Military + Education = Degree

Don’t miss out on funding ready for military personnel. Get your degree!

Military Benefits for Higher Education

Members of the United States Military have many advantages when it comes to earning a degree.  There is a broad spectrum of financial aid available to both active service members and those whose terms of duty have expired.

4 Categories:

1. Financial aid available for active service personnel on off duty time.  May be used on campus based courses or for online courses.
2. Military training credits which can later be transferred to a campus based or online college.
3. Education benefits available to veterans.
4. Education benefits available to spouses and college aged children of active or retired service men and women.

Benefits

The most common military education benefits and tuition assistance programs include:

• The Montgomery GI Bill and the Montgomery GI Bill Buy-Up Program
• The Post 9-11 GI Bill
• Student Loan Repayment Programs
• Tuition Assistance Top-Up Program
• Veterans Education Assistance Program
• Veterans Upward Bound Program

In addition to each of these plans, individual military service branches offer specific education and tuition benefits.

Army Programs:

• CLRP – College Loan Repayment Program.  CLRP will provide a loan of up to $65,000 in exchange for a three year commitment to an active duty assignment.  This can often completely defer education costs.
• DCS – Dependent Children Scholarships.  DCS’s are available through the MG James Ursano Scholarship Program.  This scholarship money is available to dependent children of active Army men and women.  It does not have to be repaid.
• OSEAP – Overseas Spouse Education Assistance Program.  The OSEAP provides financial assistance, including up to 50% of tuition costs, for military spouses stationed overseas.  There is a per-semester (or term) limit of $580, and a yearly maximum of $2900.  This program is need based and requires proof of financial state.
• SOCAD – Servicemembers Opportunity College Army Degree.  This is a list of over 1,800 accredited colleges, including both campus based and online schools, which offer spouses and college age dependents financial aid.  This program is available to spouses and children of both active duty and retired Army members.
• SSEAP – Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program.  This fund is similar to OSEAP but service state side active duty or retired spouses.  This program is also available to widows and widowers of active or retired soldiers.
• TAP – Tuition Assistance Program.  This fund is part of the Continuing Education Program sponsored by the Army.  TAP will cover up to 100% of tuition and fees, as well as some money for books and other expenses.  It will also pay up to $250 for individual credits to active duty soldiers taking courses during off hours on active duty.

Air Force Programs:

• CCAF – Community College of the Air Force.  The CCAF is partnered with over 80 education service offices, over 1,500 academic institutions, and 90 Air Force schools.  These funds are available to guard, active duty, reserve personnel, and retired Air Force personnel.
• CLRP – College Loan Repayment Program.  This program is available for active duty members and pays up to $10,000 of college course loans.  This money may be used for either campus or online enrollment.
• General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program – This program is for dependent family members and spouses of active and retired Air Force personnel.  The grants are $2,000 and several are awarded each year.
• STAP – General George S. Brown Spouse Tuition Aid Program.  This program pays for up to 50% of unmet tuition costs after other sources such as grants, loans, and scholarships pay first.  This is a supplementary program and is available to spouses of active and reserve personnel.  It will cover up to $1,500 each year.

Navy and Marine Programs

• Admiral Mike Boorda Seaman to Admiral Program.  This program is for members enrolled in the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program, or the Marine Meritorious Commissioning Program.  It provides up to $2,000 in interest free loans.
• Loan Repayment Program.  This program is for first time enlistees in the Navy.  It offers up the $65,000 in loan repayment funds.
• STAP – Spouse Tuition Aid Program.  This program is a need based program for spouses living overseas with their military members.  The grant pays up to 50% of tuition costs with a $300 per term and $1,500 yearly cap.
• SOCMAR and SOCNAV – these programs offer mobile sailor and Marine families the chance to earn a degree through the SOC network to avoid losing credit hours while transferring.  Many online schools are part of the SOC network.
• Tuition Assistance Program.  This program pays up to $250 per credit for Navy and Marine personnel who wish to take campus based or online courses during their off duty hours.
• Vice Admiral EP Travers Loan Program.  The Travers Program provides up to $2,000 in interest free loans for state side spouses and dependent children of active duty Navy and Marine personnel.

These are only a few of the many available tuition assistance programs.  Many states, individual military units, and countless private sources offer additional tuition assistance for our valued military members.  Each of these options offers financial aid for a quality education, which combined with the training received in the military provides an excellent base for post military employment.

Special funding is available to military members. Don’t miss your chance to get a degree!