U.S. Army

USE THE GI BILL PROGRAM TO HELP PAY FOR COLLEGE

The GI Bill is one of the most powerful benefits available to help pay for college, graduate school, trainings, and certifications. As a Soldier, there are three GI Bill programs available to you: The Post-9/11 GI Bill, The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty, and The Montgomery Bill – Selected Reserve.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill
The most popular GI Bill program, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to full college tuition, as well as money for housing and books. Paid directly to the school, the program covers up to full tuition for public, in-state schools and up to $25,000 per year at private or foreign schools, depending on your length of service.

The Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty
This option uses a combination of your own paycheck contributions and government funding to help pay for education benefits for a maximum of 36 months. Unlike the Post-9/11 GI Bill, benefit payments will be made directly to you.

The Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve
This program helps members of the Army Reserve and Army National Guard pay for education benefits for a maximum of 36 months, in return for a six-year service commitment. These benefits must be used while you are serving and end when you stop serving.

In addition to college and university tuition, all GI Bill programs cover training and certifications including:

• Online schooling and correspondence courses
• Part-time schooling
• Entrepreneurship training for those interested in starting a small business
• Flight school
• Licensing and certification courses
• Vocational training and trade schools
• National testing
• On-the-job training
• Tutorial assistance

Learn all of the details about how the three GI Bills can help you pay for college.

PURSUE YOUR EDUCATION WITH FLEXIBILITY

While you may be familiar with the GI Bill, it’s just the beginning of the education benefits available to you. Whether you want to pursue your education before you serve, while you serve, or you’ve already graduated college with student loan debt, the Army offers a wide range of education benefits throughout your service.

EDUCATION BENEFITS AVAILABLE BEFORE YOU SERVE

If you’d like to pursue your education before joining the Army, you can take advantage of benefits that offer up to full college tuition in exchange for a service commitment after graduation.

EARN YOUR DEGREE THROUGH ROTC

If you are interested in joining the Army as an Officer and you do not already have a college degree, then the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is for you.

ROTC is a scholarship program that allows you to complete all of the requirements of Army Officer training while attending college. In return for a service commitment after you graduate, the Army will pay for your college tuition, books, and other expenses.

ROTC programs are available at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the United States. You can join the ROTC after graduating high school or at any point during your first two years of college.

USING THE ROTC PROGRAM TO PAY FOR COLLEGE

ROTC is a scholarship program in which you take elective courses in addition to the coursework required of your major. Candidates are awarded merit-based scholarships on a four-, three-, and two-year basis. These scholarships pay for tuition, room, and board.

In addition to the scholarship, you can also receive a monthly living stipend of up to $420 per month.

WHAT ROTC SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE?

ROTC scholarships are awarded based on a student’s merit and grades, not financial need. They are offered in the following forms:

• Two-, three-, and four-year scholarship options based on the time remaining to complete your degree
• Full-tuition scholarships
• Options for room and board in place of tuition, if you qualify
• Additional allowances for books and fees

APPLYING FOR THE ROTC PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIPS

When completing your ROTC application, we encourage you to reach out to the ROTC enrollment officer at the school you plan to attend. They have years of experience in the application process and can help improve your chances of being selected for the scholarship. Click here to find colleges with ROTC programs or to learn more about the ROTC program.

U.S. ARMY RESERVE MINUTEMAN SCHOLARSHIP

The Minuteman Scholarship gives high school and college students interested in joining the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) the chance to receive up to full tuition or $10,000 in room and board in return for a service commitment.

This scholarship covers full tuition and fees or $10,000 for room and board in return for a service commitment. Scholarship recipients may also be eligible for a yearly book allowance of up to $1,200 and a monthly $300-$500 living stipend. As part of the Simultaneous Membership Program, Minuteman Scholarship recipients will earn a salary from their Army Reserve unit.

BENEFITS OF THE MINUTEMAN SCHOLARSHIP

The Minuteman Scholarship can provide up to full tuition OR $10,000 in room and board. This scholarship may also be used in conjunction with your existing scholarships. Additional benefits of the Minuteman Scholarship include:

• An annual book allowance of up to $1,200
• A monthly living stipend between $300-$500
• Placement in the Army Reserve after graduation and commissioning

MINUTEMAN SCHOLARSHIP BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• You must be a high school or college student
• You must be willing to agree to a service commitment
• You must meet Army ROTC scholarship eligibility requirements

EDUCATION BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO COLLEGE GRADUATES

If you have already graduated from college and have outstanding student loan debt, there are programs that can help repay or cancel your loans. Additionally, you may qualify for financial scholarships offered to college graduates who wish to pursue a post-graduate degree in areas such as law and medicine.

ACCELERATED PROMOTION FOR EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Accelerated Promotion for Education Program allows college students to enter the Army at a higher rank and pay grade. A student with 24+ college semester hours may join as a Private (E-2) instead of the usual entry rank of Private (E-1). A student with 48+ college semester hours may join as a Private First Class (E-3). A student with a bachelor’s degree may join as a Specialist (E-4). Each of these levels translates to a promotion with a higher pay grade.

LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Under the Loan Repayment Program (LRP), the Army can repay up to $65,000 of your current outstanding student loan debt. This program applies to active duty, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard Soldiers.

LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Soldier must decline enrollment in the Montgomery GI Bill in writing
• Soldier must have Loan Repayment Program guaranteed in writing in the enlistment contract
• Soldier must have no prior military service
• Soldier must have a high school diploma and a qualifying score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
• Soldier must enlist in one of the critical Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) that are required under the Loan Repayment Program. (Your recruiter will have a full list of the specialties.)
• Loans must be made, insured, or guaranteed prior to entry on active duty

FEDERAL PERKINS LOAN CANCELLATION PROGRAM

If you have already been to college and you are currently serving on active duty, you may qualify for a cancellation of your student loans.

The Federal Perkins Loan Cancellation Program gives Soldiers who have served in combat situations the chance to cancel up to 100 percent of their Federal Perkins Loans or National Direct Student Loans. This benefit does not apply to Stafford loans or PLUS loans.

Active-duty Soldiers in hostile fire or imminent danger pay areas for at least one year are eligible for cancellation of their Federal Perkins Loan Program student loans.

POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

If you are interested in pursuing your graduate degree, the Army offers a number of financial resources. Graduate-level scholarships are available in law and medicine.

ARMY MEDICINE SCHOLARSHIPS

The U.S. Army health care team can pay 100 percent of your tuition plus a $20,000 sign-on bonus for a graduate-level healthcare degree for any accredited medical, dental, veterinary, psychology, or optometry program in the United States or Puerto Rico through the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP).

Learn more about Army Medicine graduate benefits

FUNDED LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM (FLEP)

The Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP) authorizes the selection of 25 active-duty Army Officers each year to obtain a legal education at government expense.

Scholarships are awarded on merit to Officers ranking from Lieutenant to Captain.

EDUCATION BENEFITS AVAILABLE WHILE YOU SERVE

If you are currently serving and want to advance your education during off-duty periods, there are benefits that help pay a portion or up to all of your tuition. Additionally, there are programs and funding available to help your spouse advance their education and career.

ARMY EDUCATION CENTERS

Army Education Centers, found at every Army post, provide you and your family the support and resources needed to achieve your education goals. There, you’ll find free guidance on which academic courses can help advance your Army career, which education benefits are right for you, and how to advance your education while you serve.

Army Education Centers also offer standardized tests used for college admission and awarding college credit, such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, and more.

TUITION ASSISTANCE

Under the Tuition Assistance program, the Army may pay a portion or up to all of your college tuition during off-duty periods. Eligible Soldiers will receive help from the Army Continuing Education System (ACES) to secure funds for undergraduate and graduate courses.

This program applies to Soldiers serving active duty, Army Reserve, or Army National Guard regardless of service status.

BENEFITS OF THE ARMY’S TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

• Receive up to $250 per semester hour and up to 16 semester hours per fiscal year
• A chance for the Army to pay up to 100 percent of tuition

CONCURRENT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM (CONAP)

The Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP) helps regular Army and Army Reserve Soldiers transition directly to college after military service. It also provides the opportunity to earn credit toward your college degree while serving in the Army or Army Reserve.

After you complete your time in the Army, you will be able to transition directly to one of more than 1,900 colleges participating in the ConAP program. Your college will award credit hours for courses you took and job training you completed while serving in the Army or Army Reserve – putting you well on your way to earning your degree. ConAP is intended for new enlistees in the regular Army and the Army Reserve. National Guard Soldiers are not eligible for this program.

While enrolled in the ConAP program, Soldiers can also utilize other education benefits, including the GI Bill, the Army Loan Repayment Program, and Tuition Assistance.

CONCURRENT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

In order to be eligible for the Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP), Soldiers must:

• Enlist in the Army or Army Reserve
• Join the Future Soldier Program

COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP)

Through independent study, distance learning, and credit-by-examination programs, you can earn college credit without stepping into a classroom.

Exams administered by the College Board allow you to receive credit for job experience or completing military training. This allows you to test out of many college prerequisites and earn college credit for your transcripts.

EARN YOUR COLLEGE DEGREE THROUGH THE GREEN TO GOLD PROGRAM

The Green to Gold Program identifies enlisted Soldiers with leadership potential and helps them pay for college and earn the degree needed to become an Officer. Through ROTC, candidates will attend college or graduate school, complete Army Officer Commissioning requirements, and compete for Officer assignments.

Find out more about the Green to Gold program.

SPOUSE EDUCATION AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (SECO)

Through the Spouse Education & Career Opportunities (SECO) program, eligible military spouses can receive funding support for education, licensing and credentials, career counseling services, and employment readiness tools and resources to assist them no matter where they find themselves in their career.

This program is available to spouses of all active-duty service members, including Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers called to active-duty status.

BENEFITS OF THE SPOUSE EDUCATION & CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (SECO) PROGRAM

• Use of the Military OneSource SECO Career Center, where certified career counselors provide comprehensive counseling services at no cost
• The My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship, which is a workforce development program that provides up to a $4,000 scholarship for education, training, and licensing to eligible military spouses
• The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP), which is an employment and career partnership connecting military spouses with more than 270 corporate partner employers who have pledged to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses in portable careers

LEARN MORE ABOUT EDUCATION BENEFITS

If you’d like more information on these education benefits, or if you have any specific questions about eligibility and qualifications, reach out to a recruiter near you.