There are many things to consider when pursuing a higher education — and when you factor in understanding your benefits as a military student, it can feel like a lot to take in. But it doesn’t have to be a blurry area when searching for what educational benefits apply to you! Maximizing the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can give you the best chances of pursuing an effective higher education post-service.
What is the Post-9/11 GI Bill?
For prospective students, the Post-9/11 GI Bill can help you pay for your education. This specific GI Bill provides aid to veterans and service members who have served on active duty since September 10, 2001. The military tuition assistance program works to pay the full cost of any in-state public institution.
But this isn’t to say private schools don’t accept GI Bill educational benefits. The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers the current national maximum and there are plenty of resources that can let students know whether their selected institution is GI Bill approved.
When it comes to supporting active duty and military veterans, PLNU makes sure students have a variety of services and options for financial support. PLNU offers the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit, which pays for 36 months of education, which would equal 8 semesters at PLNU. PLNU is also a Yellow Ribbon school, which helps students who are active duty and military veterans close the gap in tuition costs. Read on to learn more about military benefits and how they apply to you.
The Impact on Military-Connected Students
According to a recent study, since 2020, 54% of eligible students (2.7 million) have taken advantage of their educational benefits. It also states more female veterans utilized their benefits to enroll in higher education yet earned significantly less than their male counterparts after finishing their degree and entering the workforce. Additionally, veterans of color were less likely to earn a degree within six years than veterans overall but more likely to pursue the education benefits they qualify for. Historically underrepresented veterans often received minimal career and college advancements from previous GI Bill recipients.
What does it mean for military college students who want to attend PLNU? While PLNU is a private university, the Post-9/11 GI Bill covers in-state tuition rates at public schools that you’re eligible for. The GI Bill’s benefits still cover tuition at private schools at the current national maximum amount, with the remainder of the tuition costs being left to be paid via financial aid, grants, programs, scholarships, etc.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is dependent on the time served. This means that if you’ve served at least 36 months of active duty, you are eligible for 36 months of GI Bill education benefits if you choose to pursue a higher education. Tuition reimbursement for veterans, the funds provided by military service for college, was $27,120 for the 2023-24 school year and is expected to rise up to $28,937.09. These benefits can apply to the veteran themselves or a veteran's dependent.
Using the GI Bill to Pay for College
Various financial aid programs and scholarships are specifically designed to support military college students on their education journey. PLNU offers the Post-9/11 bill, which renews each year and updates its benefit rates annually. In addition, PLNU participates in the Yellow Ribbon program which works to cover the tuition gap and expenses that exceed the in-state tuition marker. With this grant, tuition and fees can be matched up to $13,000, offering military tuition assistance for students who are at the 100% level for the Post 9-11 GI Bill, making it easier for students to pursue education without having to pay out of pocket. Additionally, an annual book and supplies stipend of $1k is applied to the student's expenses.
Having a plan to pay for your education is vital for any student. Making a plan that utilizes these educational benefits for service members while examining personal goals is crucial. How long do you plan to stay in college? What does your academic roadmap look like? What are your current goals? Checking out PLNU’s Military Programs and Services will best help you find the right option for you.
Available Military Student Services
PLNU offers services for students who are on active duty, a veteran, dependent on a service member, or interested in joining the ROTC. These resources aim to help students take advantage of their benefits so they can make the best use of their educational opportunities:
1. Air Force Aid Society
AFAS offers a variety of scholarships, loans, and grants that are given to service members pursuing higher education, which they believe is the key to both future advancements and successes.
2. Army Emergency Relief
AER specializes in financial assistance programs and zero-interest loans for service members (that not only pertain to education but also unique assistance for everyday living).
3. Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
AFCEA offers not only educational benefits but also accessible networking opportunities for military college students.
4. Coast Guard Mutual Aid
Coast Guard Mutual Aid acts as the official relief society of the U.S. Coast Guard. Their main resource is providing interest-free loans and grants to those who have served within the U.S. Coast Guard. For their education loan, members can borrow up to $6,000 for higher education purposes.
5. Military Officers Association of America
MOAA established its own scholarship fund to provide over $160 million in military tuition assistance to aid military college students nationwide.
Supporting Your Journey
San Diego is home to a large military community. There’s a sense of familiarity and community that comes from being the largest military concentration in the world. Because of this, many impactful veteran stories have emerged from obtaining degrees at PLNU. At PLNU, our goal is to provide you with transparency on the military education benefits that may apply to you. Whether you need a guiding light for the next step after service or looking to explore other options — we have you covered. For more information, check out our Military Aid resources and programs, designed to help you make the best choice fit for your personal, military college student experience.
