Official Offers College Education Financing Tips

You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Official Offers College Education Financing Tips 06/03/2013 09:09 AM CDT Official Offers College Education Financing Tips By Amaani Lyle American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, June 3, 2013 - Defense Department officials encourage parents and students to consider various strategies for financing college education, the director of the Pentagon's office of family policy and children and youth said. In a recent interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel, Barbara Thompson addressed solutions to some of the obstacles military children might face when trying to pursue a college education. Thompson recommended researching scholarship and student aid opportunities early on, including use of the provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that allows service members to transfer their benefit to family members. Resources such as the Military OneSource website and personal financial managers on installations, she added, offer information ideas on other resources, such as a tax-deferred savings account for higher learning colleges and vocational schools. Military OneSource also features scholarship information links and listings, including law and policy updates that pertain to military members and their families, such as expanded in-state tuition availability. Service members on active duty for more than 30 days are eligible to receive in-state tuition for their dependent children at public colleges and universities in the state where they reside or are permanently stationed, she noted. Once enrolled and paying in-state tuition, Thompson said, dependent children continue to pay the in-state tuition rate as long as they remain continuously enrolled at the institution, even if the service member is reassigned outside the state. "That has been a very positive move across the federal government that all states have to offer in-state tuition for military children and spouses," she said. But no matter where the prospective student lives, Thompson explained, it's important for parents to work with school guidance counselors to nurture their future college student's interests and aspirations -- and ultimately to choose the right educational path. "You don't want to go to a school and find out later on they don't offer the degree you're interested in," Thompson said. "You have to do your research." The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau website offers a "Know Before You Owe" page to help untangle student loan procedures, regulations and facts to keep borrowers informed and arm them with information prior to making life-altering decisions, Thompson said. "We want the best future for our children," she added. "We recognize they've sacrificed a great deal over the lifespan of their parents serving the military, ... and we want to make sure they're ready for the world when they become an adult."   Biographies: Barbara Thompson Related Sites: Military OneSource Consumer Financial Protection Bureau   Defense Department News Through Facebook On American Forces Press Service's Facebook page, you can post comments and share news, photos and videos. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Forces-Press-Service/65137437532 or search for American Forces Press Service at Facebook.com. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time by clicking on your 'User Profile' page at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOD/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please e-mail support@govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ at http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx for up-to-date information. Get the help you, your family, and fellow servicemembers need, when you need it. Visit www.WarriorCare.mil to learn more. Check out the National Resource Directory at www.nationalresourcedirectory.org, a new web-based resource for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense