Veterans Education and the GI Bill

The Issue

Since its founding as an emergency council during World War I, the American Council on Education (ACE) has advocated for policies to ensure that veterans and service members have access to—and the opportunity to succeed in—higher education. The 2008 passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill dramatically expanded these opportunities. In 2022, 800,000 beneficiaries accessed more than $10.5 billion in funding from Veterans Affairs education benefits programs. ACE serves as a valuable resource to federal policymakers in developing and implementing this and other legislation on campuses across the country.

Our Work
Undergraduate Military Learners: Exploring Differences Between Military Learners' Experiences in Higher Education
November 7, 2023
Undergraduate Military Learners: Exploring Differences Between Military Learners' Experiences in Higher Education
This brief aims to promote awareness of who undergraduate military learners are and draw attention to what sets service groups apart from one another in order to help these students maximize credentials, increase use of benefits, and improve outcomes.
Testimony of Anne Meehan to the House Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on Veterans Education Benefits
September 20, 2023
Testimony of Anne Meehan to the House Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on Veterans Education Benefits
Anne Meehan, ACE's assistant vice president of government relations, testified to a House Committee on Veterans' Affairs subcommittee on streamlining the administration of veterans education programs and the use of risk-based surveys.
Facts in Hand: Supporting Veterans Through the Post–9/11 GI Bill
February 2, 2023
Facts in Hand: Supporting Veterans Through the Post–9/11 GI Bill
Educational benefits are vital for ensuring that veterans can succeed in higher education. In terms of funding and number of beneficiaries, the Post–9/11 GI Bill is the largest of the VA's benefit programs.
Comments on Proposed Changes to 85-15 Rule
December 12, 2022
Comments on Proposed Changes to 85-15 Rule
ACE, on behalf of nine other higher education associations, sent comments to the Department of Veterans Affairs urging the language in the draft rule to be more clear about what types of insitutions are impacted.
Letter to VA on Enrollment Management System Transition
December 8, 2022
Letter to VA on Enrollment Management System Transition
ACE and the signed organizations and associations urge the Veterans' Administration to delay the transition to a new enrollment management system for certifying GI bill benefits.
Letter to Congress on the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act
December 1, 2022
Letter to Congress on the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act
Letter from ACE and other higher education associations to congressional committee leaders, encouraging them to pass the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act.
Testimony of Anne Meehan to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Hearing ]on Pending Legislation
July 13, 2022
Testimony of Anne Meehan to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Hearing ]on Pending Legislation
Anne Meehan, ACE's assistant vice president of government relations, testified about the Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act, legislation to address the unintended consequences stemming from the VA's recent 85-15 policy reset.
Letter to Congress on Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act
June 23, 2022
Letter to Congress on Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act
Letter in support of legislation introduced by House and Senate committees on Veterans' Affairs members to address concerns stemming from recent policy changes to the 85-15 rule.
Letter to House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the 85-15 Policy Reset
March 15, 2022
Letter to House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the 85-15 Policy Reset
Letter to the leaders of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee expressing concerns about the VA’s recent 85-15 policy reset and changes in the requirements for the 35 percent exemption.
Letter on the REMOTE Act for Veterans
November 18, 2021
Letter on the REMOTE Act for Veterans
Letter to the House and Senate committees on Veterans' Affairs on the need to make certain changes to the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act and pass the bill as quickly as possible.
Letter on Veterans Benefits COVID Extensions, Technical Corrections Bill
October 28, 2021
Letter on Veterans Benefits COVID Extensions, Technical Corrections Bill
Letter to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that makes technical corrections to several veterans education benefits laws, extends COVID-19 flexibilities for student veterans, and fixes the roundin...
Letter in Support of the Student Veteran COVID-19 Protection Act
October 21, 2021
Letter in Support of the Student Veteran COVID-19 Protection Act
Letter to Rep. Mike Bost thanking him for introducing the the Student Veteran COVID-19 Protection Act (H.R. 5509) and urging Congress to pass it quickly.
Letter in Support of the REMOTE Act for Veterans Education
October 21, 2021
Letter in Support of the REMOTE Act for Veterans Education
Letter to Reps. David J. Trone, Mike Levin, and Mark Takano thanking them for introducing the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions (REMOTE) Act (H.R. 5545) and urging Congress to pass it quickly.
Letter to Congressional VA Committees on Technical Corrections to Veterans Education Benefits Bills
September 22, 2021
Letter to Congressional VA Committees on Technical Corrections to Veterans Education Benefits Bills
