online courses. However, what you can benefit from will depend on three factors:
- What kind of program you are enrolled in
- Your eligibility percentage
- How fast you are pursuing a degree or training
Below, weve provided some of the best GI Bill Trade Schools.
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Best Gi Bill Graduate Schools
The GI Bill can cover a public colleges tuition and fees up to the maximum amount. You can use your GI Bill benefits on a masters degree if you already have an undergraduate degree. You can enroll full-time for 36 months in undergraduate or graduate programs no matter how you use your benefits.
In the following list, you will find some of the best GI Bill-approved Graduate Schools.
Take At Least One Class Per Semester In Person
If you take solely online classes, youll likely get a smaller housing allowance than you would otherwise. That’s because all online programs have the same housing allowance for the GI Bill and it’s based on half the average military housing allowance in the country. Instead, take at least one course per semester that requires your attendance to at least one class period, and you’ll qualify for the housing allowance attached to your school’s ZIP code. For example, if you take all online classes at a school based in San Francisco, your housing allowance would be $917 per month. But, if you have one class that requires you to show up in person for one day, you’ll get $4,971 per month. Use the VAs GI Bill Comparison tool to see the amount of housing allowance youd get based on your schools location and GI Bill award percentage.
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How Much Of Your Childrens College Tuition Should You Pay
We all want the best for our children, but Im a big believer in taking care of your own needs before saving for college. Why? Because you can always borrow money for college. But you cant borrow money for retirement.
So when it comes to prioritizing our finances, my wife and I make sure we fully fund our emergency fund, save in our IRA and Thrift Savings Plan accounts, and make sure we have met our long term savings needs. Only then do we put additional funds into a 529 College Savings Plan .
Average Costs For Tuition Room And Board
The Balance / Ellen Lindner
With the average cost of college steadily rising every year, many people may wonder if the hefty price tag is still worth it. Will you get a return on your investment if you put in all the time, effort, and money? As much of the research still shows, in most cases, going to college will still pay off in the long run.
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