How to Finance for College After Serving in the Military

After serving their country many veterans don’t have to find themselves struggling to pay for college because there are resources that can help finance a college degree after military service.

With just a little research on financing an advanced education, veterans can take advantage of the variety of benefits to get ahead in civilian life. There are many options available to those who want to go back to school after their service in the military, and here are a few to consider.

Military Tuition Assistance Programs

With the increasing cost of college, many students find it difficult to pay for a good education. Tuition assistance programs help you take the burden off your shoulders and help you earn your degree while working in the military. 

The tuition assistance programs vary depending on which branch of the military you enlist in, the structure of the program, and the time period.

The GI Bill

Many people are unaware of the original GI Bill or how it benefits those who served our country, but it's possible to get plenty of relevant information on it. The GI Bill, which was started after the Second World War, is a federal program that provides educational and housing assistance for veterans. 

There is also the Post 9/11 GI Bill. It’s designed for those service members who were discharged after September 11th, 2001.

Online Universities

There is also the option of enrolling in an online university for military service members. Many colleges and universities offer a wide range of award-winning academic programs and services to veterans, active-duty military service members. Military spouses, and military family members

Loan Repayment Assistance for Military Students

Military service members are often required to repay all of the loans they took out when they enrolled in college. However, these students may be unsure of how to proceed with repayment after their service is done. 

This assistance program is for those military servicemen who want to continue their education, or already have a degree and want to find a new career path, who can use this program to find an affordable loan repayment plan.

Loan Forgiveness for Military Students

Military student loan forgiveness programs are designed to help military students get forgiveness for loans that they applied for to get through college.

Those who have served or are serving in the military have many benefits, programs, and resources available to help them easily transition from military life to civilian life and get the education they need to secure well-paying jobs in a wide range of industries or professions.

How to Make College More Affordable and Practical for Your Lifestyle

College seems like a necessity if you want to get a good job. For some, though, the process of going to college just seems impractical. If you're looking for a better way to get through school, you may want to consider one of the methods below.

Do School Part-Time with Work

One of the most realistic ways to make college affordable is to cut down on your number of credit hours so that you can hold a job at the same time. Though it's hard to find a part-time job that you can use to support yourself during a full course load, it's easier to find one that works with a reduced schedule. 

Though it will take longer to graduate, choosing one of these programs does usually help many to make college a bit more affordable.

Attend online

Attending college online might be the best bet for those who cannot travel to school, for those who need to take classes outside of normal class hours, or who have commitments that would make it harder to go to a typical campus. 



There are many different online schools, including online colleges for military veterans. With a little research, you can find a program that's perfect for you.

Get Scholarships through High-Demand Majors

If you're looking for a way to bring the cost of college down, you might want to look at the majors that are in the highest demand. Many businesses offer scholarships for students who choose certain majors, with some even offering to pay all or a portion of a student's tuition if they work for the company. 

Engineers, doctors, teachers, and others can get scholarships simply because those jobs are in such high demand and companies (and schools) want to lock down potential employees as soon as possible.

Look for Accelerated Graduation Programs

For some, the problem with going to college isn't the money but rather the time spent at school. Four years can be a very long time, especially if you are a non-traditional student. If you're looking for a way to get through college more quickly, you may want to look for accelerated programs. 

These programs allow students to get through an advanced degree in a shorter period of time, shaving as much as a year and a half off of the total time spent in school by providing a higher load of classes.

There are solutions out there for anyone who would like to go to college. Whether you need financial help or just a way to attend classes, there are solutions that will work for you. If you're able to use one of the methods above, you may be able to make your dreams of higher education come true.

Your College Student: How to Help your Kids Financially through College

Going to college is a huge financial and time commitment. There are more students than ever before who are graduating with high levels of student loan debt. As the cost of college continues to rise, many students do not know how to get through college financially. 

The good news is that there are several steps that students can take in order to be prepared for college financially. Here are several ways that anyone can help their kids financially through college. 

Have a Plan

Understanding the financial implications of going to college is the first step in making a financial plan. Many students to attend a school because they like the football team or the look of the campus. 

Although these are not necessarily bad things, there are not criteria that should be used in selecting a college. Over the long term, it is much better to select a college for a strong alumni base or academic reputation. 

Students should have several colleges that they are interested in attending. By applying themselves in high school, students can earn a substantial amount of scholarship money to help pay for school. However, not all students can get scholarship money. 

Students should use their financial burden as one of the biggest factors in choosing a school. You may even consider as a parent in helping them out financially even if it means getting personal loans. Websites like sharemoney.com make it easy and convenient to send your college student money to help with their expenses. 

The average student today graduates with over $30,000 in student loan debt, which is the highest level in history.

Think Long Term

Students must learn to think long term when it comes to their finances. It may be easier to make a purchase on a credit card today, but eventually that debt will have to be paid with interest. 

In addition, it may seem easier to just pay for school with student loans. However, by working through school a student can have a much better chance of graduating in a solid financial position. 

By learning to think several years down the road, a student can drastically increase the chances of having financial success during and after school.

Final Thoughts

The cost of college continues to increase in many areas of the country. Students today are graduating with record levels of student loan debt, and this situation is made worse by the poor job market for college graduates. 

Over the long term, teaching your kids about their finances during school can really help them later in life. Instead of just taking out a bunch of student loans, students should try to earn scholarships and work while they are in school.