I was talking to a couple co-workers about going to school; of course they both wanted to but were afraid they couldn't afford the costs. (Who can these days?) So, in my effort to help them, and myself to find money for college I began doing some research on how to get more money for college to lessen student loans. The first website I went to was the GI Bill Website.
I discovered that there is a better way to get my GI Bill benefits to pay for my tuition other than the monthly stipend; it is called the Accelerated Payment program. Since August 2008, I started attending class at Westwood College taking the Web Design and Multimedia bachelor's degree. They were really helpful in informing me on how I was going to pay for my tuition. They set me up with FAFSA and got my GI Bill on the roll. Full time students currently receive $1,101 every month, which for many doesn't cover much.
The Accelerated Payment "is a lump sum payment of 60% of tuition and fees for certain high cost, high tech programs." Instead of receiving monthly entitlements, the VA will send payments for one term, quarter, or semester at a time. A student must be enrolled in a high tech industry defined by the VA (click here to see the list). Of course, to receive this payment students must be eligible to receive the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (Chapter 30) benefit.
I hope this helps many veterans who are trying to get the education they need and deserve. Money shouldn't be a deterrent for higher education!
--Meldeine Sipes
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Wow! that is a pretty good find I wish I had known that awhile ago before I spent most of my chapter 30. Thanks for posting the info.
~T
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo
I wish I knew about it a while ago too. I don't think a lot of people know about it. You'd think the VA reps of the schools know. I sent the school a message to send in an application for me.
--
Meldeine Sipes
I hope lots of people who are part of the GI Bill program will see this. I bet there are many people out there who also could use their money in an accelerated payment plan and it could really help them to make ends meet while getting their degrees.
I hope so too, the sad thing is that they don't tell people about this program!
--
Meldeine Sipes