Letter to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees highlighting the unintended consequences of the Isakson Roe and THRIVE Act for veterans and the colleges and universities that serve them.
Letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee on Isakson-Roe Implementation
July 19, 2021
Letter to House Veterans Affairs Committee on Isakson-Roe Implementation
ACE and other higher education associations strongly support the goals of this legislation but several provisions have the potential to create unintended consequences for veterans and the colleges and universities that serve them.
Overpayments for GI Bill Tuition and Fees and VA’s Process for Collecting These Debts
April 19, 2021
Overpayments for GI Bill Tuition and Fees and VA’s Process for Collecting These Debts
Under Section 1019 of the Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, institutions are now responsible for paying back to the VA “any overpayment” of tuition and fees paid directly to the institution on behalf of a veteran.
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the Protect the GI Bill Act
December 3, 2020
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the Protect the GI Bill Act
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding the the Protect the GI Bill Act. While ACE supports much of the bill, there are several provisions that could create unintended consequences for veterans and institutions.
Letter to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the Protect the GI Bill Act
December 3, 2020
Letter to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the Protect the GI Bill Act
Letter to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding the the Protect the GI Bill Act. While ACE supports much of the bill, there are several provisions that could create unintended consequences for veterans and institutions.
Letter to the Senate in Support of Flexibility for Veterans Education Benefits During the Pandemic
September 23, 2020
Letter to the Senate in Support of Flexibility for Veterans Education Benefits During the Pandemic
Letter to the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs in support of extending a law to help ensure that veteran education benefits are not disrupted because of COVID-19. The new end date is December 2021.
Letter to the House in Support of Flexibility for Veterans Education Benefits During the Pandemic
September 23, 2020
Letter to the House in Support of Flexibility for Veterans Education Benefits During the Pandemic
Letter to the House Committee on Veteran Affairs in support of extending a law to help ensure that veteran education benefits are not disrupted because of COVID-19. The new end date is December 2021.
Letter to Senate Veterans Committee on Veteran Coronavirus Response Act
April 14, 2020
Letter to Senate Veterans Committee on Veteran Coronavirus Response Act
Letter sent to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Veterans in support of the Student Veterans Coronavirus Response Act of 2020.
Latest News
​Military Learners Are Diverse, Face Unique Challenges
November 13, 2023
​Military Learners Are Diverse, Face Unique Challenges
US military learners have distinct ways of engaging in higher ed, according to ACE’s new brief, which offers insight into who these learners are, how to help increase their use of available benefits, and how to improve their outcomes.
ACE’s Anne Meehan Testifies at House VA Subcommittee Hearing, Highlights Concerns with Implementation of Risk-Based Surveys
September 22, 2023
ACE’s Anne Meehan Testifies at House VA Subcommittee Hearing, Highlights Concerns with Implementation of Risk-Based Surveys
The House Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing Wednesday that examined the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) administration of veterans education benefits and featured testimony from ACE’s Anne Meehan.
ACE, Sophia Learning Name Amberlin Dupre and Joel Riley 2022 Students of the Year
March 23, 2023
ACE, Sophia Learning Name Amberlin Dupre and Joel Riley 2022 Students of the Year
Both recipients, driven by a desire to help people overcome challenges, are working toward or have completed a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and are planning to pursue graduate degrees.
COVID State of Emergency Ends in May; Federal Pandemic Aid was Key to Supporting Students
February 6, 2023
COVID State of Emergency Ends in May; Federal Pandemic Aid was Key to Supporting Students
The Biden administration announced last week that it will end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies on May 11.
Supporting Veterans Through the Post–9/11 GI Bill
February 2, 2023
Supporting Veterans Through the Post–9/11 GI Bill
Educational benefits are vital for ensuring that veterans can succeed in higher education. In terms of funding and number of beneficiaries, the Post–9/11 GI Bill is the largest of the VA's benefit programs.
VA Delays Enrollment Management System Change
December 13, 2022
VA Delays Enrollment Management System Change
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that the implementation of its new enrollment management system will be delayed from mid-January 2023 to early March.
UGA Program Helps Veterans Find Community, Mental Health Treatment
November 7, 2022
UGA Program Helps Veterans Find Community, Mental Health Treatment
​Colleges and universities across the country have instituted programs to help the veterans in their communities overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. In observance of Veterans Day, ACE is highlighting one such initiative.
Congress Approves Veterans Legislation Clarifying 85-15 Exemption
August 15, 2022
