Is it true that some servicemembers get into student loan debt?

2019-07-11T12:10:50-04:00

Is it true that some servicemembers get into student loan debt? As a former officer, this initially sounded crazy, but in a way, understandable given how little enlisted people are paid. I originally thought because DOD Tuition Assistance made school tuition free, this wouldn't happen. What would the loans be for? Is it to avoid payday loans? I have created an article that has student loan debt songs from Youtube in a variety of genres, including hip-hop, country, and heavy metal. http://collegemeltdown.blogspot.com/2019/07/music-videos-of-college-meltdown.html

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Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2019 12:38 PM

2019-07-11T12:38:36-04:00

I did. I wasn't in long enough before my initial medical discharge, so I lost my GI Bill benefits. Finished my Bachelors and then obtained a Masters after I got out. Now that I'm back in, the Air Guard doesn't offer repayment option that it appears the Army does.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2019 1:49 PM

2019-07-11T13:49:48-04:00

I have a chunk of debt. When I was enlisted, the tuition assistance program didn't cover a masters if you used it on a bachelor's in the preceding 10 years.

Response by SFC Marc W. made Jul 11 at 2019 4:13 PM

2019-07-11T16:13:51-04:00

Well your premise that Tuition assistance makes tuition free is incorrect. It covers $250 per semester hour topping out at 4500 a year. I chose not to go through the 2-3 universities that only cost $750 for a 3 credit class, and I took more classes than the 4500 cap a year. And yes, us "enlisted people", also get paid less.

Response by SGT James Murphy made Jul 12 at 2019 2:14 PM

2019-07-12T14:14:05-04:00

Ahhhhhhh...... I remember when a person could "work" their way through college....

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2019 2:22 PM

2019-07-12T14:22:23-04:00

It would depend. If one were in the guard then some states give free tuition to members of their state guard programs, but this still doesn’t cover things like general fees etc.

It’s very easy to amass student loan debt. I swear universities make the cell phone companies look like amateurs when it comes to magical fees to suck more cash out of their customers.

Response by SrA Chris Forster made Jul 15 at 2019 10:00 AM

2019-07-15T10:00:49-04:00

I kept my classes under the cap while in, but I changed my major after being injured and getting out on a medical discharge as I couldn't pursue the original career I wanted. So I got a bachelors in electronics engineering and the GI Bill didn't cover it all. I now have a hefty student loan debt. Should be paid off about the time I retire.

Response by SGT James Murphy made Aug 5 at 2019 7:08 PM

2019-08-05T19:08:08-04:00

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Response by Sgt Joy Bedford made Aug 9 at 2019 9:27 PM

2019-08-09T21:27:18-04:00

Tuition Assistance doesn’t pay for the entire cost of going to college. Our Active Duty personnel have to pay out of pocket for their books and various other items. Even if they apply for their Chapter 33 Educational Benefits, they are still responsible for their books because they are active duty. At the college where I work we strongly suggest that they don’t use their Chap 33 because they will lose out on a few thousand dollars a semester due to not being eligible for the BAH.

Response by LT Scott O'Shaughnessy, MBA made Aug 9 at 2019 10:45 PM

2019-08-09T22:45:18-04:00

I’m not sure . It’s quite possible they do if you want to venture outside of the programs offered by many schools. TA doesn’t cover everything, yet if you are just looking to get a degree, then there are options outside of a student loan. Just have to make an informed decision.