The GI Bill: Rewarding Military Service
A small percentage of people who join the military choose to make it their long-term career. The overwhelming majority of recruits use the military as a stepping stone, enlisting for one term, then leaving to enroll in school or pursue a civilian career. The GI Bill is essentially a government grant designed to allow military personnel to attend college for free. The details of how the bill works can be a bit confusing, so read on to learn how to get the most out of the GI Bill.
The GI Bill History and Evolution
The GI Bill was signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was originally called the The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. It provided basic benefits to military service personnel, and has been updated many times since its inception (
click here to read more about the history of the GI Bill). The most recent incarnation of the bill is
The Post 9/11 GI Bill, which extended additional benefits to those who served in the military after 9/11. The Post 9/11 GI Bill replaced the
Montgomery GI Bill, which is still in effect for military personnel who served before 9/11.
How Much Money Does the GI Bill Provide for College?
The exact amount of money the GI Bill provides for education depends on a number of factors. The amount of time served in the military, the school you wish to attend and the area where you live all determine how much aid the GI Bill will provide. The
official GI Bill website provides a comprehensive, easy-to-use set of tools and resources that will help you determine your specific GI Bill benefits. The maximum amount of aid a person can receive from the GI Bill is determined by the in-state tuition at the most expensive public college in the veteran's state of residence. If that amount does not cover the cost of tuition at the desired educational institution, there are additional aid options such as
The Yellow Ribbon Program.
GI Bill Eligibility
In order to receive the full amount of the GI Bill, you must have served in the military for 1095 days or more, excluding training. Military personnel who have served less time can still qualify for the GI Bill; however, they are only eligible to receive a percentage of the full amount. The Department of Veterans Affairs website provides a
benefits calculator that uses zip code and number of days served to determine how much a GI Bill award will be.
What Schools Can the GI Bill Be Used For?
According to
the Veteran's Affairs website, the GI Bill cannot be used to complete a technical or vocational program, and may only be used at a degree-granting institution of higher learning (IHL). Vocational programs are eligible, however, if they are offered at an IHL. That means that nearly every accredited degree program in the country can be paid for with the GI Bill. If you're interested in learning more about eligible degree programs, visit
our site's college degree section, and be sure to
read more about the GI Bill to get the most out of this amazing opportunity.