Click on cover image to purchase a copy
MWSA Review
College Finances for Military Families by Kate Horrell offers information and advice in clearly stated language for families who are planning to attend post-high school education. Some of the chapters offer advice and examples that any family can use—not just military. But the chapters dealing with aid available to military families demonstrate how very complicated this process is. Not only does the book relate the many sources of financial aid but also how to find these sources and how they can work together… or can conflict. Horrell provides clear-cut examples of how to stack the various sources for the most benefit. It's only when you lay out the various costs and benefits, including housing allowances, that you can see which option works.
She also reminds the reader in various chapters that (1) rules change often, both at the individual schools and at those agencies giving money; (2) get all agreements in writing; (3) if programs are not completed, you may have repay financial aid; (4) read financial award letters carefully and ask questions if the statements are not crystal clear or you don't understand something; (5) consider the whole family's plans not just the immediate future of the first child going to college; (6) use loans carefully; (7) reevaluate periodically.
This is a book that should be in the hands of every family with children who may want to continue their education or training after high school.
Review by Nancy Kauffman
Author's Synopsis
College Funding for Military Families is a simple yet comprehensive guide designed to help service members, veterans, and their families make smart, informed decisions about paying for higher education. With clear explanations and practical information, this book walks readers through the entire planning process―from understanding the education benefits earned through military service to learning how to coordinate those resources with other forms of financial aid. When you're done reading, you'll have a clear view of how to build a college financial plan that supports the education goals of the entire family.
Whether you're navigating your first duty station or left the service years ago, this guide demystifies the complex landscape of military education benefits. It provides straightforward information about the most widely used programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, and the Yellow Ribbon Program. It also breaks down how and when to transfer GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, what happens when eligibility changes, and how to ensure that those benefits are used efficiently and strategically. In addition to federal programs, College Funding for Military Families shines a light on state-level programs for military dependents, outside scholarships, and the implications of military life on in-state tuition.
Military families will see how to layer military-connected education benefits with civilian financial tools such as 529 college savings plans, federal student aid (including the FAFSA and Pell Grant), and private scholarships and grants. You'll learn how prioritize all these resources to build a strategic college funding plan that stretches resources for multiple children or degrees. This guide also addresses the realities of military life that affect educational planning―frequent moves, deployment cycles, unpredictable orders, and the transition to civilian life. You'll find tips on how to maintain eligibility through these challenges, how to choose flexible or military-friendly schools, and how to spot red flags in schools that aggressively market to military families.
Written by a financial educator with deep expertise in both college funding strategies and military benefit systems, this book is packed with real-life examples, timelines, and plain-English explanations that help military households avoid costly mistakes. It's not a textbook―it's a practical resource you can refer to again and again as your family's education needs evolve.
Whether your goal is a four-year university, a trade school, a graduate degree, or professional certification, College Funding for Military Families will help you unlock the full value of your benefits and build a cost-effective plan that works for your family. It's a must-read for any military household thinking about higher education―whether you're planning years in advance or scrambling to meet next semester's deadlines.
Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business
Pages/Word count: 100 / 24,595