Military Families Guide to Back-to-School
Julie Provost
Guide for Going Back-to-School for Military Families
School is back in session, what benefits can help a military family start the new year off right?
The summer flew by, and now it is time to start thinking about a new school year. Whether you are a military member or spouse going back to school yourself, getting your young children ready for school, or preparing a college-aged student to start their new journey, there are benefits that can help you along the way. From discounts to scholarships to financial help. Here is a list to help you this new year.
Back-to-School Discounts
A new school year means school supplies and finding the best deal. You know you need to buy some pencils, paper, and other items, so why not get a deal on them? Here are some of the best back-to-school discounts!
At JanSport, you can find the perfect backpack for the new school year. They are currently offering a 50% off military discount.
Tutor.com offers online tutoring and homework help. As of April 2020, all DoD service members, civilian personnel, and all dependent family members from kindergarten to college/adult can use it at zero cost.
Apple Military and Student Discounts
At Apple, you can find both student and military discounts. The education discounts are for about 4-5% off and military discounts are a little more with about 10% off.
Rosetta Stone is a computer-assisted learning software. They offer a 10% military discount to active and retired military personnel.
Check out more back-to-school discounts on College Recon. You should also be aware of any tax-free weekends and when your state might be having theirs to save a little bit of money when purchasing school supplies.
Paying for School
G.I. Bills, Tuition Assistance, MYCAA, and more are all ways for members of the military and their children or spouses to pay for school. Each can be a bit complicated. Here is what you need to know.
- MyCAA: Everything you Need to Know
- Top Schools for Utilizing Military Tuition Assistance Benefits
- Yellow Ribbon Schools & Programs List
- 8 Tips for Using the GI Bill
- How to Switch From Montgomery GI Bill to Post 9/11
- Military Aid Societies And Education Benefits
Best Scholarships for the Military Family
If you have a military child going off to school, or you yourself or your spouse are going to school, it is always helpful to earn extra money for college. Here are some links to different scholarships, for veterans, military spouses, and military children.
- For military spouses, check out the National Military Family Association Military Spouse Scholarships, with an average of $1,000. View more military spouse scholarships on the Military Spouse Scholarships and grants page.
- For veterans, check out The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant.
- For military children, check out the Fisher House scholarship which is $2000 each. Visit our College Scholarships for Military Children & Dependents page for more discounts for military children.
Also, make sure to visit the CollegeRecon Scholarship Finder to find more scholarships that might work and would be worth applying to.
School Prep
Prepping for a new school year could mean changing up your routine, especially if one of the adults in the home is going back to school. Here is some advice and what to think about if you are making that change.
- Military Spouse’s College Guide to Going Back to School
- Back-to-School Shopping Tips
- Veteran’s Guide For Going to Law School
- Money Saving Hacks To Use When One Parent Is In School
- Childcare Options for Military Families
Military Students
There is a lot to know about the benefits you can receive for your military students, especially if you just moved to a new duty station. It would be a good idea to learn more about the Military Interstate Compact, and other benefits for military children.
- PCSing? How the Relocation Assistance Program Can Help
- “Our Military Kids” Provides Grants to Military Children
- PCSing & Your Child’s Education: The Military Interstate Compact
- My Military Child Is Going to College, What About TRICARE?
- Financial Assistance for Your Military Child’s Remote Learning
- Free Tutoring for Military Spouses and Families
No matter who is getting ready for school this fall, either the kids or the adults, knowing what you have access to can help you be even more prepared for the new year. Take advantage of any of these discounts and benefits to start the school year off right.
About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, blogger, and owner of Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life, a support blog for military spouses. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.
