Paying for college is one of the biggest financial challenges that families face. With college costs going up all the time, it takes some planning and knowledge of the resources out there to find ways to pay for a child’s college education. A lot of Veteran families think about using their GI Bill benefits to help pay for their child’s college costs and tuition.
Can the GI Bill be used to pay for a child’s college?
The short answer is yes, in some cases the GI Bill can be used to pay for a dependent child’s college education However, there are specific eligibility requirements, rules, and limitations to be aware of
The Post-9/11 GI Bill and the Fry Scholarship are the two main GI Bill programs that let you give benefits to people who depend on you.
Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides comprehensive education benefits to Veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. These benefits can cover tuition and fees, housing, books and supplies, and other costs.
Importantly, the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows eligible service members to transfer unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children. This transfer must be completed while the service member is still actively serving in the military.
Once transferred, the child can use the benefits when they turn 18 years old or have graduated high school, whichever comes first The child’s use of benefits is not subject to a delimiting date, but benefits expire when they turn 26 years old
The number of months that can be transferred is limited – up to a total of 36 months of benefits. This means benefits must be divided between dependents if there is more than one child. The transferability provision is extremely valuable but does require careful planning.
Fry Scholarship
The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the dependent children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. There is no active-duty service requirement for dependents to use these benefits.
Children are eligible to use the Fry Scholarship benefits at age 18 (or graduation from high school). There is no age limit or delimiting date for dependents to use these benefits.
Key factors to consider
When evaluating whether to use GI Bill benefits for a child’s college, there are several important factors to consider:
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Eligibility – Does the family member meet the requirements to utilize transferred GI Bill benefits? Active service status, delimiting dates, and family relationship status must be reviewed.
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Division of months – Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are limited to a total of 36 months. These months must be divided between spouses and dependents as desired. More dependents means fewer months per child.
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Cost of college – GI Bill benefits have limits on the tuition amount and fees they will cover. Families may need to pay uncovered college costs.
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Housing allowance – Transferred GI Bill benefits include a monthly housing stipend, which can help cover living expenses while attending college.
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Other options – There are other college savings vehicles like 529 plans, financial aid, scholarships, etc. The pros and cons of using GI Bill benefits vs other funding sources should be weighed.
Thoroughly examining these aspects will help families make the most appropriate decision regarding utilizing GI Bill benefits for their child’s college education. Consultation with education counselors is also advisable when mapping out a college funding strategy.
Strategies for maximizing GI Bill benefits
For families who decide to use GI Bill benefits to help pay for college, there are some strategies to make the most of this funding source:
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Start early – Transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits must be completed while still actively serving. Don’t wait until separation or retirement.
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Understand all options – Research GI Bill programs in depth so you understand eligibility rules, transfer requirements, benefits provided, and limitations.
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Pick affordable schools – Opt for in-state public schools or lower-cost private institutes to maximize GI Bill coverage.
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Layer with other savings – Combine GI Bill with other savings vehicles like 529 plans, financial aid, scholarships, etc. to cover any gaps.
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Leverage tuition assistance – Have children complete general education credits at community college using other tuition help first. Then use GI Bill benefits for expensive upper division classes.
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Consider needs of each child – Allocate months strategically between children based on their college plans, costs, and other resources available.
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Stay organized – Keep meticulous records of GI Bill eligibility, transfer status, months used, etc. for easy reference.
Making a comprehensive education plan with GI Bill benefits as one component can make this funding stretch as far as possible towards college goals.
Alternatives if GI Bill transfer is not an option
For Veteran families who do not qualify for or utilize GI Bill transfer, there are other potential avenues to explore for college funding assistance:
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Financial aid/FAFSA – Apply for federal student aid and scholarships using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Aid is based on financial need.
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State assistance – Look into grants, aid programs, and in-state tuition discounts provided by your state of residency.
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Employer programs – Many companies offer tuition assistance or reimbursement programs as an employee benefit.
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Education tax benefits – Utilize credits like the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit to reduce tax liability.
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College savings plans – Open and contribute to 529 accounts, prepaid tuition plans, Coverdell ESAs.
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Private student loans – These loans supplement other funding sources, but should be examined closely to find reasonable terms, rates, and fees. Federal loans are preferable.
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Work/study programs – Schools offer opportunities for students to work part-time to earn funds towards college costs.
With proper planning, research, and combination of resources, Veteran families can find ways to pay for college even without relying solely on GI Bill benefits. Saving early, reducing college costs where possible, and exhausting all available funding streams are key.
Paying for a child’s college education is a major undertaking, but the GI Bill provides a way for some Veteran families to ease that financial burden. With thorough understanding of the eligibility rules and smart allocation of benefits, the GI Bill can unlock college access that may not have been feasible otherwise.
However, there are limitations, so combining GI Bill funds with other savings and resources is key. Taking time to make a comprehensive education plan for each child, evaluating all options available, and thinking strategically about how to maximize every funding source will help families make the GI Bill stretch as far as possible on the journey towards their child’s college degree.
What is Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance?
If you are the child of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training through the DEA program—also called Chapter 35.
If you fall into this category, you can view all the eligibility requirements and benefit information at the VA.gov website.
What is the Montgomery GI Bill?
The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) is a benefit awarded to military members and veterans designed to assist with the financial needs associated with education and training costs. Its named after Representative Gillespie V. “Sonny” Montgomery, who played a pivotal role in its creation. The MGIB is divided into two primary programs: one for active duty and one for reservist service members.
The benefits associated with both programs provide up to 36 months of educational benefits, which you can use for college degree and certificate programs, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses.
Tuition assistance rates may vary based on factors like enrollment status (full-time, part-time), service length, and training type. Its important to note that MGIB benefits differ from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which offers different amounts of aid and covers different types of training.
VA Education Benefits for Children of Veterans and Service Members | Veterans Affairs | theSITREP
Will the GI Bill pay for my child’s college education?
Many military doctors are past the point of needing the GI Bill for themselves. Giving your GI Bill benefit to a child, spouse, or another dependent can significantly help to lower the cost of higher learning. But would the GI Bill by itself be enough to pay for a child’s college education? Your Child Can Use Your GI Bill
Does the GI Bill cover college tuition?
Altogether, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the housing allowance, and other benefits are generous enough to cover college tuition at state schools and many private schools, and it should be enough to provide enough additional income to provide a decent quality of life while attending school. But it’s only enough to cover college tuition for one person.
Should I use my GI Bill benefits for each child?
We used the GI bill to help put three of our children through college. Based on our experience, I would recommend you use some of your GI bill benefits for each child. The reason being that many schools will offer in state tuition to GI bill students for the remainder of their undergrad years if they exhaust their GI bill benefits.
Does GI Bill pay for school while on active duty?
If you use your GI Bill benefits to pay for school while on active duty, you will not receive a monthly housing stipend from the GI Bill in addition to the housing allowance you’re already receiving from the military. Depending on which school you attend, that housing stipend could be worth as much as the tuition coverage and possibly more.