A Tuition Bump Can Ensure a Strong Military

It is no hyperbole to say that our lives depend on these men and women who serve the nation.

The service that our military personnel provide is even more extraordinary when we realize that they volunteer for duty. In 1968, the U.S. had 3.5 million active service members, but that number dwindled precipitously after 1973 when the draft ended.

Today, everyone in uniform is there by choice.

Despite the commitment and sacrifice of military personnel, the nation’s support of them is lackluster. According to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the starting monthly pay for enlisted personnel is $2,261 after an initial six-month period, though this can vary depending on location, skills, etc.

A primary reason individuals join the military is the tuition benefit that the military provides. According to Indeed.com, education and training benefits are the second main driver of enlisting after a sense of duty.

Tuition benefits for veterans are very good. Thanks to the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post 9/11 GI Bill), veterans have all tuition and fees covered at public institutions and up to $28,937 at private schools. In most cases, veterans’ tuition benefits are transferable to dependents.

Tuition benefits for active military members, however, are far below the average rate of tuition in the U.S. Active military members are reimbursed only $250 per credit hour up to an annual cap of $4,500.

While the average cost of tuition increased 65 percent from 2000 to 2021, the active military tuition reimbursement rate has not changed since 2002. Today, the average cost of one credit hour at public four-year institutions is $456, and it is nearly three times that amount at private schools.

Many colleges and universities cannot afford to honor the $250 reimbursement rate, so given the modest salaries of active military and the low tuition reimbursement rate, members of our armed forces have increasingly limited choices of schools to attend.

The low tuition reimbursement rate for active military members is made even more stark when compared to Pell Grants. Pell Grants are need-based financial aid administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The maximum Pell Grant amount that a student can receive in 2024 is $7,395, which is 64 percent more than the maximum tuition reimbursement rate for active military personnel. Hence, the men and women who actively defend the United States everyday receive fewer tuition benefits than those who demonstrate need but provide no military service to the country.

There is a relatively simple three-step solution to this problem. First, the Department of Defense receives about $800 million annually for tuition reimbursement. However, it only uses about $600 million for that purpose. The remainder of the funds goes toward training and other activities. If the Department of Defense used all the money it receives for tuition assistance for that purpose, it could increase the tuition reimbursement rate to $300-350 per credit hour.

The second step in the solution is for Congress to allocate more resources for active military tuition. It might seem as though $800 million is a lot of money. It is, until it is put into a broader context.

The 2024 Department of Education budget is $79.1 billion. $24.6 billion is allocated for federal student aid programs that do not impact the military tuition reimbursement rate. If Congress added $500 million to the Department of Defense budget stipulating that it must be used for tuition reimbursement, it would allow the active-duty tuition reimbursement rate to increase to at least the average cost of a credit hour at public universities.

The third and final step in the solution is to tie annual increases in the active military tuition reimbursement rate to the consumer price index. This would ensure that another 22 years do not go by without an increase.

It is in the best interest of every American to have a strong military. Since the U.S. has a completely voluntary armed forces, we must ensure that we continue to attract strong, capable, and dedicated individuals who want to serve and protect the nation.

A small investment in the benefit that drives many to enlist would go a long way to ensure that the country remains protected for many years to come.

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