Go Back to School with the GI Bill

Excelsior College makes it easy for you to jump right in.

By Contributing Authors

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If you are transitioning from military to civilian life, you may be wondering what’s out there for you. Where do you fit in?

But the real question is how do you stand out? Maybe it’s time you showcase your talents. An education can give you unlimited opportunities to pursue a new career.

At Excelsior College, we want you to realize your dreams, and we help you every step of the way. Once you’re ready, we get to work gathering your information and apply credits you’ve earned just by being in the service toward your degree. To find out how many credits you have earned, call for a free credit evaluation at 844-843-9299. You can also visit Excelsior’s website at www.excelsior.edu.

Many service members don’t realize how beneficial the GI Bill is and leave the military without understanding their real value in the civilian workforce. Your skill sets are valuable, and employers actively seek veterans because they can learn new skills and concepts and apply them under real-world pressure.

PREPARATION FOR YOUR EDUCATION

Your ability and skills, coupled with education, will give you an advantage over most applicants. You already practice what employers look for in an employee. For example, veterans have a demonstrated ability to lead by example, work within a team, perform under pressure, and respect policy and procedure.

Knowing what you have to offer can help you determine what type of career you want outside of the military, and college can help you secure your place in that industry. You earned money toward an education, so you should put it to good use and get your degree.

“I did use my GI Bill to return to school,” says Eric Potvin, a veteran who choose Excelsior College. “As I recall, the process was fairly simple. I filled out a form on the VA website and designated Excelsior College as my school for GI Bill purposes. After that, I don’t remember having to do much else. The school was paid automatically, and I received my monthly stipend for housing and my annual stipend for books. Too easy!”

Potvin’s veteran counselor recommended the Bachelor of Science in National Security because it aligned with his military experience and career goals. Eric successfully completed the program in 2018 and is now working as the principal instructor for Raytheon, a U.S. defense contractor and industrial corporation.

The GI Bill is a Department of Veterans Affairs education benefit earned by people like you who have served active duty, reserve, and National Guard duties. The goal of this benefit is to help service members and veterans cover the costs associated with getting an education.

Excelsior College, a not-for-profit, regionally accredited online institution, offers more than 40 programs at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s level, helping almost 200,000 students—including 72,000 service members and veterans—earn their degrees since 1971. Excelsior’s dedicated veteran admissions counselors work with veterans every day and are available to answer any questions you may have about benefits and resources. They help you apply your GI Bill and other educational benefits toward your degree.

In addition to receiving credits for your military training and experience, you can apply credit from CLEP and DSST exams, and courses from other accredited colleges and universities, toward your degree program, which allows you to complete your degree sooner.

GI BILL OVERVIEW

Under the GI Bill, qualifying veterans—along with their family members—can get money to cover some or all the costs for school.

If you were awarded Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, you can review how much of your benefits you’ve used by reviewing the GI Bill of Benefits. If you have unused Post-9/11 benefits, you may also transfer them to your spouse or dependent children.

The GI Bill has additional benefit options like:

The Tuition Assistance Top-Up – A program that may cover the cost if your college tuition costs more than what’s covered by the GI Bill.
The $600 Buy-Up – A program that allows you to get more money each month through your GI monthly payments.
Tutorial Assistance – If you are struggling with your coursework and are using VA benefits, you may qualify for help paying for a tutor.

You’re never too old, and it’s never too late, to get an education. Excelsior College makes it easy for you to jump right in. It specializes in optimizing your benefits, so you can pursue your dream—whatever it may be.