| Veterans benefits from new and existing GI bills are | | | | to prevent another Great Depression. By 1956, when |
| such that those eligible might consider easing what | | | | the program is said to have ended, nearly 8 million |
| National Public Radio has called the "combat to | | | | veterans reportedly participated in educational |
| campus" transition by enrolling in online college | | | | programs. Where today's Montgomery bill tuition |
| offerings. | | | | assistance only rates are fixed, Post-9/11 bill tuition, living |
| Many who provided military service on or after the | | | | and book financing depends in part upon length of |
| Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have the option of utilizing | | | | service and area of residence, the Department of |
| education benefits from a Montgomery GI Bill. This bill | | | | Veterans Affairs reports. Some veterans eligible for |
| provides for average college and university tuition | | | | Post-9/11 benefits can pass unused education benefits |
| costs or a more recent Post-9/11 GI Bill that provides | | | | onto their spouses and children, according to the |
| living and book expenses, as well as tuition. The | | | | Department of Veterans Affairs. |
| amount of tuition is up to the amount of the most | | | | Colleges and universities, in much the same way they |
| expensive public colleges and universities in states | | | | did in the 1940s, are working to make themselves |
| where the schools are located, according to the | | | | more veteran-friendly. These days they are doing it in |
| Department of Veteran's Affairs. | | | | the way of new and expanded student groups, |
| Nearly 300,000 American veterans have this year | | | | employee education efforts and guidance and financial |
| applied for tuition benefits, according to an April report | | | | advice programs, student groups and employee |
| in the Austin American-Statesman. Institutions of higher | | | | education, Palm Beach Post and American-Statesmen |
| education in Texas, Massachusetts and Georgia have | | | | reports suggest. Online college enrollment and the |
| cited veteran enrollment increases since the Post-9/11 | | | | number and variety of degree programs, including |
| GI Bill took effect in 2009, reports show. But the | | | | those that offer vocational training, have grown |
| transition from combat to campus can be difficult, a | | | | substantially. Veterans enrolling in online programs can |
| National Public Radio report suggested. Veteran | | | | select from those offered by virtual institutions or by |
| students can suffer from anxiety, depression, | | | | colleges and universities that also have physical |
| post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol abuse, | | | | campuses. They can take classes entirely online or |
| reporter Karen Brown of NPR member station WFCR | | | | combine online and on campus time. |
| said. Veterans might also find it difficult to concentrate, | | | | Scholarships, fellowships and grants might help offset |
| relax, forge connections with non-veterans and feel | | | | any differences between online college tuition costs |
| part of a college community, the Austin | | | | and GI Bill reimbursements. Some institutions contribute |
| American-Statesman article noted. | | | | tuition money that the Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Online college programs allow students to participate in | | | | then matches. |
| studies from their own space, and deployed service | | | | To be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, veterans |
| members in remote locations have for some time | | | | must have completed at least 90 days of service on |
| been among the students. Online college students | | | | or after Sept. 11, 2001 or have been discharged with a |
| might interact with others via message boards and | | | | service-connected disability after 30 days, according to |
| enhance their technology skills. Some online degree | | | | the Department of Veterans Affairs. For more |
| programs provide academic credit for military efforts. | | | | information or to determine eligibility, veterans can visit |
| The GI Bill dates back to 1944, when President Franklin | | | | the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill |
| Delano Roosevelt signed off on what's formally known | | | | website. Those who would like to secure their |
| as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act. The program | | | | education benefits can text GIBill to 99702, the |
| reportedly allowed financing for home loans and small | | | | Department of Veterans Affairs reported. |
| businesses, as well as tuition. It was reportedly intended | | | | |