Table of Contents
It’s no secret that higher education is expensive. Thankfully, the Department of Defense (DoD) recognizes the sacrifices military families make, including military spouses who constantly uproot their careers. The government offers financial help to spouses in need of more education or training to land a job once they’ve settled into a new duty station. If you’re familiar with educational financial aid, you may be wondering: “Can I use MyCAA and Pell Grants together?” The quick answer: Yes, you can. Read on to learn more.
Financial Aid is Available For Military Spouses Over the years it’s become easier for transient military spouses to earn degrees, licenses, and certifications due to online educational institutions. Long gone are the days where spouses had to quit school because of an upcoming Permanent Change of Station (PCS). Better yet are the opportunities to use financial aid resources. So, how do you start? The first step is to decide on the training or additional education you’d like. Secondly, you’ll want to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA. For military spouses, MyCAA And Pell Grants are two of the easiest ways to fund educational opportunities with minimal footwork. But there’s always more funding to apply for, especially if a higher-level degree is what you’re after.
What Does MyCAA Pay For?
My Career Advancement Accounts Program (MyCAA) offers up to $4,000 in financial assistance to eligible military spouses seeking a certification, license, or associate’s degree in a high-demand, high-growth field. These programs are portable, which makes it easier to find a job when you get PCS orders a lot. MyCAA Eligibility Requirements Spouse of a service member on active duty Servicemember in pay grades E-1 to E-5, W-1 to W-2, and O-1 to O-2 Spouse completes coursework while his or her military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders (as reported in DEERS) Spouse of an active duty National Guard or Reservist is eligible when on Title 10 federal orders
127 our experts are availableright now
What Do Pell Grants Pay For?
Pell Grants can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, and supplies, plus living expenses like room and board. The maximum Pell Grant for the 2018-19 award year is $6,095. Like MyCAA funding, Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. The amount given depends on school costs, enrollment status, and financial need. Pell Grant Eligibility Requirements Undergraduate and vocational students enrolled or accepted for enrollment in participating schools may apply Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Pell Grants are awarded usually only to students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree Note: Students cannot receive federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time. As your educational goals may vary, so does pricing and financial assistance. MyCAA is a favorite among military spouses because it often fully covers the cost of a certification or license.
Here’s a look at financing options for each education level:
- Certifications/ licenses: These short-term programs are often found online, making it easy for military spouses to take flexible courses that fit their needs. Length: Varies from a few weeks to a few months Financing options: MyCAA covers in full (up to $4,000), loans, grants, scholarships
- Associate degree: These two-year programs offer training in a variety of fields. Students must complete their AA before a bachelor’s degree. Length: 2 years Financing options: MyCAA, loans, grants, scholarships
- Bachelor’s degree: This is the typical college degree you hear about. Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in the sciences or arts. Length: 4 years Financing options: loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study programs
- Advanced degree: These are the degrees that require training beyond four years, like a master’s degree and doctorate’s degree. Length: Varies between 3 to 5 years Financing options: loans, grants, scholarships, internships, and fully-funded fellowships
Additional Funding Options
Additional training or schooling can add up, even with fantastic benefits like MyCAA and the Pell Grant. Applying for extra scholarships and grants can ease the financial burden if you’re going for multiple degrees. Here are some other financial aid options: Scholly This website reduces the amount of research you have to do to find personalized scholarships you’re eligible for without spending all day online. There is a monthly fee of $2.99 to access the database, which is well worth it if you score even one scholarship.
U.S. Department of Education
Each year, this department provides billions of dollars of educational loans and grants to qualifying students. For financial aid consideration, you’ll need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Fastweb Find scholarships, internships, and more through this online database. The site boasts of 1.5 million scholarships for students to apply to for school funding. Use All Your Benefits and Resources As a military spouse, your servicemember has earned educational benefits for your use.
MyCAA and Pell Grants together are just two ways to fund your education — fully funded if you go with a less expensive option like certification programs. Even if you can’t get full funding through military programs, there’s still plenty of opportunities to earn scholarships and grants. With a little bit of time and effort, you may find you also have extra spending money once tuition and other educational needs are paid. Applying for scholarships and other financial aid programs takes time, but it’s worthwhile, especially if you can graduate school debt-free.
