College education in the US is a risky investment. There Is a lot at stake when you do not make enough for a decent living, and maintaining grades to stay in university becomes extremely demanding. 

For college dropouts, paying off student loans requires them to be in debt for a lifetime as they struggle to make ends meet. That is why more students are looking into scholarship programs to make their college funding easier.

The GI Bill – Education Relief

The Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and Post 9/11 GI Bill help students pay for their school or training programs. Certain qualifications are required to apply for both the MGIB and Post 9/11 GI Bill. 

Most college-bound students choose to apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, while students who expect to enlist in the army after September 11, 2001, qualify to choose between either of the two options.

The GI Bill not only covers funding for a four-year degree program, but students can get relief from paying for a spectrum of academic programs. 

This includes:

• Apprenticeships
• Certificate Programs
• College Degrees
• Correspondence Courses
• Entrance Examinations
• Entrepreneurship Training
• Flight Training
• High-Tech Training
• Licensing and Certification Tests
• On-the-Job Training
• Technical or Vocational Courses

Benefits Of GI Bill

Both options provide students with up to 36 months of benefits, which includes:

• Tuition fees
• Living costs
• Cost for books and supplies
• Money to help you move from a rural area to school

The provided benefits have certain limitations and may not cover all expenses for all students. This depends on the time of active service of the student since September 11, 2001. The amount is to be calculated based on the percentage of maximum benefit. 

This means that a student who has had 90 days of active service in the army will only qualify for 40% of the maximum amount. Meanwhile, a student with three years of active service will be eligible for 100% of the full amount, which covers the entirety of the student’s tuition and other academic expenses. 

Eligibility To Apply For GI Bill

To apply for the educational benefits offered by the GI Bill, the students must qualify for at least one of the requirements listed below:

• Must have served at least 90 days of active service starting on or after 9/11
• Served for at least 30 continuous days starting on or after 9/11
• Must be a dependent child aided by benefits transferred by a qualifying service member
• Be a recipient of a Purple Heart on or after 9/11

The required CGPA to enroll in a particular program is dependent upon the academia’s criteria.

Concluding Thoughts

The GI Bill encourages students to enroll in their desired educational program without worrying about the expenses. The students who qualify for the GI Bill do not need to maintain a specific college score, as it is not mentioned in the eligibility criteria.