Military service offers several education benefits, but trying to use them can be confusing. As a spouse of an active member of the United States military, you are entitled to some helpful government benefits. Contact your local VA Regional Office for eligibility and assistance. Learn more below about the education benefits available to you.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
Post 9/11 GI Bill
Post 9/11 GI Bill Transferability
MYCAA
State Provided Education Benefits
Branch Programs
Private Scholarships, Grants and other programs
GoodCall Hispanic Scholarship Resources
Resources/Useful Websites
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
How Much Does VA Pay?
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of your service, your category, and if DOD put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called "kickers"). You usually have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits, but the time limit can be less, in some cases, and longer under certain circumstances.
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.
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Post-9/11 Montgomery GI Bill Information
This new education benefit program is available to individuals who served in active duty on or after September 11, 2001 and is payable for education pursued after August 1, 2009. If you qualify for assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill on or after August 1, 2009 and you also qualify for assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may make an irrevocable decision to receive benefits solely under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this aid, you must qualify as one of the following:
What is covered?
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Post - 9/11 GI Bill: Transferability
While the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers a very generous post-service education benefit, a special provision of the program allows career service members the opportunity to share their education benefits with immediate family members. Allowing career service members to transfer their GI Bill benefits to family members has long been one of the most requested items among military family readiness and advocacy groups. An eligible Service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, or the entire 36 months if the member has used none.
Family member use of transferred educational benefits is subject to the following:
Spouse:
Child:
Eligibility:
Any member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and
or
Is (or becomes) retirement eligible during the period from August 1, 2009, through August 1, 2013. A service member is considered to be retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active duty or 20 qualifying years of reserve service.
Eligible Family Members:
An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer the individual's entitlement to the individual's spouse, one or more of the individual's children or any combination of spouse and child.
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Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)
The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program Financial Assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields.
The new guidelines for the revised MyCAA program include:
MyCAA Eligibility:
Spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2, as well as the spouses of activated Guard and Reserve members within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders.
Note: The MyCAA program does not include Coast Guard spouses.
Spouse and Dependents Education Assistance Program
The Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, you must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:
Eligibility Update: Eligibility requirements have been expanded to cover a spouse or child of a person who:
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State Provided Education Benefits
Educational benefits for families, particularly the children of deceased, MIA, POW, and disabled veterans, may be available in some states.To obtain complete eligibility requirements and assistance in applying for these valuable benefits, contact your local County Veterans Service Office.
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Branch Programs
Army
The Army offers the following Education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP): Is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty Army Soldiers and widows(ers) of Army Soldiers that died while on active duty, and are residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. The purpose of the program is to assist spouses/widows(ers) in gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities. Individuals who receive free tuition as a result of their employment will not receive tuition assistance from AER. However, they may apply for assistance for fees, supplies or books (no duplicates) for classes in which they are enrolled. SEAP is limited to $2500 maximum per academic year.
Spouse Education Assistance Program (EAP): If you are assigned in Europe, Korea, Japan or Okinawa, Army Emergency Relief offers your spouse a grant to assist with the costs associated with pursuing his or her education, up to a maximum of $350 per term.
For more details on these programs, visit the official AER website.
Air Force
The Air Force offers the following Education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
Navy
The Navy offers the following education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard offers the following education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Additional Education Assistance: The Coast Guard also offers dependent spouses and Federal Coast Guard employees the opportunity to take CLEP, DANTES, and other tests at no cost. Visit the official Coast Guard website for more information.
Marine Corps
The Marines offers the following education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
* Enlisted Commissioning Program
* Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program
* Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program
The program is also open to Midshipmen who have been released from active duty for immediate assignment to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program. Application is made through the Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit, or by contacting NMCRS Headquarters.Visit the official Admiral Mike Boorda Scholarship Program website for more information.
Amounts granted:
* Undergraduate level - maximum of $300 @ semester and $1500 @ year.
* Graduate level - maximum of $350 @ semester and $1750 @ year.
