Data from the Lumina Foundation and Gallup shows that just 12 percent of U.S. adults believe four-year colleges do a good or excellent job staying affordable. This comes as many universities are struggling with their operating budgets and federal scrutiny over curricula, ideology, and funding. Lumina/Gallup Poll on College Affordability Part of the problem with…
Did you know that under certain qualifying circumstances, you may be able to apply to the federal government to have your federal student loans discharged or forgiven? This refers to more than the Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Do You Need Federal Student Loan Forgiveness? According to StudentAid.gov, “You may qualify for student…
The federal government ended the Graduate PLUS loan program for new applicants on July 1, 2026. This was done via the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which affects students (including student veterans) pursuing advanced degrees. Graduate PLUS Loans Eliminated With Graduate PLUS borrowing eliminated, new students must use alternative options for the costs of graduate…
The Department of Education has announced a temporary program to address declining auto-pay participation among federal student loan borrowers. It’s a move that could (again, temporarily) save student loan borrowers money on student loan interest for the duration of the program. As of July 1, 2026, the existing interest rate reduction for borrowers enrolled in…
At the end of June, 2026, two federal judges issued injunctions preventing the Department of Education from using new regulations changing the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. These rulings arrived one day before the changes were scheduled to take effect, but an appeal by the federal government is likely. The Department of Education released…
The Federal Pell Grant program helps undergraduate students finance their college education. In the past, these needs-based grants were reserved for long-term academic programs, excluding short-term job training. But that is changing thanks to new federal legislation aimed at expanding Pell grant options. Workforce Pell Grant Offers Expanded Options for Vocational Training On May 19,…
In May 2026, Veterans Education Success submitted testimony to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on pending legislation affecting VA education benefits. This statement discusses failures at the Department of Veterans Affairs, including disrupted benefits payments, fraud involving student veterans, and major IT failures. New Legislation Proposes Fixes for VA Education Benefits In 2026, the…
If you attend school on the GI Bill and fail a class, will you get charged for the GI Bill benefits you used? What about those who withdraw or have an “incomplete” designation on one of their courses? Failing or Withdrawing from College Classes on the GI Bill The VA is required to approach you…
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Entitlement Act proposes expanding the transferability of the GI Bill.
The Department of Education rolls out new restrictions on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program as of July 1, 2026, requiring people to enroll in the federal Repayment Assistance Plan to earn credit toward debt discharge. The law excludes the Tiered Standard Plan from the list of qualifying repayment options.
The transition from military to civilian life brings uncertainty. Frequent moves and the requirements of the Department of Defense often put the career or education goals of a spouse on hold, and when the time comes to look toward post-military college, families need a starting point. >> Find VA-approved schools with the College Recon School…
Learn how location affects housing allowance calculations for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill and what to expect.
Explore the USO military to civilian transition and discover how it supports service members in their new journey.
When you make the jump from military service to a civilian career, the federal government has programs to make that transition easier. Two options for veterans and transitioning service members you should know? The Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge program, and the VA-partnered IBM SkillsBuild.
Earning a degree is a big achievement for anyone, but for those balancing their military service with the demands of a classroom, graduation carries a different weight. Whether you are transitioning out of the military or a veteran finally getting your degree, you’ll face a unique set of logistical hurdles. From coordinating travel for a spread-out family to finding a suit that fits your new civilian life, the costs of the milestone can stack up quickly.
The VA Yellow Ribbon program allows veterans to attend private universities and avoid excessive out-of-pocket education costs. While the Post-9/11 GI Bill typically provides full tuition benefits at public universities, it features a “ceiling” of benefits for private and foreign institutions. For institutions where tuition exceeds this ceiling, the Yellow Ribbon Program bridges the gap through school contributions and matching federal funds. Not all schools participate in Yellow Ribbon, but a large number of them do.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is automating the review process for more than one million veterans who may qualify for additional education benefits. This change in procedure follows recent court rulings that expand access to the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) and the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30).
When a married couple has served in the U.S. military together and qualify for VA education benefits, the transition to college life presents a unique opportunity to stack those benefits. For couples in which both spouses are veterans, the traditional “one household, one set of benefits” rules that often govern active-duty benefits, such as housing allowances, do not apply. This is an advantage for dual-veteran couples who are considering attending school simultaneously, because the VA treats each veteran as an independent applicant.
Explore Accelerated Cybersecurity Degrees designed for military professionals using Competency-Based Education (CBE) to save time.
Discover how to fast-track AI degrees and careers for military service members with stackable credentials and bridge programs.
The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, signed into law in 2025, restored the VA program VET TEC. The act is considered a “formal reauthorization” and expansion of the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses program, which ended in April of 2024. But VET TEC is not quite open for applications yet, as we discuss below.
Transitioning service members enter a job market where Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills have become important to have on a resume, depending on the career field they choose, “on the outside”. The Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge program offers a bridge between active duty and these growing technology roles.
Transitioning from military service to civilian life can be challenging. Explore tips on navigating student life after active duty.
Curious about a STEM degree career in artificial intelligence? Learn how your degree can lead to exciting AI job prospects.
The 21st-century job marketplace is increasingly run by AI. There are artificial intelligence programs screening resumes, creating job titles and descriptions, and then there are the jobs that directly require expertise in artificial intelligence. When you are transitioning out of the military, you can use AI to translate your military skills to civilian ones, whether…
