Tools and Information
1. Post-911 GI Bill® Overview
·A general overview to help veterans understand the Post 911 GI Bill, in a plain English format.
2. Post-911 GI Bill® Comparison Tool
· A tool designed to be used by veterans to compare the costs and how much they will receive in support from the various GI Bills.
3. Post-911 GI Bill®Benefits Transfer Info
· How veterans would be able to transfer their benefits to their spouses or children.
4. College Recon- School Finder
·An in depth look at schools and programs which are the most veteran focused along with links, checklists and resources for veterans.
5. US News – Top Schools for Veterans
· Yearly rankings for the nation’s top schools and universities based on their veterans programs and assistance.
6. BAH Calculator
·The BAH calculator provides an overview of how much assistance a veteran will receive for BAH depending on their program, location and percentage.
7. Yellow Ribbon Program
· Fact Sheet on the Yellow Ribbon, participating schools match the contribution of the VA to further support veteran students.
8. Yellow Ribbon Participating Schools
·2018-2019 Participating Schools in the Yellow Ribbon program, broken down by state.
9. Student Veteran Association – Advocacy
·A Washington DC based group supporting student veterans and building awareness for their issues.
10. Study Abroad using the GI Bill
· This article explains how to use your GI bill benefits to study abroad.
11. Five Tips for Veterans Returning to School
· Transitioning from the military to the civilian world is hard, especially when it comes to finding a suitable veteran job. It is doubly difficult when that transition also involves going back to school. This is a solid article from Western Governors University that highlight five things that every student veteran should do as they transition to their college life.
Programs
Preparing for School
1. Service 2 School – Admissions Test Preparation Programs
·Platform offering free admission tests preparation courses.
2. Cybersecurity Workforce Certificate Program — University of Louisville
· The University of Louisville has created a coalition of schools called "Pathways Coalition" to create a Cybersecurity Workforce Certificate. The Coalition focuses on enhancing student knowledge in the realm of cybersecurity foundational courses. Students will have the opportunity to earn technology industry badges/certificates (ie..IBM, Microsoft, Google) included in the certificate.
3. Proud to Serve Again – Troops to Teachers Career Path
·For those that want to enter the education career path, Troops to Teacher can offer certification assistance and courses.
4. Eknowledge – SAT/ACT Test Preparation Programs
· Offers test preparation for SAT/ACT for reduced price-$19.99- $39.99 (normal retail price $350 to $999)
5. DANTES – Entrance Exams Repayment Program
· Active duty service members can get reimbursement for entrance exams such as the GMAT or GRE. They are limited to one reimbursement.
6. Military Tutor – Service Members Tutor Assistance
·Platform offering free tutor assistance for eligible active duty service members, and their families.
7. Warrior School Project – Free Mentorship program
· Offers free mentorship specifically to enlisted and veterans that transition into a four year degree.
8. Kable Academy
· A high-tech coding and cybersecurity academy created for people who are ready to accelerate their careers and transform their lives by acquiring job ready tech skills. Kable Academy is filling the tech talent gap in Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio.
9. Posse Foundation – Free Mentorship Program
· A nonprofit offering mentorship programs for transitioning veterans. They help before they get accepted, they offer on campus support (specific schools) and career development.
10. Reaching New Heights
· A California specific veteran assistance organization offering mentorship, educational assistance and career development.
11. How the Government Invests in Veteran Students
· Information on the Federal Interagency Academic Credentialing for Service Members Task Force, and how universities can assist and promote veteran students.
Veteran Friendly Colleges and Universities
Best Colleges and Universities for Veterans
· This listing includes the top 100 colleges and universities for veterans, as compilied by US News and World Report.
Veteran Friendly Trade Schools
Heavy Construction Academy
· Are you looking for a great paying job after the military? If so, operating heavy construction equipment might be the right opportunity for you. The Heavy Construction Academy (HCA) is the nation’s premier institution for the training and certification of Heavy Equipment Operators. With modern equipment, state-of-the-art facilities and an ideal training field, HCA has become one of the most effective and efficient training sites in the world.
Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
·Hobart Institute of Welding Technology (HIWT), is a nonprofit institute accredited by Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges. Hobart Institute is a career focused college offering training for all skill and experience levels in a primarily hands on format. Selected as a military friendly school, HIWT is committed to training the world’s best welders. Visit them at www.welding.org and learn more about their programs.
Scholarships
For Veterans
1. Stanford Ignite
· The Stanford Ignite Post-9/11 Veterans program is tailored to recent veterans who want to bolster their know-how about innovation and entrepreneurship. Unique components to this program include career advising, visits to local Bay Area companies, and sessions with hiring managers. Stanford GSB alumni veterans will be actively engaged as mentors, guest speakers, and panelists evaluating student presentations.