To request an application form and information about deadlines, contact one of the following NMCRS offices: Guam, Guantanamo Bay, London, Naples, Okinawa, Roosevelt Roads, Rota, Sigonella, or Yokosuka.Visit the official Spouse Tuition Aid Program website for more information.
* 1000 grants are awarded each academic year at $2000 each.
* Applicants are also evaluated for an interest-free student loan of up to $3000.
* The loan repayment begins within 30 days of award and must be repaid by allotment within 24 months.
* Application deadline is 1 March of each year.
* Late applications will not be considered for the scholarship; however they will be evaluated for a loan. Visit the official VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loans website for more details.
Back to Top
Private Scholarships ,Grants and Other Programs
While looking for money for school many spouses and their families overlook the over $300 million of military - and veteran - related scholarships and grants. Survivor and Dependent Education Assistance programs offer great benefits, but they may not cover everything. There are hundreds of scholarships and grants specifically designed to help cover education related costs, so you don't have to. Many scholarships go unclaimed because students don't know where to look. Here are just some of the many scholarships available to you:
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women offers scholarships for women. These scholarships are awarded to eligible women who meet the specific requirements of AAUW Branch and State offices.
American Patriot Freedom Scholarship
Since launching the American Patriot Freedom Scholarship Program in 2006, the program, administered by Homefront America, Inc. has awarded over $95,000 in scholarships. Each year, military dependent children from around the world submit their essays hoping to receive one of 25 - $1,000 scholarships.
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
Links to various grants and scholarship opportunities. See website for details and application dates.
The Folds of Honor Foundation offers college scholarships for spouses and children of service members disabled in action or killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan. Applications may be submitted in advance for children who will not need the scholarship for several years. Scholarship amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers several scholarship programs for students of Hispanic heritage.
HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS(tm), offers multiple scholarships to U.S. military spouses of wounded service members and Fallen Warriors.
Military Officers Association of America Scholarship
The Military Officers Association of America has multiple scholarship opportunities. Visit their website for details and deadlines.
National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH)
The National Institute of Whole Health is offering a $1,250 scholarship to all qualified MyCAA participants, towards their enrollment in an NIWH Whole Health curriculum.
National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association Scholarship Fund awards scholarships for Military spouses. Applications, when available, are posted on their website.
The Navy Wives Clubs of America offers a scholarship program for spouses of enlisted Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members.
The Pat Tillman Foundation offers Tillman Military Scholarships for service members and their dependents.
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Useful Websites:
(Note that Bryant & Stratton College Online is not affiliated with the sites below and thus is not responsible for the veracity or quality of their content.)
The Post 9/11 GI Bill
GovBenefits.gov
GovBenefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over a thousand benefit and assistance programs. They include education grants and loans, health, housing, and other types of assistance. To obtain a tailored list of benefit programs for which you may be eligible, complete the free and confidential questionnaire on the GovBenefits.gov homepage. Or search for all programs by state, category, state, or federal agency by going to "Benefits".
Federal Student Aid Scholarship Search
https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/v3browse.asp
This page of the Federal Student Aid website offers a scholarship search. The Student Aid site also offers a Financial Aid and Scholarship Wizard.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans and its value to our society.
Military Community Scholarship and Financial Aid Explorer
This site helps military members and their families research scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
Military.com
This commercial site has information on scholarship opportunities for military family member. Visit the Military.com's Scholarship Finder and get started on your way to finding free money for school.
Students.gov
This U.S. Department of Education site links students with information on financial aid, tuition assistance, and scholarships. There is a section for military members and their families. Start your search by going to "Pay for your education.
Back to Top
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)
Post 9/11 GI Bill
Post 9/11 GI Bill Transferability
MYCAA
State Provided Education Benefits
Branch Programs
Private Scholarships, Grants and other programs
GoodCall Hispanic Scholarship Resources
Resources/Useful Websites
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD)
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
How Much Does VA Pay?
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of your service, your category, and if DOD put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called "kickers"). You usually have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits, but the time limit can be less, in some cases, and longer under certain circumstances.
