If you have served our country through the armed forces or are the dependent of someone who has, you likely have access to many outside resources to help you pay for a college degree.
If you are currently on active duty, a variety of financial resources are available to help fund your education.
- To apply for Tuition Assistance electronically from any computer, go to the appropriate service website. Links to tuition assistance websites for all services, along with an overview of the tuition assistance program, are found at va.gov.
If you have questions, please contact your student account coordinator listed at the top-right corner of your student account statement.
If you are a veteran or service member, you may be eligible for multiple chapters of the GI Bill®. Some GI Bill® chapters can be more advantageous depending on your current situation/goals and future situation/goals. Taking some time to map out how your GI Bill® will fit into your academic goals could end up saving you time and money down the road. Please take a few minutes to follow the Educational Road Map for Success to learn about what you may be eligible to receive. Go to the VA.gov website for the latest information on VA education and training benefits: https://www.va.gov/education/ . Students can contact VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) and talk to a VA representative to navigate the benefits for which you qualify.
Once student has determined with the VA eligibility, email [email protected].
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33): These payments for tuition and fees are received directly to the university from the VA. Students may need to make further arrangements with Student Financial Services if the full cost is not covered by VA.
Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (Chapter 30): These payments for tuition and fees are received by student directly from the VA. Students may need to make further arrangements with Student Financial Services for payment to the university.
Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve GI Bill® (Chapter 1606): These payments for tuition and fees are received by student directly from the VA. Students will need to make further arrangements with Student Financial Services for payment to the university.
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31): The student will need to work with the VA Voc/Rehab counselor who will create a purchase order (PO) for the billing to be done from the university to the VA for the tuition and fees. These payments for tuition and fees are received directly to the university from the VA. Students may need to make further arrangements with Student Financial Services if the full cost is not covered by VA.
If your spouse or parent served in the military, you may be eligible for:
- A transfer of unused educational benefits
- Survivor & dependents assistance
Transfer of benefits: Veterans can often transfer some or all of their unused educational benefits to their dependents. Students can contact VA directly at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) and talk to a VA representative to navigate the transfer of benefits.
Survivors & Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35): This benefit is available to the dependents (spouses and children) of service members who received a permanent and total disability or died in connection of their service. Students receive a monthly check directly to them to help cover educational expenses. Payment plans should be discussed with Student Financial Services to ensure financial obligations are met in a timely manner.
In addition to VA benefits, the U.S. Government offers benefits to active military personnel. You can find additional information regarding these programs at va.gov
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Below is a list of scholarship resources that may aid you in finding additional funding for your education:
- 40 Federal Assistance Grants and Services for Veterans
- Air Force Aid Society
- Air Force Association Spouse Scholarship
- American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship (Michigan Department) Memorial Scholarship
- American Legion of Michigan Scholarships
- American Patriot Scholarship Fund
- Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
- Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
- Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund
- Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation
- Michigan National Guard Benefit Fund
- Military Officers Association of America Scholarship Fund
- Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
- North American Military Scholarship
- Scholarships for Military Children
- Special Operations Warrior Foundation
- VFW Veterans Tribute Scholarship
There are a number of different organizations that provide support to military personnel during and after their service. Check out a selection of these resources below.
U.S Department of Veterans Affairs
Your first point of contact for information about the variety of benefits (healthcare,
education, home financing, and more) is the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs.
Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency
Many services are also available to veterans from Michigan via the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency.
Paying for College
As you think about paying for college, this Paying for College tool from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could come in handy.