September 20, 2015 – The simple answer is Yes, the U.S. Army will pay for your college. It all depends on where you are in your life.
For students in high school, the U.S. Army will pay for all 4 years of college via the Army ROTC Four-Year High School Scholarship. You can apply for the scholarship on the U.S. Army ROTC website. You can visit the U.S. Army recruiting site for answers to frequently asked questions by high school students about the ROTC programs.
For those already in college, the Army ROTC program will pay for your remaining years, via the U.S. Army three-year scholarship or the two-year scholarship programs. You can talk to your campus Military Science department about other ways to join Army ROTC and incentives available, including opportunities to compete for two-, three-, or four-year scholarships. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions by college students about the ROTC programs.
Contact A Recruiter!
For those currently enlisted, then you have several options available to you. You can apply for the Army College Fund, seek External Sources of Funding, obtain Financial Aid, use the GI Bill, select the Loan Repayment Program, apply for Scholarships, use the Top-Up Program, request Tuition Assistance, and apply for VEAP. Soldiers who have served 90 or more days on active duty on or after Sept 11, 2001, are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The bill provides up to 36 months of benefits for education at an institution of higher learning. Benefits of the program include tuition, fees, a monthly living allowance, books and supplies. Benefits can also be transferred to a spouse or dependent children. The Army will even help enlisted personnel pay off college loans accrued prior to their service in the Army via the Loan Repayment Program (LRP). The LRP helps you pay off your student loans faster. You may qualify for up to $65,000 to pay off your student loans.
For those that already served in the Army, The Montgomery GI Bill is designed to help you pay for your college education. Depending on how long you enlisted with the Army and the job you chose, you can get over $60,000 to help pay for college. As a Veteran, you may be eligible for educational benefits through numerous GI Bill programs. Once you’ve decided to use your GI Bill benefits it’s important to choose the proper school and type of training. VA’s decision-making tools will help you get the most from your benefits. You can visit the VA’s website to get more information on paying for college.
PROS
With the tuition assistance program, most of your tuition and fees are covered.
Military on-the-job experience may translate into college credit.
In certain situations, the new GI Bill allows transfer of benefits to spouses and children. As of Oct. 1, 2011, you can use it for non-degree programs and other professional training.
GI Bill benefits are tax-free.
ROTC programs can result in a full, four-year scholarship.
CONS
Your studies may be interrupted by required military relocations or deployments, if you choose the Tuition Assistance Program.
The Post 9/11 Bill requires specific length of service to qualify for transferability of benefits to a spouse or child.
Tuition benefits can expire, so you need to apply for assistance within the specified time frames.
Contact A Recruiter!