The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is making it easier for veterans to go back to college and complete a degree.
The program offers a robust package of higher education benefits available to today’s veterans by covering the cost of tuition, books and supplies, and offering a monthly housing allowance.
Following its passage in 2008, student veterans earned more than 260,000 associate and bachelor’s degrees between August 2009 and December 2013, according to the National Veteran Education Success Tracker (NVEST) report, published by the Student Veterans of America, a nonprofit advocacy group for veterans in higher education.
The 2017 NVEST report analyzed nearly 1 million student veterans who received Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, and found that more than 450,000 certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees were completed by veterans who used the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The most popular degrees were in business, management and marketing. Other popular industries included healthcare and liberal arts and sciences.
Veterans seeking careers in business, management or marketing can earn degrees online in areas such as business administration, communication, project management and digital marketing.
Based on current projections, veterans will earn 65,000 associate and bachelor’s degrees every year for the next 10 years, according to the NVEST report.
Post-9/11 GI Bill® Eligibility and Key Highlights
Servicemembers and veterans are eligible if they have at least 90 days of active duty service since Sept. 10, 2001.
Key highlights:
- Veterans discharged before Jan. 1, 2013, have up to 15 years from the date of discharge to use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Under the Forever GI Bill, which became law in 2017, there is no time limit on using those benefits for veterans discharged on or after Jan. 1, 2013.
- Servicemembers can transfer benefits to eligible family members.
- The program helps pay for tuition, housing, books and supplies
- Tuition is paid directly to the school.
- Tuition payments are calculated on a tier system based on length of active duty service.
- A monthly housing allowance and a stipend for the cost of books and supplies are paid to the student.
Read More: What the Post-9/11 GI Bill can Do for You
For additional information, please contact:
New England College Enrollment Services
- 1-855-300-9387
- nec@newenglandcollegeonline.com
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- 1-888-442-4551
- www.benefits.va.gov
*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 www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.