Most people face several major expenses in their lifetimes, such as saving for retirement, buying a home, and paying for their children’s college tuition—if they decide to do so. I would like to help my children with their college expenses to the extent I am able.
Thankfully, we have a big head start on helping pay for their college education because I was able to transfer the Post-9/11 GI Bill to my daughters. College tuition is already very expensive and the cost will likely continue to rise in the coming years. So transferring this benefit will be a huge cost savings for us. What follows is my plan to help pay for my children’s college education.
I’m excited to jump in. But before we get started I need to share a small disclaimer. Paying for college can be incredibly complex as there is an almost infinite number of variables. So this is my plan in its current state. My children are more than 10 years out, so there are many unknown variables at play (when they will attend, which school, how much it will cost, available scholarships, etc.).
What follows is some basic information you can use to tailor to your needs. It will be a good idea to sit down and examine your situation in more depth before your children reach college age. And it may be a good idea to sit down with a counselor to learn more about applying for student aid, scholarships, grants, and other methods of paying for college.
Will The GI Bill Pay For My Child’s College?
The GI Bill is one of the most valuable benefits available to military members and veterans. For those with dependents, the ability to transfer GI Bill benefits to a spouse or children can provide a huge head start on paying for college. But how exactly does the GI Bill work for dependents? And will it fully pay for your child’s college education? Let’s take a closer look.
GI Bill Overview
The current GI Bill program is officially known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans, which can be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship training, and more.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides:
- Full tuition coverage for in-state public schools
- A monthly housing allowance
- An annual book and supply stipend of $1,000 per year
- The ability to transfer benefits to dependents
For 2023, the housing allowance for full-time students is equal to the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. The allowance varies by location and is paid directly to the student.
The combination of tuition coverage, housing allowance, and stipend provides a very generous education benefit. However, it is limited to 36 total months which must be allocated between the veteran and any dependents.
Transferring the GI Bill to Dependents
The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to a spouse or dependent children. This is done while the service member is still actively serving. They must commit to an additional 4 years of service to make the transfer.
A few key points on transferring the GI Bill:
- Dependents must be enrolled in DEERS to be eligible
- The service member decides how to allocate the 36 months between dependents
- Benefits cannot be used until the service member has completed 10 years of service
- Each dependent can receive benefits up to their 26th birthday
Once the transfer is complete, the dependent has access to the same GI Bill benefits as the veteran. They can use the benefits even after the veteran separates from service.
Will The GI Bill Fully Pay For College?
Whether the GI Bill will fully pay for your child’s college depends on several factors:
- The number of months allocated to each child
- The school they attend
- Additional college costs
Let’s look at some examples:
One Child
If you have one child and transfer the full 36 months of GI Bill benefits, it will likely cover all tuition and fees at an in-state public school. Your child will also receive the housing allowance and stipend each semester. For one child attending an in-state public school, the GI Bill would essentially pay the full cost.
Two Children
With two dependents, the GI Bill benefits can be split evenly at 18 months each. This would cover about 75% of a 4-year public college degree. Your children would need additional funds to cover the remaining 25% of tuition and fees.
Three or More Children
When dividing 36 months between three or more dependents, the GI Bill will only cover a portion of college costs. Your children may need to attend community college first, get scholarships, or use other savings and loans to fully pay for a 4-year degree.
Out-Of-State or Private Schools
Attending an out-of-state public school or private college will result in much higher tuition and fees. Even with a full 36 months, the GI Bill likely won’t cover 100% of costs at pricier schools. Your child may need to apply for financial aid or scholarships to cover the difference.
Additional Costs
The GI Bill focuses mainly on tuition, fees, and housing. But additional costs like books, supplies, transportation, and living expenses can add up. Your child will need other sources to cover these extra college costs not paid by the GI Bill.
Maximizing GI Bill Benefits
While the GI Bill is unlikely to fully pay for college for more than one or two dependents, there are ways to maximize its value:
- Attend in-state public colleges when possible
- Complete general credits at community college before transferring
- Apply for scholarships, grants, work-study, and financial aid
- Compare costs at different schools
- Use tuition pre-payment programs like 529 plans
- Start a dedicated college savings account
Planning ahead and utilizing all available resources will help stretch those GI Bill months. Saving for college while your children are young will also reduce the burden later.
The Bottom Line
For families with multiple college-bound dependents, the GI Bill can be an excellent head start, but likely won’t cover the full cost at most schools. Through careful planning, supplemental savings, and a multi-pronged approach, military families can find ways to help make college affordable. While the GI Bill has limits, its ability to transfer education benefits to dependents remains an invaluable military benefit.
The Power of the Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides 36 months of benefits that cover college tuition up to the maximum in-state college tuition rate, a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) equivalent to an E-5 with dependents rate, and a $1,000 annual stipend to help cover the cost of books and supplies. There are also other benefits such as the Yellow Ribbon program that help cover the cost of more expensive private colleges.
Altogether, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the housing allowance, and other benefits are generous enough to cover college tuition at state schools and many private schools, and it should be enough to provide enough additional income to provide a decent quality of life while attending school.
But it’s only enough to cover college tuition for one person. We’ll look at this in more detail in a moment.
How Much of Your Children’s College Tuition Should You Pay?
We all want the best for our children, but I’m a big believer in taking care of your own needs before saving for college. Why? Because you (or your children) can always borrow money for college. But you can’t borrow money for retirement.
So when it comes to prioritizing our finances, my wife and I make sure we fully fund our emergency fund, save in our IRA and Thrift Savings Plan accounts, and make sure we have met our long term savings needs. Only then do we put additional funds into a 529 College Savings Plan (I’ll discuss the benefits of a 529 plan later in this article).
How Much Money I Made Using The Post 9/11 GI Bill
FAQ
Can I use my GI Bill to pay for my kids’ college?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill lets service members give their education benefits to spouses, children, and other close family members. The recipient must be enrolled in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System at the time of the transfer.
How does the GI Bill work for children?
A: If you are a qualified Service member, you can give your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to your spouse, your children, or any other qualified family member. Children enrolled in DEERS can receive transferred benefits: From age 18 through 20. From age 21 through 22, if they have full-time student status.
Will the military pay for my child’s college?
California. If you are a veteran in California and have a dependent, you can get free tuition at any State of California Community College, California State University, or the University of California. The waiver does not cover housing or books.
Can I pass my GI Bill to my kids?
U. S. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill lets service members give their unused education benefits to family members. This applies to officer or enlisted, active duty and Selected Reserve. Qualifying immediate family members are spouses and children.
Can I give my Child GI Bill benefits?
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA gives children of service members and veterans a number of ways to get financial aid for school. If you are active duty or in the Selective Reserve, you may be able to give your child any Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits that you haven’t used.
Does the GI Bill cover college tuition?
Between the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the housing allowance, and other benefits, they are enough to cover college tuition at many private and public schools, and they should also give you enough extra money to live a decent life while you are in school. But it’s only enough to cover college tuition for one person.
What are GI Bill benefits?
GI Bill benefits help you pay for school and cover expenses while you’re training for a job. GI Bill has been helping veterans and their families get money for school or training since 1944. It can cover all or some of the costs. Learn more about GI Bill benefits on this page—and how to apply for them.
Can I get a GI Bill advance payment?
This depends on which GI Bill program you’re using. If you’re using the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can’t get an advance payment. If your GI Bill isn’t the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you might be able to get a payment ahead of time. You’ll need to meet all of the requirements listed below. You must:
Should I transfer my GI Bill if I have only one child?
If you and your spouse don’t need the GI Bill and you only have one child, you’re done. Transfer the benefit, and rest easy knowing your child’s college expenses are taken care of. But many people face a more complicated situation.
How do I compare GI Bill benefits?
The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you figure out what your choices are, and an official VA representative can help you apply for school aid. Use the GI Bill Comparison Tool Apply for education benefits.