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.
Back to Top
Post-9/11 Montgomery GI Bill Information
This new education benefit program is available to individuals who served in active duty on or after September 11, 2001 and is payable for education pursued after August 1, 2009. If you qualify for assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill on or after August 1, 2009 and you also qualify for assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you may make an irrevocable decision to receive benefits solely under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this aid, you must qualify as one of the following:
What is covered?
Back to Top
Post - 9/11 GI Bill: Transferability
While the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers a very generous post-service education benefit, a special provision of the program allows career service members the opportunity to share their education benefits with immediate family members. Allowing career service members to transfer their GI Bill benefits to family members has long been one of the most requested items among military family readiness and advocacy groups. An eligible Service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, or the entire 36 months if the member has used none.
Family member use of transferred educational benefits is subject to the following:
Spouse:
Child:
Eligibility:
Any member of the Armed Forces (active duty or Selected Reserve, officer or enlisted) on or after August 1, 2009, who is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and
or
Is (or becomes) retirement eligible during the period from August 1, 2009, through August 1, 2013. A service member is considered to be retirement eligible if he or she has completed 20 years of active duty or 20 qualifying years of reserve service.
Eligible Family Members:
An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to educational assistance under this section may transfer the individual's entitlement to the individual's spouse, one or more of the individual's children or any combination of spouse and child.
Back to Top
Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)
The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program Financial Assistance for military spouses who are pursuing degree programs, licenses or credentials leading to employment in portable career fields.
The new guidelines for the revised MyCAA program include:
MyCAA Eligibility:
Spouses of active duty service members in pay grades E1-E5, W1-W2, and O1-O2, as well as the spouses of activated Guard and Reserve members within those ranks. Spouses of Guard and Reserve members must be able to start and complete their courses while their sponsor is on Title 10 orders.
Note: The MyCAA program does not include Coast Guard spouses.
Spouse and Dependents Education Assistance Program
The Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, you must be the son, daughter, or spouse of:
Eligibility Update: Eligibility requirements have been expanded to cover a spouse or child of a person who:
Back to Top
State Provided Education Benefits
Educational benefits for families, particularly the children of deceased, MIA, POW, and disabled veterans, may be available in some states.To obtain complete eligibility requirements and assistance in applying for these valuable benefits, contact your local County Veterans Service Office.
Back to Top
Branch Programs
Army
The Army offers the following Education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Stateside Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP): Is a need-based education assistance program designed to provide spouses of active duty Army Soldiers and widows(ers) of Army Soldiers that died while on active duty, and are residing in the United States, with financial assistance in pursuing educational goals. The purpose of the program is to assist spouses/widows(ers) in gaining the education required to allow them to qualify for increased occupational opportunities. Individuals who receive free tuition as a result of their employment will not receive tuition assistance from AER. However, they may apply for assistance for fees, supplies or books (no duplicates) for classes in which they are enrolled. SEAP is limited to $2500 maximum per academic year.
Spouse Education Assistance Program (EAP): If you are assigned in Europe, Korea, Japan or Okinawa, Army Emergency Relief offers your spouse a grant to assist with the costs associated with pursuing his or her education, up to a maximum of $350 per term.
For more details on these programs, visit the official AER website.
Air Force
The Air Force offers the following Education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Air Force Aid Society (AFAS)
Navy
The Navy offers the following education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard offers the following education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
Additional Education Assistance: The Coast Guard also offers dependent spouses and Federal Coast Guard employees the opportunity to take CLEP, DANTES, and other tests at no cost. Visit the official Coast Guard website for more information.
Marine Corps
The Marines offers the following education Programs for its Spouse and Family members:
* Enlisted Commissioning Program
* Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program
* Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program
The program is also open to Midshipmen who have been released from active duty for immediate assignment to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Program. Application is made through the Commanding Officer of the NROTC Unit, or by contacting NMCRS Headquarters.Visit the official Admiral Mike Boorda Scholarship Program website for more information.
Amounts granted:
* Undergraduate level - maximum of $300 @ semester and $1500 @ year.
