| You enlisted in the military and you're stationed | | | | provides a monthly housing allowance and up to |
| overseas. That doesn't mean you have to put | | | | $1,000 a year for books and supplies. |
| your education goals on hold. Thanks to the | | | | There are several other programs to help active |
| Internet you can attend college from anywhere, | | | | military and veterans and their families afford |
| even while deployed, and obtain a military degree. | | | | college. Some schools offer special tuition rates |
| Online colleges allow students to attend class | | | | for student soldiers. For example the University of |
| where they want, whenever they want, even at | | | | Notre Dame offers a 15% tuition break for the |
| three in the morning from Iraq. | | | | military. Other schools grant a 25% discount. |
| The US Military reports that in 2007, service | | | | What a great way to make your financial aid |
| members took over 710,000 online and traditional | | | | stretch a little further! |
| college courses. One report finds 65% of soldiers | | | | Since you can take your classes from anywhere, |
| are taking college classes are doing it online. The | | | | an online degree suits many soldiers. A student |
| military actually encourages troops to consider | | | | soldier can start a degree program while deployed |
| taking online courses while deployed. The reason? | | | | and finish it stateside. This is an option that would |
| It's a constructive use of down time. Believe it or | | | | not be possible on a traditional university campus. |
| not, boredom can crop up in a war zone. Instead | | | | Online courses work well with unpredictable |
| of hitting the gym, listening to music or hanging | | | | military schedules. While some online courses offer |
| out with your unit, you can study. Plus, if you get | | | | live lectures, students often also have the option |
| the government to pay for your college | | | | to download a version later. That way even if |
| education, why not? | | | | you are in a different time zone, you don't miss |
| Thanks to the Montgomery GI Bill, since 1944 | | | | the information. |
| more than two million soldiers have been able to | | | | Taking online college classes allows military |
| afford college. Last year the bill was updated to | | | | personnel to look to their future while deployed. |
| offer even more benefits. The new Post 9/11 GI | | | | Not only can soldiers pursue a civilian career, but |
| Bill provides education benefits for service | | | | they can earn promotion points to advance their |
| members who have served on active duty for | | | | military career. Military training can also be applied |
| 90 or more days since September 11, 2001. The | | | | as college credits, getting soldiers even closer to |
| new bill pays 100% tuition for 36 months. It also | | | | their degree. |