The Successful Soldier Series
Using the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
For some reason, fewer and fewer Veterans are using their VA education benefits, specifically the GI Bill. I wrote an article last year about how great the GI Bill is and how a vet can even use it to pay for a degree at Harvard! This earned scholarship is incredible, but I often mentor transitioning vets and family members who don’t fully understand it. In this article, I will show you the benefits of using it at a State University and for a Technology degree because there are some really neat add-ons that you might not be aware of.
Andrew Barr, an economist at Texas A&M University recently co-authored a working paper that described the Post-9/11 GI Bill as “one of the largest policy shocks in college subsidies in U.S. history.” … the Post-9/11 Bill would pay up to the full cost of in-state tuition and fees for veterans enrolled in public universities, or up to a predetermined amount for those enrolling in private institutions. If these totals aren’t enough to cover the costs of attendance, many schools participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program, in which they split with the Department of Veterans Affairs anywhere from a small portion to all the remaining cost difference for an agreed upon number of veterans.
The following information is based on a Veteran qualifying for the full 36 months of the Post 9/11 GI Bill at 100%. If you are unsure what you qualify for, you can contact the VA or reach out to a VA benefits advisor on any US Military base for assistance. Also, money allowances are based on amounts allotted as of Jan 2022.
We will cover the following Education benefits in this article:
- The Post 9/11 GI Bill Basics for State Colleges
- Forever GI Bill STEM Scholarship
- Accelerated Payments for High-Technology Programs
There are three basic financial parts to the GI Bill: the Annual Book and Supplies Stipend, the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), and the Tuition and Fees.
The Annual Book and Supplies Stipend
The Annual Book and Supplies Stipend will pay up to $1,000 a year and is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by the student. Chances are this probably won’t pay for all your books, but it will put a good dent in the cost, especially if you buy used ones. So, buy used!
Housing Allowance
The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. This rate is variable and dependent on factors such as the location of your school, your rate of pursuit, and whether you enrolled in the program prior to 1/8/18. — VA Webpage
The Monthly Housing Allowance paid to Veterans using the Post 9/11 GI Bill can be significant. It is important to note that the amount is significantly reduced if you attend classes online or are not considered a full-time student.
For Austin, Texas, as of Dec 27, 2022, that monthly amount is $2,088/ month. The average rental cost of a one-room apartment in that area for 2022 is between $1,300 — $1,900, and the estimated cost of living without rent is about $1,000. On campus, prices for apartments range between $770–1,540. If you get a roommate, your MHA can pay for your apartment, and you wouldn’t even have to get a job to cover food and other expenses.
It’s important to remember that you will only get MHA while you are attending college courses, so over the summer, you won’t be covered unless you take summer classes.
Tuition and Fees
Here is where you’re probably most curious. UT at Austin undergraduate tuition is over $11,000 / year for in-state tuition and over $40,000/year for out-of-state tuition. How will the Post 9/11 GI Bill pay all that tuition for you?
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill currently pays the equivalent of in-state tuition for state universities. However, under section 702 of the Choice Act of 2014, the GI Bill will only pay for in-state tuition from state universities. This usually results in the universities giving in-state status for everyone using the GI Bill to pay for their education, but that means you need to verify with the School Certifying Official.
- Make sure you check the GI Bill Comparison Tool to get the name and number of the School Certifying Official in order to discuss your VA benefit options; that person will have the best information for school-specific questions.
- Remember, any money you receive from Tuition and Fees will go straight to the university. Your housing and book money will go to your bank account, and if you have an outstanding balance, you will need to write that check.
Here is a summary of your benefits using the GI Bill Comparison Tool on va.gov.
If you are studying for a degree in STEM, you can apply for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship, which is part of the Forever GI Bill.
Some degrees that are included in this scholarship are undergraduate college degrees in biological or biomedical science; physical science; science technologies or technicians; computer and information science and support services; mathematics or statistics; engineering; engineering technologies or an engineering-related field; a health profession or related program; a medical residency program; an agriculture science program or natural resources science program; or other subjects and fields identified by VA as meeting national needs.
You will be authorized another 9 months of GI Bill benefits, not exceeding $30,000.
Additionally, if you are enrolled in High-Technology programs (defined below and at the link), you can apply for accelerated lump-sum payments if required.
You must be enrolled in one of these categories: Life science or physical science, Engineering (all fields), Mathematics, Engineering and science technology, or Computer specialties.
And you must certify that you intend to look for employment in one of these industries: Biotechnology, Life science technologies, Optoelectronics, Computers and telecommunications, Electronics, Computer-integrated manufacturing, Material design, Aerospace, Weapons, or Nuclear technology.
You can use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to pay for an education at any state university using in-state tuition, and if you’re frugal, you might not even have to get a part-time job to supplement. Also, don’t forget to apply for other scholarships directed at military and Veteran personnel and ask about local scholarships at the school you want to attend and the nearby bases. That’s just extra money in your pocket, and there are a lot of opportunities out there for scholarship money if you do your research.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill can assist in paying for just about any college, including foreign schools (Does anybody want to be a French Chef?), and in most cases, it can cover your entire tuition. Contact the VA or reach out to VA Benefits Advisors, who are located on most U.S. Military bases (including overseas bases), for assistance on using the GI Bill Comparison Tool in order to maximize the use of your benefits.
Research changes to the Forever GI Bill to stay up to date with your GI Bill Benefits.
For more advice on using active-duty military and Veteran benefits, see my other articles on Medium.
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Good Luck!
