Military service offers a tremendous array of education benefits that can be used while you are on active duty or after you leave the service. A good education is essential for your career both in uniform and out, so take advantage of the education benefits you've earned.
The centerpiece of armed services educational benefits is the GI. Bill. There is one GI Bill for Active Duty Members and Veterans in which you may earn up to $1075 per month for school/training. The GI Bill for Reservists has a reduced benefit, with up to $297 per month for school/training.
You may be eligible for more than one educational benefit. Knowing when each is best for your situation can save you money and ensure you get the most out of your benefits. Click here to get "Answers-at-a-Glance" before you start using your benefits.
Another option to consider is Reserve Officer Training Program (ROTC), which helps pay college tuition and book costs and provides a monthly stipend. It allows individuals to obtain a college degree while developing military skills. Upon graduation a ROTC member is commissioned as an O-1.
Finally, remember too that each service has its own scholarships, college funds and other means that may be able to help you in ways beyond those of the "standard" benefits listed here. Talk with a counselor or recruiter to find out more.
Summary of Education Benefits
| Program | What is it? | Who is Eligible? | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGIB provides up to 36 months (4 regular school years) of education benefits to eligible veterans for:
| Active Duty members who have served at least two years on active duty. | Up to $1075 per month for full-time institutional education (beginning Oct. 1, 2005). Benefits end 10 years from the date of your last discharge or release from active duty. You must forfeit $100 / mth of your basic pay for the first year of Active Duty. This amount is non-refundable. | |
| Same as MGIB Active Duty. |
| Up to $297 per month for full-time institutional education (as of Oct. 1, 2005). Generally your benefits end 14 years from the date you become eligible for the program. You do not forfeit any pay as in the Active Duty version. The benefit is correspondingly less. | |
| Loan Repayment (LRP) | Your service may partially or fully repay college loans. | Generally for enlisted members only. Several factors determine your eligibility, including your branch, your MOS, and terms of your contract. Your loans must be in good standing, i.e. not in default. | About repayment programs: There are also specialized loan repayment programs for health professional officers. |
| An additional benefit intended to supplement other tuition assistance programs such as the G.I. Bill.The benefit is available for all courses that began on or after October 30, 2000. | To be eligible for the Top-up benefit, the person must be approved for federal Tuition Assistance by a military department and be eligible for MGIB-Active Duty benefits. | The amount of the benefit is limited to the amount that the person would receive for the same course if regular MGIB benefits were being paid. Regular MGIB benefits will be reduced. | |
| Available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate. For degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available. | Meet all requirements:
| Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. | |
| Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) | Education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. May be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. | You must be the son, daughter, or spouse of a servicemember who died, is missing, or was permanently disabled while on duty or as a result of a service-related condition. | DEA reduces your tuition amount - you may pay three months' instead of six months' tuition, for example. |
| If you're a full-time or 3/4-time student in a college degree program, or a vocational or professional program, you can "earn while you learn" with a VA work-study allowance. | The VA work-study allowance is available to persons training under one of the VA benefit programs:
| You'll earn an hourly wage equal to the Federal minimum wage or your State minimum wage, whichever is greater. | |
| Tutorial assistance for programs you are having difficulty with. If you have questions on this program please contact our toll-free number 1-888-442-4551. | If you are receiving VA benefits at a half-time or more rate, you are eligible. | VA may provide you with a tutor or with information for finding one. |
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