Veterans have served our country and as a token of appreciation for that service, many of them are eligible to return to school using various discounts and reductions. One of the leading advantages of getting a degree after serving is the subsequent ease of returning to the workforce with new skills and knowledge. There is an increased demand for workers with degrees and being able to get that degree can help you to get a good job that you enjoy and that pays well. So, how can veterans attend school for free? Read on.

Find the Program(s) That Fit You

There are several different veterans’ programs that are included under the GI Bill that you can choose from to get educational assistance. This will depend upon your individual circumstances, including what type of school that you are going to, where you will take classes, and how many classes that you will take. Each program offers different benefits, so you want to be sure that you choose a program

Gather Your Paperwork

You will need to send paperwork to get your benefits. All of these papers will help the VA benefits administrator to determine how much in benefits that you are entitled to. The paperwork that you will need includes:

– Your DD214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty for most recent period of active duty.    -Your transcripts for all periods of education after high school.

-Your Kicker Contract (the Department of Defense may be able to provide this information if you cannot locate a copy of the contract).

Find a School

You also need to find a school that offers VA tuition assistance. There are many military friendly online colleges and traditional colleges to choose from. The maximum in-state tuition for a public school in your state is the maximum amount of money that you will be able to receive. The housing allowance will be dependent upon the area in which the school is located as well. When you apply for the GI Bill, you will need to have an idea of what school you are going to attend, as it will be part of the application process to ensure that your money goes to the right place.

Scholarships

Some schools or organizations offer scholarships to veterans as well. This will take you a bit of time to find them, but they can help to decrease the amount that you will have to pay and may even give you money to live on while you are going to school. Check your local school’s VA office and see what they offer.

Veterans are offered many benefits for their service to the country. Taking advantage of these benefits will help to ensure that you will pay as little as possible. Your college or post-secondary education is important and taking the time and putting in the effort to get a degree or certificate, whether you earn this degree online or in the classroom, will make you even more of a valuable asset to the workforce. Take the time to check out the programs and you may find one that will enable you to go to school for free.

Your Success is My Success,

Keith Lipke

I’m a careers and college recruiter, coach, public speaker and leader at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college

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