What Would You Do? State College w/ G.I. Bill or CLEP?

[JaronB34]

I am having a hard time deciding if I should go to my local state college so I can have my G.I. Bill pay for it.

Plus, if I attend at least 1 class on campus I get a monthly stipend of $1,008 a month for housing costs.

If I go the CLEP route all my tests would be out of pocket.

The thing that has me torn is that through the G.I. Bill I have 36 months of benefits. I can use that just for a Bachelors degree, or I can earn my associates out of pocket through CLEP and then use those 36 months for the rest of my bachelors + some of my master's degree.

What would you do?

[dcan]

Have you talked to the VA to get the real deal on the benefits?

I'm planning to spend the next 18-24 months through TESC using TA to get my BSBA. At that point I'll have about two years left and hope to use TA to bank as much of a master's as I can, because I'll probably have to use the GI Bill for family.

You should talk to the VA rep about it since they will have the most accurate info for your goals.

[blu2blu]

I am having a hard time deciding if I should go to my local state college so I can have my G.I. Bill pay for it.

Plus, if I attend at least 1 class on campus I get a monthly stipend of $1,008 a month for housing costs.

If I go the CLEP route all my tests would be out of pocket.

The thing that has me torn is that through the G.I. Bill I have 36 months of benefits. I can use that just for a Bachelors degree, or I can earn my associates out of pocket through CLEP and then use those 36 months for the rest of my bachelors + some of my master's degree.

What would you do?

I agree with the first response. Talk to the VA about your specific benefits. You didn't specify if you will be using Post 9/11 or Montgomery plans. Each has certain reimbursement for testing programs but I don't know anything about them. Or enlist with the Guard/Reserves (I would recommend Air) and test for free + burn up TA (same benefits as active!).

[Yenisei]

You might in fact be able to use your GI Bill to pay for CLEP and DSST- but check on that. If you know that you want to get a master's degree, save your GI Bill money for that because that will surely cost more than CLEP and DSST exams.

[JaronB34]

I have the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill

[CLEP101]

You need to go talk to the VA or Ed center reps.
CLEPs and DSSTs and other exams are out of pocket initially. After you get the results or just the receipt of payment ( I forget ) You then submit to the VA for reimbursment. They are covered by the GI Bill.
I transfered my 9/11 GI Bill to my wife and she will be using it for the exams.

[valsacar]

You need to go talk to the VA or Ed center reps.
CLEPs and DSSTs and other exams are out of pocket initially. After you get the results or just the receipt of payment ( I forget ) You then submit to the VA for reimbursment. They are covered by the GI Bill.
I transfered my 9/11 GI Bill to my wife and she will be using it for the exams.

This, and go to normal classes (enough to be full time, with one physically). You'll finish your BA faster, and get the housing stipend. That's basically what I'm doing, did as much as I could the last few years on AD (no reserve obligation left) and carefully planned out courses so I keep full time status for 1 year and use tests/ALEKS/etc for the other missing year. I'll be done in December, and still have 2 years left to pay for my masters (depending on school might have to use my company benefits to cover the costs the GI bill won't).

[surferD]

Also check out the CLEP policy of the schhool you want to attend. Even though you might have to pay for some test out of pocket, the time saved might be worth it.

[Shemrat]

I would try the best I can to fund my bachelor's degree through the cheapest means necessary - often involving testing out - and saving the G.I. Bill for Grad school. It all depends on what it is that you want. I'll tell you this much: I am finishing up my undergrad right now as we speak with ZERO debt and my G.I. Bill is unscathed.

30 military credits transferred in, I took 6 DSST exams, I took community college courses when I could, and 75% of my degree was paid for through military tuition assistance... so it worked out good for me to where I wasn't hard-pressed on tapping into the G.I. Bill. What are your goals ultimately? Do you wish to stop at the bachelor's?

I did not qualify for FAFSA, but I think it would be wise to give it a try. I have known people to collect 5-10 k for undergrad upfront.

Sometimes money can be tight when paying for school out of pocket but I can assure you that FOR ME it was all well worth all of the hardships! You have to ask yourself if you are capable of making these sacrifices and if they are aligned with your goals in the end.

Now I have the master's degree to worry about and fortunately I have my G.I. Bill to fall back on if ever I run into any snags. I may just be crazy enough to do it without the G.I. Bill and save it for the second master's or the PhD. I live fairly comfortably, but I am by no means rich... I'm just proficient at finding the shortcuts! This is just me.

Good luck on your adventure!