2. Posse Foundation
· The Posse Veterans Program works with post-9/11 U.S. veterans who are leaders in their places of work, communities or families. Candidates must demonstrate strong academic potential and a desire to participate in a four-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree from a top-ranked college or university.
3. Service to School
· The mission at Service to School is to prepare transitioning military veterans for their next chapter of leadership by helping them gain admission to the best college or graduate school possible.
4. Pat Tillman Foundation
· The Tillman Foundation provides scholarships to veterans, active service members and their spouses.
5. AFCEA War Veterans Scholarship
· These scholarships are for service members and veterans that deployed abroad in support of one of the Overseas Contingency Operations (Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operation New Dawn; Operation Inherent Resolve; Operation Freedom's Sentinel). Recipients must be currently enrolled and attending classes in an undergraduate program part time or full time in an eligible STEM major degree program at an accredited four year college or university in the US.
6. AMVETS Scholarship
· AMVETS provides 2 types of scholarships for Veterans, Active Duty and Guard/Reserve members: 1) the AMVETS Scholarship: $4,000 over four years and 2) the Dr. Aurelio M. Caccomo* Family Foundation Memorial Scholarship: $12,000 over four years.
7. VFW Scholarship
· VFW's "Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship" provides service members and veterans with the financial assistance they need to complete their educational goals without incurring excessive student loan debt.
8. Raytheon’s Patriot Scholarships
· Information about further financial assistance offered through Raytheon’s Patriot Scholarship. This is only available to Army veterans.
9. Special Ops.org – Special Operations Scholarship Fund
· Information on the Special Operations Scholarship Fund, which is free tuition for spouses and children of fallen special operation service members.
10. Military and Veteran Scholarships
· 10. This is a pre-filtered list of scholarships available to military/veterans and includes suspense dates, funding amounts and application information.
For Family Members
1. America’s Child
· America's Child provides higher education assistance and mental healthcare assistance for the children of our military heroes: the fallen men and women who proudly sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism and whose strength and courage has kept our nation safe.
2. Freedom Alliance
· Freedom Alliance provides college scholarships to the sons and daughters of service members who have sacrificed life or limb defending our country. The scholarship not only provides much needed financial assistance; it is also a reminder to the student that their parent’s sacrifice will never be forgotten by a grateful nation.
3. Folded Flag Foundation
· The Folded Flag Foundation provides educational scholarships and support grants to the spouses and children of the US military and government personnel who died as a result of hostile action or in an accident related to combat operations. Scholarships and grants are available to qualifying spouses of fallen heroes and their children under the age of 26 to help provide a pathway to success by covering a wide range of living expense and educational needs, from kindergarten to college/trade school.
4. The National Military Family Association – Scholarships for Military Spouses
· NMFA awards can be used for a variety of educational and employment pursuits. Military spouse scholarship can be used towards degrees, certifications, licensure, clinical supervision for mental health licensure, CEUs, business expenses and more!.
5. Fischer House – Scholarships for Military Children
· America's Child provides higher education assistance and mental healthcare assistance for the children of our military heroes: the fallen men and women who proudly sacrificed their lives fighting terrorism and whose strength and courage has kept our nation safe.
6. Scholarships for Service
· Scholarships for Service is a free public resource for students of families with a military service background to search and access thousands of scholarship options. Every scholarship listed here is specifically tailored for active, guard and reserve military, Veterans, retired personnel or their families.
7. Pat Tillman Foundation
· The Tillman Foundation provides scholarships to veterans, active service members and their spouses.
8. Fry Scholarship
· These scholarships are for the children and spouses of service members killed in action. With this program there is up to 36 months of education at the 100% rate.
9. Elizabeth Dole Foundation – Caregiver Scholarships
·The Elizabeth Dole Veteran Caregiver Scholarship helps those that are responsible for and provide care to the nearly 6 million Americans that are Veteran Caregivers.
10. Folds of Honor
· The FOH foundation offers two scholarship programs: 1) Children’s Fund Scholarship that serves K-12th grade students and 2) Higher Education Scholarship that serves those seeking a first bachelor’s degree or a certification at a post-secondary institution. Both types of scholarships are based on unmet need.
11. Hope For The Warriors
· The Spouse/Caregiver Scholarship Program identifies, recognizes, and rewards post-9/11 spouses/caregivers for their strength, fidelity, and resolve despite adversity. Scholarships aid in continued education at a reputable, accredited university, college, or trade school for spouses/caregivers as they assume critical roles in the financial well being of their families.
