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Although military service isn't for everyone, it's a good way to help pay for college. If you're interested in entering the military, are currently serving, or have completed your service, use the information here to learn how paying for college can be a little easier. Make sure you consider both state and federal programs to find the resources that best match your military experience and educational goals. Your military recruiter or chain of command can also provide you with information on education benefits.
ISAC Programs
ISAC administers two programs, the Illinois National Guard Grant Program and the Illinois Veteran Grant Program, to assist you with paying for college.
A Comparison of Grant Programs for Veterans chart provides a side-by-side view of the Illinois Veteran Grant and federal Post-9/11 GI Bill programs.
State of Illinois Programs
The Illinois State Treasurer's Office offers a Fallen Heroes Scholarship to children of fallen Illinois service men and women who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.
The State of Illinois also offers educational benefits to veterans of the Armed Forces through various other programs, including the MIA/POW Scholarship.
Students attending any of the University of Illinois campuses, who are Illinois residents whose mothers or fathers served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime, may be eligible for a Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver. For further information, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Federal Programs
The federal government is another resource for help with paying for your college education. Find out about the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills and other sources of financial aid.
A Comparison of Grant Programs for Veterans chart provides a side-by-side view of the Illinois Veteran Grant and federal Post-9/11 GI Bill programs.
Online Access to VA Payment Information
If you receive benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) or Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP, or Chapter 1607), you may access your Veterans Affairs (VA) payment information using VA's Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) system by logging in with your name, claim number (which is generally the Social Security number), and the same password used when you certify your monthly enrollment (although REAP recipients do not verify monthly attendance, they can still use this system to access payment information). Once logged in, select the "Benefits Status Information" link. Under the "Your School Attendance" section, you will be able to see the dates and monthly rate payable for the enrollment period(s). The information may be printed for financial aid and other purposes.
Other/Private Programs
Children of military personnel - active duty, reserve, guard, retired or deceased - may be eligible to receive a scholarship that will pay tuition, books, lab fees and other related college expenses through the Scholarships for Military Children Program.
Benedictine University, Lisle and Naperville, Illinois, offers a First Responder Program, which grants scholarships to pursue college degrees for Illinois veterans of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, and fire and police personnel not contracted with the fire or police district. For further information, contact the university directly at firstresponder@ben.edu.
Student Loan Repayment
Most branches of the U.S. Armed Forces offer student loan repayment programs. For information about the requirements, eligible loans and the repayment schedule, contact your recruiter or chain of command.
Deferment or forbearance of student loan payments is also available due to service in the military. Contact your lender or servicer to initiate the deferment or forbearance process.
College Zone partner Mapping Your Future provides valuable information for soldiers called to active duty and their families to help in ensuring that student loan obligations continue to be met during deployment or reassignment.
If you have any questions about your loan and/or grant amounts, outstanding balances, disbursements or loan statuses, check with the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS).
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