Congress Approves Veterans Legislation Clarifying 85-15 Exemption
Congress has passed the Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act of 2022 (S. 4458), an important piece of legislation that means veterans can continue to enroll in quality higher education programs of their choosing.
Senate VA Committee Holds Hearing on Bills to Fine-Tune Laws that Support Veterans
July 15, 2022
Senate VA Committee Holds Hearing on Bills to Fine-Tune Laws that Support Veterans
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs heard testimony June 13 on a range of pending legislation to help veterans, primarily bills to fine-tune and address unintended consequences of laws already on the books.
House Bills Would Extend COVID Flexibilities for Veterans Education Benefits, Fine-Tune Other Vets Bills
October 25, 2021
House Bills Would Extend COVID Flexibilities for Veterans Education Benefits, Fine-Tune Other Vets Bills
Two bills to extend COVID-related flexibilities for veterans education benefits and make technical corrections to recent veterans legislation have been introduced in the House.
Modernized ACE Military Guide Expands College Credit Opportunities for Military Learners
April 1, 2021
Modernized ACE Military Guide Expands College Credit Opportunities for Military Learners
ACE has launched a modernized Military Guide that will help military-connected students easily find college credit for their military education and training.
Institutions Will Soon Have a New Way to Evaluate Military Experience for College Credit
March 4, 2021
Institutions Will Soon Have a New Way to Evaluate Military Experience for College Credit
The modernized ACE Military Guide will launch on April 1, 2021. Academic institutions can take advantage of this transformative new decision support tool by signing up for an ACE Military Guide Institution Account.
Deadline Extended: Nominate a Student for the ACE Student of the Year Award
December 21, 2020
Deadline Extended: Nominate a Student for the ACE Student of the Year Award
ACE is encouraging institutions, mentors, and students themselves, to recognize individuals for the 2020 Student of the Year Award. Nominations from those who know of the accomplishments of a deserving student are now due by Jan. 15.
Over a Decade of Serving Student Veterans at Bunker Hill Community College
November 10, 2020
Over a Decade of Serving Student Veterans at Bunker Hill Community College
Over the past decade, the Bunker Hill Community College Veterans Center has worked to ensure a smooth transition to college for student-veterans, active duty military, Guard/Reservists, and their eligible dependents.
ACE Member Institutions Adopt Programs to Support Veterans
November 10, 2020
ACE Member Institutions Adopt Programs to Support Veterans
As we commemorate Veterans Day and those who served, ACE is proud to highlight a selection of our members’ work geared toward helping veterans succeed on their campuses, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Military and Higher Education Group
Military and Higher Education Group
This group is designed for higher education professionals to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and benefits of military-affiliated learners in Higher Education. Only on ACE Engage—Create your account!
JST Stakeholders Forum Session 2
March 27, 2020
JST Stakeholders Forum Session 2
At this interactive feedback session facilitated by ACE, the JST Operations team will provide updates and vet potential changes to the JST.
JST Stakeholders Forum Session 1
March 26, 2020
JST Stakeholders Forum Session 1
At this interactive feedback session facilitated by ACE, the JST Operations team will provide updates and vet potential changes to the JST.
President Signs Legislation Protecting Veterans GI Bill Benefits During Coronavirus Crisis
March 23, 2020
President Signs Legislation Protecting Veterans GI Bill Benefits During Coronavirus Crisis
Veterans will continue to receive their GI bill benefits in situations where campuses are forced to move courses online due to COVID-19.
Faculty Perspectives on Serving Military Students in College
Faculty Perspectives on Serving Military Students in College
Faculty members share insights into working with active duty and veteran students, including the value they add to the classroom, their unique challenges, and recommendations for better supporting them. Only on ACE Engage—Create your account!
Resources: Helping Military-Affiliated Students Adjust to Academic Life
Resources: Helping Military-Affiliated Students Adjust to Academic Life
This toolkit helps higher education leaders, faculty, and staff identify military-affiliated students, challenges student service members and veterans face, and strategies for supporting their academic success. Only on Engage—Create your account!
 
 

ACE Military Guide

The Military Guide to help military-connected students find college credit and academic institutions more readily make credit awards.

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A History of Service

Serving Those Who Serve Through the GI Bill

ACE has played a key role in responding to the educational needs of military members and veterans, perhaps most significantly by working closely with the federal government on two GI Bills—the original implemented after World War II, and an updated version in the aftermath of 9/11. (Higher Education Today)

Supporting the Dreams of Severely Injured Military Veterans

In 2007, ACE created the Severely Injured Military Veterans: Fulfilling Their Dreams program in response to a request from James Wright, then president of Dartmouth, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to provide academic advising for over 700 severely injured service members. (Higher Education Today)