Joe Wallace

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.

State Level Student Loan Forgiveness Programs

Federal student loan forgiveness is available but not evenly distributed. Some students and former students have seen their debt wiped out, but many are still paying. The good news is that many borrowers can explore options with state-level student loan relief programs. Some target specific professions, like those in healthcare. State student loan relief options…

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Top 10 Yellow Ribbon Chiropractor Schools

If you want to know how to become a chiropractor, you’ll first learn that this profession requires an advanced degree. A chiropractic degree, known as a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.), is a doctoral degree that prepares students to become licensed chiropractors. Their focus is on diagnosing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal disorders, possibly relating to the…

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How to Become a Lawyer

Becoming a lawyer can be challenging. This academic path requires long-term thinking, and for most, that begins with selecting a solid undergraduate degree. You have some options regarding the degree you seek as an undergraduate since law schools may accept your undergraduate work as long as it meets the general standards of that institution. The…

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State Level Education Benefits: Scholarships, Grants, Tuition Assistance

Higher education often comes with a hefty price tag. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost “of attendance for a student living on campus at an in-state public 4-year institution is $27,146 per year or $108,584 over 4 years.” Pell grants and other federal student financial aid for college aren’t always enough to…

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Disabled Veteran Education Resources

Disabled veterans in the United States are offered a variety of education benefits at the federal and state levels. They include: The Department of Veterans Affairs Readiness And Employment Program (VR&E) VA Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA) VA Work-Study Program State-level scholarships and grants Veteran Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E) This VA program is offered…

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Top 10 Yellow Ribbon HBCUs

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, also known as HBCUs are defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965 as “…Any historically black college or university” opened before 1964, “whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association..” According to the National…

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College Degree Completion Programs

Did you start a college degree but could not complete it? If you started school and want to return, there may be help for you to do so. Your prior efforts do not have to go to waste, thanks to the availability of degree completion programs, which are designed to help students return to college to finish a 4-year undergrad degree. Learn more.

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New York State Education Benefits

Before applying for any scholarship program or related opportunity, it is a good idea to complete a Federal Application Form for Student Aid or FAFSA. While FAFSA can’t help students with state-level education benefits, many such benefits have FAFSA requirements or require you to exhaust certain FAFSA options first. You can find New York colleges…

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Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Student Loans

The student loan approval process and how student loans work can confuse those preparing to enter college or university. Due to higher education costs, more than 43 million students nationwide have taken advantage of the Federal Student Loan program. Federal student loans may be subsidized or unsubsidized and offer various benefits. Loans can have low…

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What Type of Military Discharge Qualifies for VA Benefits?

Updated April 29 2024: The Department of Veterans Affairs has updated its approval policies to cover other-than honorable discharges and similar military discharges that previously did not qualify for VA healthcare benefits. If you applied in the past but were denied benefits due to the nature of your military discharge, apply for benefits again as…

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VA Education Benefits For Surviving Spouses and Dependents

Surviving spouses and dependents of military veterans may be eligible for VA benefits to further their education. Below, you’ll find a variety of VA education options spouses and school-age dependents can use to help pay for college or other higher education opportunities. There are several options for spouses and college-age children who are survivors of…

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Using Military Experience on a Resume

Transitioning from military service to civilian life can feel like a complex process with lots of decisions to make. The good news is that plenty of resources exist to help guide you. However, it is essential to know that military experts have not written or vetted every resource. One reason it’s essential to always look…

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In-State Tuition Versus Out-of-State Tuition Under the GI Bill

There are many ways to use military benefits to pay for higher education. You may qualify for in-state tuition rates attending school using the GI Bill, Veteran Readiness and Employment, and in some cases, the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA). Learn more.

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GI Bill for Reserve and National Guard Members

Is the GI Bill offered to members of the National Guard and the Reserve? Qualifying for the GI Bill means serving a minimum time in uniform. If you meet those requirements, depending on when you joined and the type of military service you performed, you may qualify for the Montgomery GI Bill or the Post-9/11…

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How much GI Bill do I have left

How Much GI Bill Do I Have Left?

If you have never used your GI Bill benefits before, you won’t need to ask how much GI Bill you have left, but those who have used the GI Bill and are starting a new semester need to know how much of the benefit remains. In some cases, they may also need to know how…

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Which GI Bill is best

Which GI Bill Is Better?

Which GI Bill is better? There is no single answer to this question as much depends on the student’s needs, circumstances, and educational goals. It’s better to compare GI Bill programs and options side-by-side to see which features are most important. Learn more.

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when did the GI Bill start

When did the GI Bill Start?

When did the GI Bill start? Believe it or not, the GI Bill we know today is the product of a long and winding history, starting with the very first version of the program known as the GI Bill of Rights, signed into law on June 22, 1944. The Very First GI BIll The original…

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top up GI Bill

Can I Top Up the GI Bill?

Is it possible to top up the GI Bill? There are multiple types of military education benefits. While the Department of Veterans Affairs offers the GI Bill, other options exist, including the Yellow Ribbon program, John D. Fry Scholarships, and Tuition Assistance programs. And depending on the program, there are also options to “top up”…

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Using eBenefits to Manage Your GI Bill

Can you use eBenefits to manage your GI Bill? This VA/DoD partnership has changed over the years, but eBenefits is still an important resource for those who can use the portal. We’ll examine its GI Bill features below. A Brief History of eBenefits In 2007, the President’s Commission on Care for Returning Wounded Warriors recommended…

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A career in technical fields can be assisted with the GI Bill extension known as the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship

GI Bill Extension: The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

If you are pursuing higher education in an in-demand technical field, you may qualify for an extension of your federal military education benefits thanks to a program called the Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship. Technically speaking, this isn’t so much an extension of the GI Bill as it is a program meant to enhance it.

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Can I use the GI Bill to buy a home?

Can I Use the GI Bill to Buy a House?

Is it possible to use the GI Bill to buy a house? This is a common question about GI Bill benefits, and the answer confuses some…at first. The short answer is no; you typically cannot use the GI Bill to purchase a home. But why not, and what program can you use to buy a home instead of the GI Bill?

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