GI Tuition Fairness Act Promises Lower College Costs for Vets

The GI Tuition Fairness Act, which lowers out-of-state college costs for veterans, is gaining more supporters as the bill is reviewed by a congressional committee that could send the bill onto Congress for a vote.

The act was designed with a simple goal in mind: All state-operated universities would be required to charge veterans their in-state tuition rates, no matter where the veterans live. The change may sound easy, but it could have far-reaching effects. While state schools would lose income from veterans paying lower tuition, many of the returning veterans would be able to afford college or would be able to graduate with far less debt. Colleges, despite losing money on GI tuition, may also benefit from increased enrollment in the long run.

It is commonly accepted for state schools to offer two different tuition rates: one version for students that legally live within state borders and a second much higher rate for students who live in another state, but make the trip to the college for its prestige or specializations. Currently, veterans are required to pay out-of-state rates if they are registered as living in a different state, quickly racking up college costs that can be difficult for returning veterans to pay.

Military service members find themselves in a unique situation when transitioning back to civilian life. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), one of the creators of the bill (along with Senator Bill Nelson [D-FL]) stated in a Senate press release, “By requiring schools that are eligible for GI Bill benefits to charge any veteran the in-state tuition rate, we can remove this barrier to affordable higher education for the men and women who sacrificed for our nation.”

Congress has already recently changed education benefits for veterans with the Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012, which was passed in early January 2013. However, the Improving Transparency Act focused primarily on veterans’ knowledge of and access to benefits, while the Tuition Fairness Act promises to change the benefits themselves, making it easier for vets to enter the world of higher education in a state college and program of their choice.

[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]

Please Leave A Comment

comments

Related posts:

Lowering The Cost of College Tuition – States Attacking College Costs Cutting Tuition Costs: Government and Universities Combating Costs Colleges Consider Options to Lower Costs, Including Changing the Need for a Four-Year Degree College Students in Many Places Must Prepare to Shoulder More Education Costs Florida Governor Rick Scott Vetoes Tuition Increase