All in the family: how the military supports higher education for military spouses
Who says education is just for the active duty military in the family? Not the armed forces!
Good news for military spouses who want to further their education: there are military education support programs created especially for you. There are myriad programs, grouped by specific branch of military service, offering financial assistance for military spouses.
Army: The Spouse Education Assistance Program (SEAP) awards grants to spouses of active-duty and deceased Army soldiers. SEAP has expanded to include eligible spouses in the United States, for full-time undergraduate level students. The maximum amount of money per individual during the 2006-07 academic year was $2,500.
Navy and Marines: The Spouse Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) helps spouses of active-duty Navy and Marine members serving overseas. He or she may be a full- or part-time student studying toward a vocational certificate, or an undergraduate or graduate degree. Maximum amounts granted for undergraduates are $300 per semester and $1,500 for the academic year; graduate levels are $350 and $1,750, respectively.
Air Force: The General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program is the most popular Air Force college financial aid program, assisting children and spouses of active and deceased Air Force members. Qualifying applicants receive about $2,000.
Coast Guard: The Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) program offers a supplemental grant of $150 per year toward education-related expenses such as books, housing, supplies and admission tests. The money is available to any military family member.
Don't let frequent relocations make it difficult for military members and spouses to maintain continuity in achieving a college education; check out the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program. A consortium of more than 1,500 colleges and universities across the United States that offers associate and bachelor's degrees, the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) program transfers credits easily between the colleges, allowing students to continue with their education smoothly without having to retake classes.
And being in the military doesn't mean you don't have access to Pell Grants, college work-study programs or other ne ed-based financial aid. Use all that's available to further your education and promote an even higher quality military lifestyle.
