ROTC

for undergraduate and graduate students

who meet specific academic or physical fitness requirements.

Military Service:
Federal-merit scholarship program that will pay for college and provide a monthly allowance.

You will be required to complete a period of military service after you graduate.

Program available at approximately 600 colleges nationwide.

You will receive a commission as a U.S. military officer upon successful graduation.

See FREE money section for more information

Amount:
amounts subject to acceptance into the program

Scholarship disbursed to the school.

Monthly allowance disbursed to the student.

More information about joining the program: see our FREE money section

Service Academies

for undergraduate students

Military Service:
Military academies pay for college and provide a monthly allowance.

You will be required to complete a period of military service after you graduate.

Appointees to the academy are nominated by a member of Congress.

You will receive a commission as a U.S. military officer upon successful graduation.

See FREE money section for more information

Amount:
amounts subject to acceptance into the program

Costs paid by the academies.

Monthly allowance disbursed to the student.

More information about joining the program: see our FREE money section

Tax Credits

for parents and students who meet IRS guidelines

more information available at the IRS web site

Hope Tax Credit:
does not have to be repaid.

Credit can only be taken for expenses covering tuition, fees, and and books.

Eligibility:
available only for the first two years of post secondary education.

Student must be enrolled at least 1/2 of the full-time workload in a program that leads to a degree, certificate or other educational credential

Amount:
maximum $1500 per year per dependent student

Tax Filing:
tax credit taken upon filing your annual 1040 tax form

Tax Credits

for parents and students who meet IRS guidelines

more information available at the IRS web site

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit:
does not have to be repaid.

Credit can only be taken for expenses covering tuition, fees, and and books.

Eligibility:
available for any year of post secondary education including graduate work.

Student must be enrolled at an eligible educational institution.

Amount:
maximum $1000 per year per family

Tax Filing:
tax credit taken upon filing your annual 1040 tax form

VA Benefits

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several programs administered by its Education Services.

Type Aid:
programs detailed on the VA Education Service Web site include the Montgomery GI Bill (for Active and Selected Reserves personnel), Veterans Educational Assistance Program, Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program, Work-Study, and Tutorial Assistance:

www.gibill.va.gov

Eligibility:
available for veterans, reservists, National Guard persons, widows, and orphans.

Aid Amounts:
can vary depending on need required

By Department:
see web site for information:

www.gibill.va.gov

Service

for both undergraduate and graduate students

Loan Forgiveness:
volunteer for public service after college and have some of your student loan debt forgiven

Programs:
programs include

AmeriCorps
www.americorps.org

Peace Corps
www.peacecorps.gov

Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA)
www.friendsofvista.org

Aid Amounts:
varies depending on service and program

By Department:
see web sites for information

U.S. Public Health Service

for students in health professions

Type Aid:
variety of loans, scholarships, and faculty loan repayment programs

Eligibility:
help in several areas, including dentistry, public health, optometry, and veterinary medicine:

www.hrsa.dhhs.gov

Aid Amounts:
varies depending on profession and program

By Institution:
administered through your school

hrsa.dhhs.gov

Job Training Partnership Act

for all students who meet qualifications

Type Aid:
tuition and free assistance for job training

Qualifications:
Department of Labor program of tuition and free assistance for job training for the economically disadvantaged, dislocated workers, and others facing employment barriers:

www.doleta.gov

Aid Amounts:
varies

By Government:
see web site for information

www.doleta.gov