For those who have served our country, learning about the numerous education benefits available to military Veterans and their families can be life-changing. Opportunities range from financial assistance to counseling services to helpful videos, all provided to help military members and their families pursue higher education. Click the link of each benefit and resource below for full details.

Financial Benefits

• The Post–9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits for Veterans and service members (and their families) who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. The bill covers both education and training. It also includes the Yellow Ribbon Program, which offers additional compensation benefits for eligible service members, and the Transfer of Entitlement Option, which allows the transfer of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to a spouse or dependent children.
• The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) offers Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for 36 months to the spouses and dependents of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
• The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program makes available 36-45 months of financial assistance for academic programs, apprenticeships, and job training to eligible dependents of Veterans who have died or become disabled due to a service-related condition.

Federal and State Guidance

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs actively uses social media to explain its education benefits and provide updates on new opportunities. You can find instructional videos on the VA YouTube Channel and helpful posts on the VA Benefits X (formerly Twitter) Page and the GI Bill Facebook Page.
• The Federal Student Aid site provides information for military families on grants and scholarships, student loan benefits, and financial aid provided from national organizations.
• Massachusetts students and residents can visit the MA Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EVOS) website to find out education programs for Veterans, representatives at state schools, and funding opportunities.

Additional Programs and Guides

• This list of non-VA resources provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs includes plenty of links to additional organizations and programs that support the educational pursuits of Veterans and their families.
• Veterans Upward Bound is a free program that prepares Veterans for post-secondary education through pre-college courses, academic planning, GI Bill and financing assistance, and professional development programming.
• Nick Charrette, Assistant Director of Veterans Upward Bound, explains the differences between the various resources available to veterans in our Using Veterans’ Education Benefits to Finance a College Education webinar.
• AffordableColleges.com created a financial aid guide for military service members that includes scholarships, FAFSA^® guidance, and education benefits, all specific to Veterans, active duty military students, and associated family members.
• This College Guide for Veterans and Servicemembers includes an outline of expansions to the GI Bill since its inception, tuition assistance programs for specific branches of the military, scholarships for veterans, loan repayment opportunities, and general guidance on succeeding in college.

Many of the resources listed above, as well as additional opportunities, are found on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website. Visit the site for a comprehensive listing of benefits and services provided to military members and their families.