City Benefits:

FREE TUITION FOR VETERANS AT CUNY

Veterans who attend The City University of New York this fall will pay virtually no tuition under a new tuition benefits program that was enacted as part of New York State's budget for fiscal year 2008-09 and signed recently by Governor David A. Paterson. According to the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs, awards for veterans who attend CUNY next fall will be set at 98% of tuition or $4,287.50, whichever is less. Tuition for New York State residents who are full-time students at the University's 11 senior colleges is $4,000 per year. Tuition for full-time students at CUNY's six community colleges is $2,800. Information about the expanded veterans' tuition program and the City University's many services for veterans is available on the Office of Veterans Affairs website at: http://www1.cuny.edu/about/veterans/financing.html

State Benefits:

NEW YORK EXPANDS ITS VETERAN'S TUITION AWARDS PROGRAM

New York has enhanced its veteran's tuition award program by increasing the maximum tuition award available to New York State's combat veterans to approximate the cost of undergraduate tuition charged by the State university of New York to New York State veterans. Veteran's tuition awards will be available for study at both private and public institutions in New York State in approved vocational, undergraduate and graduate programs. Veterans who served in Indochina in the Vietnam War, or who served in the hostilities in the Persian Gulf or Afghanistan, and were discharged under honorable conditions are eligible to receive a veterans tuition award. Additionally, individuals who served in the Armed Forces of the United States in hostilities that occurred after Feb. 28, 1961, as evidenced by their receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and were discharged under honorable conditions, may also be eligible. More details of the expanded veterans' tuition program can be found at the State Veterans' Affairs Web site at http://www.hesc.com/content.nsf/ExternalPage?OpenFrameset&a=&u=http://www.veterans.state.ny.us/ or at HESC's Web site's special military page, Military Corner, at http://www.hesc.com/content.nsf/SFC/Military_Corner

MILITARY SERVICE RECOGNITION SCHOLARSHIP

The Military Service Recognition Scholarship (MSRS) provides financial aid to children, spouses and financial dependents of members of the armed forces of the United States or state organized militia who, at any time on or after Aug. 2, 1990, while New York State residents, died or became severely and permanently disabled while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities. For more information go to http://www.hesc.com/Content.nsf/SFC/2/Military_Service_Recognition_Scholarship

Federal Benefits:

Post 9/11 GI Bill

The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a new benefit providing educational assistance to individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001.  The benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009.  No payments can be made under this program for training pursued before that date.  To find more detailed information go to http://www.gibill.va.gov/