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Veterans Can Choose from a Wide Selection of Education Benefit Programs

• The two most significant programs are the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which is the largest expansion of benefits since the original GI Bill in 1944.
• The MGIB and Post-9/11 GI Bills are complemented by several other programs, such as the Yellow Ribbon Program and the MGIB-Selected Reserve and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program.

Participation Data Revealed Trends

• Nearly half of all veterans separating before 2000 have claimed benefits before the option to do so expires.
• Claim rates are highest for Marines, Hispanic veterans, and for those with higher Armed Forces Qualifying Test scores.
• Take-up rates have been increasing over time, which suggests that an even greater fraction of service members are taking advantage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill (although our data do not allow us to confirm this conjecture).

Little Research Exists on the Impact of Current Educational Assistance Programs on Veterans' Outcomes

• Policymakers need better research on quality and quantity of education that veterans receive.
• Policymakers need better research on quality and quantity of education that veterans receive.For-profit colleges are on the rise, charge higher tuition, and target veterans. There are concerns about the educational quality that they provide, and that their students are less likely to complete degree programs and face greater unemployment and student loan burdens.
• The benefit options can be an embarrassment of riches, and veterans may not understand the choices or eligibilities well enough to make the smartest decisions about funding their education.