-
MilLife Topics
- Military Basics
- Deployment
- Transitioning & Retiring
- Casualty Assistance
- Moving & PCS
- Housing & Living
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Special Needs
- Health & Wellness
- Safety From Violence & Abuse
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- I am a…
- Benefits & Resources
- Benefits
- Back to Menu
- View Benefits Finder
- View Benefits Finder
- Moving
- Military OneSource Services
- Planning & Prevention
- Discounts & Perks
- Pay & Leave
- Education & Employment
- Recreation
- Family & Child Care
- Relationships
- Health Care & Emotional Well-being
- Retirement
- Assistance Programs
- Housing
- Shopping
- Legal
- Travel
- Popular Benefits
- MilTax
- Space-A Travel
- DOD MWR Libraries
- Resources
- Back to Menu
- View Resources Finder
- View Resources Finder
- MilLife Guides
- Military OneSource Network Websites
- Podcasts
- Government Websites
- Webinars
- External Websites
- Directories & Tools
- Online Learning
- Mobile Apps
- Popular Resources
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
- Plan My Move
- Moving Personal Property
- DPS Login
- Other Resources
- Data, Research & Statistics
- Products
- Back to Menu
- View Products Finder
- View Products Finder
- Popular Product Types
- Books and Booklets
- Fact Sheets
- Brochures and Cards
- Flyers
- Educational Items
- Posters and Banners
- Popular Products
- Skills for Coping With Change Book
- Healthy Tips to Get Your Family Cooking Book
- Emergency Preparedness Guide
- Chill Drills 2 – Releasing Stress
- Confidential Help
24/7/365 Access to Support
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
- In Crisis?
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- Back to Menu
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- PhoneLive ChatInternationalWebsite
Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Back to Menu
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- PhoneLive ChatText
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- Back to Menu
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- PhoneLive ChatWebsite
Call 877-995-5247
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Back to Menu
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- PhoneLive ChatTTY
Call 988
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Back to Menu
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Interactive Tool
In the United States, call 911 if you are in an emergency.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Live Chat
- About Us
- Browse By Program/Office
- Casualty & Mortuary Affairs
- Child & Youth Advocacy
- Child & Youth Programs
- Commissary, Military Exchange & Lodging
- Family Advocacy Program
- Military Community Support Programs
- Military & Family Life Counseling
- Military Family Readiness Programs
- Military Funeral Honors
- Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR)
- Office of Special Needs
- Personnel Accountability & Evacuations Operations
- Spouse Education & Career Opportunities
-
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Additional Ways to Contact Us
ARTICLEEducation Opportunities for Service Members
4 minute read • June 11, 2024You may be aware of the GI Bill® which, since World War II, has put higher education within reach for millions of veterans. But a number of other programs help fund schooling for active-duty service members as well. Service members can tap into education benefits to meet their goals, whether they plan on a military career or will transition into the civilian workforce.
The Tuition Assistance Program
Each Defense Department service branch and the Coast Guard offer active-duty service members financial assistance for voluntary, off-duty education programs. National Guard members and reservists may also be eligible based on their service eligibility and should check with their service for more information.
The Tuition Assistance Program funds up to up to $250 per semester credit hour or $166 per quarter credit hour. The total cannot exceed $4,500 per year. Service members can use the funds to help pay for vocational or technical programs, undergraduate or graduate programs, or independent study.
Classes must be from an accredited two- or four-year institution on or off the installation, or by distance learning. The service branch will pay the school directly. Service members can find out more information from their service branch:
- Army Tuition Assistance Program
- Marine Corps Tuition Assistance Program
- Navy College Program
- Air Force Tuition Assistance Program
- Coast Guard Tuition Assistance Program
Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of programs to help service members pay for their education. Some education benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty, can be used to supplement Tuition Assistance Program funding. Service members can apply through the Top-Up program.
Unlike the Tuition Assistance Program, the VA education benefits can be used after separating from the military.
- Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides aid for college education or on-the-job training for those who served on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001. Benefits include support for college degrees, testing costs, job training, apprenticeships and more. Also, a spouse or child can use these benefits in certain cases.
- Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty, sometimes known as Chapter 30, provides education benefits to service members and veterans with at least two years of active duty.
- Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve provides education and training benefits to members of the reserve.
- Rogers STEM Scholarship is for veterans and Fry scholars who have or will soon exhaust their benefits and are currently enrolled in a STEM degree program or are seeking a teaching certification.
Other ways to help pay for higher education
Service members may be able to save time and money by earning college credit through their military experience. The Joint Services Transcript for Military Personnel describes military schooling and work history in civilian terms, making it easier for colleges to read and recommend credits.
In addition to military benefits, service members may be eligible for grants, loans, tax credits and deductions that can help make education affordable.
Federal grants and loans
- Federal Grants, including the Pell Grant and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, do not have to be repaid.
- Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans are government loans for students enrolled at least half-time. Recipients repay these loans after they graduate, leave school or drop below half-time status.
Tax credits and deductions
- American Opportunity Tax Credit is a yearly credit of up to $2,500 per student for certain expenses paid during the first four years of college.
- Lifetime Learning Credit is a credit of up to $2,000 per year for undergraduate, graduate and professional students, for an unlimited number of years.
Tuition and fees deduction can reduce taxable income by up to $4,000.
Student loan interest deduction is up to $2,500 of the interest paid on certain student loans.
By learning about and taking advantage of all of the opportunities to pay for an education, service members will be in a good position to prepare for — and fund — the education and training necessary for a successful and rewarding career.
Learn about military bases worldwide. Get installation overviews, check-in procedures, housing, neighborhood information, contacts for programs and services, photos and more.
Your session will expire in 5 minutes.Click "Extend" below to stay logged in.
This site is for testing purposes only.If you are part of the general public, navigate to the public site. This site is solely for testing and approving site pages before they are released to the general public.