VETERANS & FAMILIES

DID YOU SERVE IN THE MILITARY?

If you served in the military and want to earn your college degree, then it’s likely that you qualify for several governmental or institutional educational awards. The following lists detail the educational assistance programs available to veterans, service members, their spouses, and their dependents.

POST 911 AND MONTGOMERY GI BILL®

The VA administers benefits available under the GI Bill® to help veterans get the education and training they need to be competitive in today’s job market. The program directs veterans to a variety of education and training opportunities, as well as providing funds for tuition, fees, and housing. The system can be complicated, so it’s important to understand everything you’re entitled to before you try to claim any benefits.

There are two main versions of the GI Bill®:

• MONTGOMERY GI BILL®
• Congress enacted the original GI Bill®, aka the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, to help veterans of World War II. In 1984, legislators revamped the program and rebranded it as the Montgomery GI Bill®. The bill features two subdivisions — one for active-duty service members (MGIB-AD), the other for selected reservists (MGIB-SR).
• MGIB-AD is available to active-duty service members and honorably discharged veterans who entered service after June 30, 1985, have served at least 2 years and paid the $1,200 enrollment fee. Those with remaining entitlement under the original GI Bill® and those who separated from the military for certain reasons may also be eligible for benefits under the program. MGIB-SR is available to reservists who have a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve signed after June 30, 1985. These programs provide beneficiaries with a set amount of funds each month to cover the costs of tuition, housing, books, and other fees associated with higher education.
• As an eligible veteran, you have up to 10 years from the last day of your active-duty service (or 14 years from the date of your first 6-year obligation with the Selected Reserves) to take advantage of 36 months of benefits. Unlike the Post 911 program, Montgomery provides a single monthly benefit payment made directly to you. That payment amount varies, depending on the type of training or education you choose and the length of your service.

• POST 911 GI BILL®
• The Post 911 GI Bill® expands educational benefits for active-duty service members and honorably discharged veterans who served at least 90 days, either consecutive or aggregate, after Sept. 10, 2001; this requirement is only 30 days for those discharged due to a service-connected disability. Beneficiaries receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Honorably discharged veterans have up to 15 years from their last day of active-duty service to participate.
• The Post 911 GI Bill® pays up to 100% of your tuition and fees, depending on your length of service and whether you attend public or private school. To receive the full benefit, you must have served at least 3 years. However, those who have only served 90 days of service can cover as much as 50% of their tuition costs. An annual stipend of up to $1,000 for books and supplies may be available, as may be housing assistance depending on your school’s location.

WHAT'S COVERED UNDER THE GI BILL®

Both the Post 911 GI Bill® and the Montgomery GI Bill® generally cover the same types of education and training programs, including:

• Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degrees
• Online, Distance Learning, and On-campus Programs
• Business, Technical, and Vocational Courses
• Non-degree and On-the-job Training and Apprenticeships
• Correspondence Courses
• Licensing Costs
• Certificate Programs

EXPENSES COVERED UNDER THE POST 911 GI BILL®

Under the Post 911 GI Bill® program, the VA provides payment toward your tuition and fees directly to your educational institution while sending funds for housing, books, and other supplies directly to you.

• Up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies
• Your housing allowance varies by the cost of living near your school and is based on the MHA (Monthly Housing Allowance) for an E-5 with dependents. You can estimate your housing allowance by using the military's GI Bill® Monthly Housing Allowance Communications Toolkit (va.gov)
• Students enrolled in fully online programs receive half the national BAH average.
• Veterans from highly rural areas who relocate or travel by air to attend an educational institution may qualify for a one-time payment of $500.

The VA covers 100% of in-state tuition and fees for full-time enrollment at public universities if, after 911, you served at least 36 months or were discharged after 30 days due to a service-based disability. If you served less time than that, then the VA still covers a portion of your tuition and fees based on an eligibility percentage.

POST 911 GI BILL® ELIGIBILITY PERCENTAGE FOR VETERANS

VETERAN DEPENDENTS

Under the Post 911 GI Bill®, you may be able to transfer education benefits to your spouse or one or more of your children (or a combination of the two) if you meet the following criteria:

• You have at least six years of active-duty and/or Selected Reserve service and agree to serve an additional four years.
• You have at least 10 years of active-duty and/or Selected Reserve service, cannot serve an additional four years due to policy or statute, and agree to serve the maximum amount of time allowed by such policy or statute.
• You submit your request for transfer while in the armed forces

To receive transferred benefits, family members must enroll in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System (DEERS). Additionally, the spouse or child of a veteran who died or suffered a permanent and complete disability while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition may qualify for Dependents Education Assistance (DEA). There are a few unique features to this program:

• Up to 45 months of education benefits
• An eligible child must be between 18 and 26 years of age (extended to age 31 in some circumstances)
• Benefits end for an eligible spouse 10 years (or 20 years, in some cases) from the determination of eligibility or the death of the veteran

You’ll need to apply. Apply for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits)

There are 2 main GI Bill® programs offering educational assistance to survivors and dependents of Veterans.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) is for children and spouses of:

• Active-duty service members who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, or
• Members of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001

Get more information about the Fry Scholarship

The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training to qualified dependents of Veterans who:

• Are permanently and totally disabled because of a service-related condition, or
• Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition

Get more information about the DEA program

Note: You may qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and the DEA program, but you can use only one of them. You’ll have to pick one when you apply. Once you’ve made this decision, you can’t switch to the other program.

VETERAN DEPENDENTS

Application for admission submitted by a transfer (diploma or certificate) student is required to be supported with:

• Items required for regular admission (listed above)
• An official transcript of records and a catalog from the previous accredited school
• Eligible (minimum 2.0 GPA) credits for transfer must meet GTC’s course descriptions. GTC will accept a maximum of 24 credits (Diploma Program) and a maximum of 64 credits (Associate Degree) from an accredited college. GTC has the right to accept or reject any credits that do not meet program requirements. Applicants must be aware that unofficial transcripts on the date of admission may not be accepted after enrollment.

Students should complete and submit a Transfer Credit Request and Approval Form during the enrollment process (available in the Admissions Office). Transfer students may appeal GTC’s decision according to the GTC Complaint and Grievance Procedures.

Applicants must be aware that all documents presented for admission become the property of GTC.

Applicants may not request the return of materials submitted to GTC admissions, regardless of acceptance or rejection.

BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR GI BILL® BENEFITS

Choose your school and program. Remember, your costs and benefits will vary depending on multiple factors: whether you claim benefits under the Montgomery or Post 911 GI Bill®, where your school is located, your eligibility percentage, and whether you select public, private, or foreign institutions. If you choose a private institution, considering enrolling in the Yellow Ribbon Program to help cover the higher costs.

Submit an online application or apply by mail within the eligibility period (typically 10 years for the Montgomery GI Bill® and 15 for the Post 911 GI Bill®). The VA’s online application system, VONAPP , is user-friendly. If you choose to apply by mail, print out and complete Form 22-1990 and mail it to your regional VA Processing Office.