Your family member’s school is another resource for additional grants and scholarship programs. Oftentimes, an institution will have an alumni scholarship fund or academic awards available for its students. And if you’re still facing loans, help your family member research careers that offer loan forgiveness programs, such as teaching, nursing or special areas of law.
Virginia’s Old Dominion University (ODU) has 1,500 students using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, though it doesn’t track how many are dependents. ODU does have 84 military spouses using MyCAA benefits. The university also offers in-state tuition rates for all military dependents and a host of scholarships. ODO also hosts two of the largest Army and Navy/Marine Corps ROTC units in the nation, totaling nearly 600 students.
Duquesne University in Pittsburgh offers a number of educational opportunities for adults. As of May 2011, about 350 military student and dependents were using a variety of veteran benefit payment options, including the Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill.
“We are proud of our reputation of service to military students and their families,” said Don Accamando, military programs director of the School of Leadership and Professional Advancement, which enrolls the majority of Duquesne’s military students. "We offer five undergraduate majors and eight graduate degree options online. Many courses are also offered on-campus and graduate courses also are offered at two Pennsylvania military locations, at Moon Township and Fort Indiantown Gap. We have a dedicated staff that helps the veteran make that educational transition. The staff will certify the veteran benefits, help with tuition payment options and advise them one-on-one.”
As of May 2011, the College of Business at Colorado State University enrolled 290 students certified for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Three of these students were military spouses and 147 were college-aged children between the ages of 18 and 23. The college also offers MyCAA benefits and scholarships. Military dependents can enjoy in-state tuition if the service member spouse/parent is stationed in Colorado.
“Dependents of military personnel have generally had to sacrifice and have been at a disadvantage for various reasons by the service spouse’s/parent’s commitment to defending our country,” said Glen Vance, the college’s certifying official for veterans education benefits. “It’s good for them to feel advantaged and to receive a real tangible benefit as a result of their loved one’s service.”
Research your family’s education at
www.milspouse.com.