Adult Education
In 2024, the VA celebrated 80 years of expanding education and training opportunities through the GI Bill. Since being signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill) continues to impact the lives of millions of Veterans and their families through education, vocational training, health care expansion and low-cost home loans.
Continuing education is key to advancement in the military, and benefits like the Post 9/11 GI Bill make it more affordable. Your GI Bill Statement of Benefits shows how much you have used and what remains at va.gov/education/check-post9-11-gi-bill-benefits. If you have not applied, use the GI Bill Comparison Tool at va.gov/education/gi-bill-comparison-tool to explore your options.
EDUCATION OPTIONS
More than 80 percent of GI Bill users rely on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which provides educational assistance for service members on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Benefits apply to training pursued on or after Aug. 1, 2009. For details on payment rates, stipends and eligibility, visit benefits.va.gov/gibill, subscribe to the VA’s Monthly Benefits Newsletter, or call (800) 698-2411 (select “5” then “2”). You may also contact the DoD or your branch of service.
POST-9/11 GI BILL
FOREVER GI BILL
The Forever GI Bill, brings significant changes to Veterans’ education benefits. Click links for “View Our Breakdown Of The Updated Benefits” at the end of the first paragraph, “GI Comparison Tool” or “Frequently Asked Questions” for more details. Or check the website for provisions and revisions to policies on:
• Purple Heart Recipients
• Eligibility for Yellow Ribbon Program
• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA)
• Priority Enrollment
• Independent study at technical schools and non-institutions of higher learning (IHLs)
• Work-Study expansion
• Fry Scholarship recipients
SPOUSE & DEPENDENT RESOURCES
Spouse Education & Career Opportunities Program–SECO provides information on education, portable careers, fine-tuning resumes and career planning. Visit Militaryonesource.mil for more information.
• MyCAA – The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) workforce development/tuition assistance program provides up to $4,000 (over a two year timeframe) of financial assistance for eligible military spouses pursuing a license, certification or associate degree in a portable career field and occupation. For details, call (800) 342-9647. Also visit
mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/get-started.
• VEAP – Veterans Educational Assistance Program is available for Service Members contributing from military pay to participate, with the government matching contributions on a 2-for-1 basis. Assistance may be used for college degree and certificate programs, technical/vocational courses, flight training, licensing/certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance exams and correspondence training. Also visit va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/montgomery-active-duty.
• National Testing Program – Students can be reimbursed all mandatory fees charged for national admission tests and tests for college credit. This also covers national tests that evaluate prior learning and knowledge, and provides an opportunity for credit at an institution of higher learning. Call (888) 442-4551 or visit va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/licensing-and-certification-tests/.
• Private Military Spouse Scholarships – Varying from school to school, these range from assistance for foreign first-born spouses and minorities to those involved with community service projects.
• Military-Friendly College Discounts – Many institutions offer up to 50 percent in discounts that vary with degree seeking level and program. Check for “Military Discounts” tabs and links on college and university websites. For details on transferring all or some unused benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill to spouse and dependents, visit va.gov/education/transfer-post-9-11-gi-bill-benefits/.
EXPLORE ADULT EDUCATION OPTIONS
From Universities and colleges to learning programs, Hawaii offers a variety of options for military adults to progress their education and career.
