Whether you’re still serving or have retired from the military, you’ll have access to a wide range of educational benefits. It is imperative that you take advantage of the educational benefits you’ve earned because they are critical to your success both in and outside of the military.
Tuition Assistance, worth up to $4,500 annually, is available to active-duty military personnel. The school receives TA on a class-by-class basis. Nevertheless, these advantages can assist you in achieving your objectives and realising your full potential, but only if you know how to put them to good use!!
Credit-by-Exam
Over 2,900 colleges and universities accept Credit-by-Exam exams, which you can use to earn college credit. DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests), CLEP (College Level Examination Program), and ECE (Excelsior College Exam) tests are accepted by these schools.
Consider that an average college course costs $200 per credit. Credit-by-Exam, on the other hand, can save a lot of money. DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) offers these Credit-by-Exam tests free of charge to DANTES students, who would otherwise have to pay upwards of $40 per exam. You can get out of paying for college by taking this course.
Military training and experience can be used for college credit
For military personnel and veterans, the American Council on Education’s (ACE) recommendation can be used to claim academic credit for military experience and training. ACE recommendations are accepted for academic credit by thousands of accredited schools across the country.
Without ever having set foot inside a classroom, you might be able to complete your Associate in Science degree requirements by using your ACE credits and CLEP tests.
Financial Aid for School
The educational assistance for military personnel benefits for eligible members of the Armed Forces Tuition Assistance (TA) Programs include free or reduced-cost college tuition for active-duty military, National Guard, and Reserve components. A total of $4,500 a year is available for each service to cover 100% of your tuition costs.
Eligibility criteria and obligated service requirements vary from branch to branch. Application processes and restrictions are also unique to each. Individual services typically pay this sum directly to the institution.
In addition to their service-provided TA, active-duty members can use “GI Bill Top-Up” to pay for expensive courses.
It’s important to remember that TA is not a loan and should be treated as such. It’s gone if you don’t use it!
Military Scholarships & Grants
The Federal Government has many Financial Aid Programs that are often overlooked. These programs provide grants and low-interest loans (free money). You can apply for Federal Financial Aid to help cover the costs of tuition, fees, books, and living expenses while you are enrolled in college or university. A student loan or grant is paid back after the school has paid its portion of the cost.
Last but not least, keep in mind that each service has its own tuition assistance programs and college funds, among other things, that may be able to help you in ways other than those of the “standard” benefits listed below. Inquire with a military recruiter or an Education Service Officer.
