Financial Aid for Veterans and Military Service Members
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If you’re a veteran or military service member, you’ve got a ton of financial aid options to help you pay for college and get your degree.
Tyler West, a college counselor and former U.S. Army chemical equipment specialist, used military benefits to earn his degree — but the GI Bill® isn’t the only financial aid option out there.
“Believe it or not, the most important aspect of the financial aid process for members of the military and student veterans is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),” West said.
“When we sit down with someone to talk about financial aid for veterans, the assumption is always that the discussion will center around the GI Bill, and the GI Bill alone,” he continued. “These assumptions are precisely the reason that the FAFSA needs to be promoted as a top priority for military and veteran students.”
Whether it’s through national programs or institutional scholarships from military-friendly colleges, there is a lot of financial aid for veterans and service members — you just have to see if you qualify for it.
Financial Aid for Veterans Through VA Benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a number of educational benefits to veterans, service members, and qualified family members. Eligibility varies based on your circumstances and which program you sign up for.
Aid programs typically have minimum service requirements and require you to have been honorably discharged.
Also, you usually must have a high school diploma, a GED certificate, some college credit, or the equivalent.
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
Military service members who served at least 90 days of active duty or 30 days with honorable discharge after Sept. 10, 2001, may qualify for this educational benefit.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays for college tuition and fees for up to 36 months. If you have two or more periods of active-duty service, you may receive tuition and fees for up to 48 months by taking advantage of Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) benefits.
- The cost of public in-state tuition
- Up to $29,920.95 for private and international schools, technical noncollege degree programs, and co-op training
Recipients may also get monthly housing payments and annual book stipends.
Service members who left service before Jan 1, 2013, have 15 years to use their benefits. Benefits never expire for service members who have left service after that date.
Finally, this program allows service members to transfer any unused benefits to a spouse or child.
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program provides additional financial support to students attending schools where their tuition and fees exceed the maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit.
Schools participating in the program agree to cover a portion of the remaining tuition and fees up to full coverage for qualified students. The VA then matches that contribution.
Yellow Ribbon agreements can cover a set number of students each year or an unlimited number of eligible students. Be sure to apply early to increase your chances of getting funding. Note that schools may have different levels of funding and varying numbers of students for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.
Funding also depends on any other financial aid you get, such as scholarships and grants.
Montgomery GI Bill®
The VA offers two types of Montgomery GI Bill programs:
- Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
- Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
The program provides up to 36 months of benefits. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill pays all benefits directly to the student. Student veterans can only get benefits from one program at a time. Eligible students can pair the MGIB-AD with the Post-9/11 GI Bill for up to 48 months of coverage.
MGIB-AD requires you to fall into one of four categories with multiple educational and service requirements, while MGIB-SR requires a six-year commitment after June 30, 1985.
Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
VEAP was a program benefiting service members who served between Jan. 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, to pay for college, nondegree training, apprenticeships, test fees, and correspondence training.
Through the program, members contributed $25-$2,700 to a VEAP account, which the federal government matched $2 to $1. If you believe you have unused VEAP benefits, contact the VA.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA)
Children and spouses of military service members who died, were captured in the line of duty, or are disabled due to a service-related injury or illness can qualify for this program.
DEA offers a monthly payment to cover educational expenses, career counseling, and on-the-job training, with benefits lasting 36 months.
If you’re the child who became eligible or turned 18 on or after Aug. 1, 2023, there is no time limit to use the benefits. If you became eligible or turned 18 before Aug. 1, 2023, you have until you turn 26 to use the benefits, unless you qualify for an exception to extend your eligibility.
Spouses can get both DEA and VA dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits, but eligibility ends if spouses get divorced or if the veteran dies and the spouse remarries. Similar to children’s eligibility, there is no time limit on benefits if a spouse became eligible on or after Aug. 1, 2023.
Military Tuition Assistance (TA)
The U.S. Department of Defense’s TA program provides financial support to active-duty service members.
TA covers up at $250 per semester credit (or $166 per quarter credit), with an annual cap of $4,500 per fiscal year.
The program is open to “officers, warrant officers, and enlisted active-duty service personnel,” as well as to some qualifying members of the National Guard and Reserve Components.
Learn more about how to apply based on your service branch:
Federal Financial Aid for Veterans and Service Members
VA programs and Department of Defense assistance aren’t your only options for paying for college. As a service member or veteran, you could qualify for several federal aid programs.
Student Loan Repayment Program
If you work for a federal agency after your military service, you may qualify for the student loan repayment program.
Federal agencies may offer student loan relief to recruit or retain employees. Loan recipients must meet specific requirements, and payment amounts may not exceed $10,000 a year, though the amount varies by service.
Some military branches, including the Army, offer their own student loan repayment programs.
You’ll need to repay any additional loans or loan balances.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The SCRA caps interest rates on student loans at 6% for people who took out loans before becoming service members.
Pell Grants
Previously, students whose parents or guardians died during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001, qualified for Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG). The FAFSA Simplification Act discontinued the grant program in 2024, and students who previously qualified are now eligible to receive the maximum Pell Grant — $7,395 for the 2025-2026 — regardless of their Student Aid Index.
If you’re a service member or veteran who wouldn’t have qualified for the IASG but meet the regular criteria, you can still qualify for Pell Grant funds.
How to Get Financial Aid for Veterans
Before you can get educational benefits like the ones above, your school must report your enrollment to the VA.
You can apply for benefits online through the VA website, by mail, in person at a VA regional office, or with the help of an attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization representative.
You can also check your remaining Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits by logging in here.
Scholarships for Student Veterans and Military Service Members
Schools, private organizations, and businesses offer scholarships for student veterans and their dependents.
A few of the most popular scholarship programs include the Army Women’s Foundation Legacy Scholarship Program for women soldiers and their descendants and AMVETS scholarships and grants for veterans, active-duty members, and their families.
Some scholarships welcome all veterans and dependents. Others limit participation to a particular branch of service or veterans with disabilities.
Some schools may provide reduced tuition or waive tuition and fees for active-duty military members and veterans.
It’s also common for schools to qualify active-duty service members/veterans for in-state tuition, even if their duty station was in another state.
Additional Resources for Financial Aid for Veterans
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid for Veterans and Service Members
Yes, student veterans can qualify for a Federal Pell Grant if they meet certain criteria. The grant awards up to $7,395 for the 2025-2026 school year.
To qualify, you must complete the FAFSA. Applications open Oct. 1 each year for the following academic term.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute professional financial advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Readers of this website should contact a professional advisor before making decisions about financial issues.
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