12. Bonsai Veteran Scholarship
· This scholarship celebrates veteran and dependent students who strive for excellence in their lives and provides a one-time payment of $1,000 for current or future education costs.
Benefits
1. Military and Veteran discounts at Apple
· 10% Discounts on all Apple products for current military and veterans.
2. Military and Veteran discounts at Microsoft
· Discounts on Microsoft products for current military and veterans.
3. Microsoft’s free online academy
· Microsoft Learn offers training and online lessons for their products.
4. Military and Veteran discounts at Dell
· Discounts on Dell products for current military and veterans.
5. Getting Free Mental Health Support
· A free mental health support platform for veterans and military and family members. Especially helpful in the initial transition.
6. Six months free of Amazon Prime
· Amazon Prime offers a free for six months with an “.edu” email address is necessary to register.
7. Spotify
· 50% off of Spotify Membership - An offer from Spotify, which gives the student a 50% on Spotify membership with an “.edu” email address.
8. Rural Community Benefits
· Information page on the additional VA benefits offered for veteran students that live in rural communities. Including a one-time move assistance program so that they can attend college.
Advisors
1. ScholarVets
· An online app for peer to peer connection for veterans while they are in school, connecting them and providing a place that that they can assist others with their academic needs.
2. American Legion – Service Officers
·The American Legion provides access to free assistance, referrals, mentorship and guidance on specific veteran education and career programs from American Legion Service Officers.
3. Bilingual Vets – Language Assistance and Translation Services
·Free bilingual services for veterans all wars. They provide language assistance with filling out paperwork and understanding educational and other benefits.
4. American Corporate Partners (ACP)
· ACP helps military members, veterans and spouses find their next career through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice. They provide insights related to schools and degree programs which might help you achieve your post-military career goals.
5. Veterati
· Veterati allows you to access mentors to help with your transition and integration. Join thousands of service members, veterans, and spouses in setting up free 1-hr career mentorship phone calls with successful professionals. Veterati allows you to choose your own mentor and as many as you would like.
6. eMentor Program
· eMentor is a cutting-edge online mentoring program for military personnel, veterans and military spouses. eMentor connects individuals for dynamic mentoring experiences that powerfully move them forward in their personal and professional lives.
7. Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE)
· Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) is a peer support program that connects incoming student veterans on college campuses with student veterans who are trained as Peer Advisors who can help them navigate college life, address challenges they may face, refer them to appropriate resources on and off-campus, and provide ongoing support. PAVE builds on the camaraderie veterans experience in the military to create a sense of community and connectedness that contributes to academic and personal success.
8. MBA Veterans Network
· The MBA Veterans Network® is a professional networking and advocacy organization dedicated to connecting military veteran students and alumni of the world’s top-ranked universities with employers who value their elite academic credentials, military leadership abilities, and limitless career potential.
9. The Veterans Mentor Network
· The Veterans Mentor Network is a LinkedIN group with over 130K members. The purpose of this group is to is to support, inspire, and inform military personnel, military spouses, and veterans, as they plan, establish, and strive to achieve life and career goals, with the intent and hope that they will continue to lead fulfilling, satisfying, and productive lives.
10. The Commit Foundation
· COMMIT helps America's top tier servicemembers and veterans find personal and professional purpose after military service. They provide high touch transition support so veterans in all communities can access services helping them identify their passions, build strong networks, and leverage their skills in civilian careers.
Other Education Resources
1. National Veterans Foundation
· Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Information page related to the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP).
2. Service 2 School
· Service to School’s mission is to prepare transitioning military veterans for their next chapter of leadership by helping them gain admission to the best college or graduate school possible.
3. Warrior-Scholar Project
· Warrior-Scholar Project empowers servicemembers as they transition from the military to higher education. We host immersive one- or two-week college preparatory programs that prepare transitioning servicemembers for the challenges of college so that they have the confidence and skill-sets to hit the ground running on Day 1 on campus.
4. Student Veterans of America (SVA)
· The mission of SVA is to provide military veterans with the resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation. This is a fantastic organization that we highlight recommend you connect with.
5. The Posse Veterans Program
· The Posse Veterans Program identifies, trains, and supports veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces interested in pursuing bachelor’s degrees at top colleges and universities. Those accepted into the program attend college as part of a team of veterans—a Veterans Posse. Participants receive training prior to matriculating on campus and mentoring once enrolled. In addition, Posse partner colleges provide veterans in the program with supplemental funding to cover the full cost of tuition.
