August 1, 2009
Starting August 1, 2009, veterans and service members who have served honorably since September 11, 2001 will be eligible for comprehensive educational benefits under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. Introduced by Senator Jim Webb on his first day in office and enacted into law last July, the Post-9/11 GI Bill is the largest expansion of veterans’ benefits since World War II.
The Bill offers today’s service members the same opportunity for a first class educational future as those who served during the World War II era.
In Virginia, the new benefits offered to eligible students include:
Full tuition at any public school in the Commonwealth.
This equates to as much as $313 per credit hour at any Virginia public or private institution;
Full payment of fees at any public school in the Commonwealth.
This equates to as much as $3,660 in fees per term at any Virginia public or private institution;
A monthly housing allowance based on the military’s basic housing allowance (BHA) for an E-5 service member with dependents, accounting for local cost of living. This equates to approximately $11,000 a year in Central Virginia; and
An annual books & supplies stipend of $1,000.
Note: Tuition, fees, and housing allowance estimates are based on 100% benefit levels. To calculate estimates for different benefit levels, please go to: http://www.gibill2008.org/calculator.html.
Public Schools in Richmond & Central Virginia
Students attending area public schools and community colleges can apply all of the benefits above to the following institutions:
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg
Longwood University, Farmville
Old Dominion University, Richmond
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
Virginia State University, Petersburg
Richard Bland College, Petersburg
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond
John Tyler Community College, Midlothian
Private Schools in Richmond & Central Virginia
The Yellow Ribbon program was established under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to extend extra benefits to service members who want to attend a private institution. Private schools in Virginia can opt into the program and contribute up to 50% of expenses above the highest public school tuition rate; and the federal government will match that amount.
Over 700 private institutions across the country have signed up to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, including 54 schools in Virginia.
Participating “Yellow Ribbon” private schools in Central Virginia include:
Name of College
Location
Division
Number of Students
School Contribution*
Bryant & Stratton College
Richmond
All
Unlimited
$4,000
ECPI College of Technology
Richmond
All
Unlimited
$5,000
ITT Technical Institute
Richmond
All
Unlimited
$99,999
Medical Careers Institute
Richmond
All
Unlimited
$5,000
Medical Careers Institute
Richmond
All
Unlimited
$5,000
University of Phoenix - Richmond
Richmond
Undergraduate
Unlimited
$2,250
University of Phoenix - Richmond
Richmond
Graduate
Unlimited
$5,250
University of Phoenix - Richmond
Richmond
All
25
$5,000
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
Undergraduate
5
$6,000
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond
Graduate
5
$6,000
Virginia Union University
Richmond
Undergraduate
20
$3,000
South University - Richmond
Glen Allen
All
Unlimited
$1,954.00 Undergraduate, $1,648.00 Graduate
Strayer University
Glen Allen
All
Unlimited
$5,000
ECPI College of Technology
Innsbrook
All
Unlimited
$5,000
Strayer University
Midlothian
All
Unlimited
$5,000
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg
All
5
$2,000
Florida Institute of Technology - Fort Lee Site
Fort Lee
Graduate
10
$1,800
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney
Undergraduate
120
$10,500
* Per Student/ Per Year
For more about the Post-9/11 GI Bill, please visit the GI Bill website of the Department of Veterans Affairs at: http://www.gibill.va.gov/
To learn more about Senator Webb’s effort to pass the GI Bill through Congress, please visit: http://webb.senate.gov/email/gibilllaw.html
For other questions and background information, don’t hesitate to call: Jessica (202-228-5185) or Kimberly (202-228-5158).
