Another school year is in full swing and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is here to support Veteran students. MDVA and the Office of Education and Occupational Resources are dedicated to providing Veterans, active military members and their families with an abundance of resources and benefits in the pursuit of their higher education goals.

One of the major and exciting changes this fall has been the expansion of the Minnesota GI Bill, which was adjusted during the last Minnesota Legislative session.

The Minnesota GI Bill provides assistance to eligible Minnesota Veterans, currently serving military, National Guard and Reserve members and eligible spouses and children. It is separate and differs from the Federal GI Bill and can be used for more than just tuition. It can reimburse out-of-pocket costs for professional exams, licenses and certifications and provides financial assistance while training for a career or trade through an On-the-Job Training or Apprenticeship programs.

Here are the significant changes to the Minnesota GI Bill benefit:

• First, it eliminated the distinction between part-time and full-time students so that any eligible Veteran has access to the same level of the benefit.
• Second, the annual amount was increased from $3,000 per Veteran to $5,000 per Veteran. The lifetime cap was also increased from $10,000 to $15,000.

“In addition to maneuvering through traditional student requirements for college, Veterans also must make sense of the benefits they have earned from their service from federal and state government, which can be tricky to navigate,” said James Miller, MDVA Director of Veterans Education and Occupational Resources. “That’s why MDVA is here, to step in and guide our Veterans through the entire process, including how the new MN GI Bill may assist them financially in the pursuit of their higher education goals.”

The MDVA Higher Education Veterans Program Coordinators offer many tools for Veterans looking for assistance with benefits, policies and course issues. They work to advocate for policies and procedures which benefit Veterans and their families.=

For a list of Higher Education Veterans Programs available to Minnesota Veterans, see the /mdva/resources/education/index.jspMDVA Education webpage.