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.
You must also usually 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 September 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 can receive tuition and fees for up to 48 months. The VA covers the cost of public in-state tuition and up to $28,937 for private or international schools per year.
Recipients may also get monthly housing payments and annual book stipends.
Service members who left service before January 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.
In practice, schools agree to cover a portion of the remaining tuition and fees for qualified students, and the VA then matches that contribution.
Yellow Ribbon agreements cover a set number of students each year. Be sure to apply early to ensure you get funding. Note that schools may offer tiers of support for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students.
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:
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.
MGIB-AD requires you to have completed at least two years of active-duty service, while MGIB-SR requires a six-year commitment after June 30, 1985.
Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
Service members who served between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, may qualify for VEAP, a military student savings program.
Benefits for members of the Air Force are limited to those who first entered the service between December 1, 1980, and September 30, 1981. You must also have served in a specific job at a particular duty station.
In addition, you must have contributed $25-$2,700 to a VEAP account, which the federal government matches $2 to $1. Student veterans can use their VEAP funds to pay for college, non-degree training, apprenticeships, test fees, and correspondence training.
You have 10 years from the time you’re released from active duty to use this benefit. The VA will refund your contribution if you don’t use the money.
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.
Children between the ages of 18 and 26 can qualify for the program. If you’re a child receiving benefits under the DEA program, you cannot also get dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) from the VA.
If the event that qualified you for DEA happened before August 1, 2023, spouses are eligible for benefits for up to 10 years. Spouses of military members who became permanently disabled or who died in active duty are eligible for benefits for up to 20 years.
If the event occurred after August 1, 2023, there is no time limit for participating in the program.
Military Tuition Assistance (TA)
The U.S. Department of Defense’s TA program provides financial support to active-duty service members.
TA pays full tuition for semester credits costing $250 (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 at 6%.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants
Students whose parent or guardian died during military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11, 2001, may qualify for this grant. The amount is the same as the maximum Pell Grant, which was $7,395 in 2024
You cannot qualify for both the Pell Grant and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. If you’re not eligible for the Pell Grant based on its student aid index requirement but still meet all other eligibility requirements, you can still qualify for this service grant.
You also need to have been less than 24 years of age or enrolled in college at least part-time at the time of your parent or guardian’s death to qualify.
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.
A school-certifying official (SCO) can certify your enrollment, request information, submit inquiries to the VA, and help you find other options for financial aid. These officials often work in schools’ financial aid offices or in offices dedicated to student veteran services.
Your SCO will need a copy of your certificate of eligibility. This certificate indicates how many months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits you have left.
Your SCO will also need copies of your military and college transcripts. Transfer students must complete an additional form to indicate a change of program or school.
Notify your SCO of any changes in your enrollment status right away.
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 2024-2025 school year.
To qualify, you must complete the FAFSA. Applications open October 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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