* Graduate level - maximum of $350 @ semester and $1750 @ year.
To request an application form and information about deadlines, contact one of the following NMCRS offices: Guam, Guantanamo Bay, London, Naples, Okinawa, Roosevelt Roads, Rota, Sigonella, or Yokosuka.Visit the official Spouse Tuition Aid Program website for more information.
* 1000 grants are awarded each academic year at $2000 each.
* Applicants are also evaluated for an interest-free student loan of up to $3000.
* The loan repayment begins within 30 days of award and must be repaid by allotment within 24 months.
* Application deadline is 1 March of each year.
* Late applications will not be considered for the scholarship; however they will be evaluated for a loan. Visit the official VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and Loans website for more details.
Back to Top
Private Scholarships ,Grants and Other Programs
While looking for money for school many spouses and their families overlook the over $300 million of military - and veteran - related scholarships and grants. Survivor and Dependent Education Assistance programs offer great benefits, but they may not cover everything. There are hundreds of scholarships and grants specifically designed to help cover education related costs, so you don't have to. Many scholarships go unclaimed because students don't know where to look. Here are just some of the many scholarships available to you:
American Association of University Women
The American Association of University Women offers scholarships for women. These scholarships are awarded to eligible women who meet the specific requirements of AAUW Branch and State offices.
American Patriot Freedom Scholarship
Since launching the American Patriot Freedom Scholarship Program in 2006, the program, administered by Homefront America, Inc. has awarded over $95,000 in scholarships. Each year, military dependent children from around the world submit their essays hoping to receive one of 25 - $1,000 scholarships.
Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association
Links to various grants and scholarship opportunities. See website for details and application dates.
The Folds of Honor Foundation offers college scholarships for spouses and children of service members disabled in action or killed in action in Iraq or Afghanistan. Applications may be submitted in advance for children who will not need the scholarship for several years. Scholarship amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers several scholarship programs for students of Hispanic heritage.
HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS(tm), offers multiple scholarships to U.S. military spouses of wounded service members and Fallen Warriors.
Military Officers Association of America Scholarship
The Military Officers Association of America has multiple scholarship opportunities. Visit their website for details and deadlines.
National Institute of Whole Health (NIWH)
The National Institute of Whole Health is offering a $1,250 scholarship to all qualified MyCAA participants, towards their enrollment in an NIWH Whole Health curriculum.
National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association Scholarship Fund awards scholarships for Military spouses. Applications, when available, are posted on their website.
The Navy Wives Clubs of America offers a scholarship program for spouses of enlisted Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members.
The Pat Tillman Foundation offers Tillman Military Scholarships for service members and their dependents.
Back to Top
Useful Websites:
(Note that Bryant & Stratton College Online is not affiliated with the sites below and thus is not responsible for the veracity or quality of their content.)
The Post 9/11 GI Bill
GovBenefits.gov
GovBenefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on over a thousand benefit and assistance programs. They include education grants and loans, health, housing, and other types of assistance. To obtain a tailored list of benefit programs for which you may be eligible, complete the free and confidential questionnaire on the GovBenefits.gov homepage. Or search for all programs by state, category, state, or federal agency by going to "Benefits".
Federal Student Aid Scholarship Search
https://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/v3browse.asp
This page of the Federal Student Aid website offers a scholarship search. The Student Aid site also offers a Financial Aid and Scholarship Wizard.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, ensures that all eligible individuals can benefit from federally funded or federally guaranteed financial assistance for education beyond high school. We consistently champion the promise of postsecondary education to all Americans and its value to our society.
Military Community Scholarship and Financial Aid Explorer
This site helps military members and their families research scholarship and financial aid opportunities.
Military.com
This commercial site has information on scholarship opportunities for military family member. Visit the Military.com's Scholarship Finder and get started on your way to finding free money for school.
Students.gov
This U.S. Department of Education site links students with information on financial aid, tuition assistance, and scholarships. There is a section for military members and their families. Start your search by going to "Pay for your education.
Back to Top