After the Marine Corps, I went to the University of Alabama, earned a degree in operations management with a minor in supply chain management, and then finished an accelerated master's in operations management. If you're thinking about going past a bachelor's, the biggest thing I'd tell you is to plan your benefits like a mission, not semester by semester.
Know your number: 36 months
VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill page lists the maximum Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement as 36 months. Some veterans with more than one qualifying period of service, or with 56 or more months of active duty, may qualify for up to 48 months combined with Montgomery GI Bill benefits under the Rudisill decision. VA says it reviews those cases automatically. Your GI Bill Statement of Benefits shows exactly how much you've used and how much you have left. Check it before every semester.
Why an accelerated master's is worth a look
The Post-9/11 GI Bill can help pay for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. An accelerated program, where some graduate coursework overlaps with the end of your bachelor's, can help you finish both degrees in less total time. That's time you aren't paying out of pocket. Talk to your department and your school's VA certifying official early so the plan works with your benefits.
Yellow Ribbon for private, out-of-state, or graduate tuition
If your school costs more than the GI Bill covers, look at the Yellow Ribbon Program. VA says it can help with higher out-of-state, private, foreign, or graduate school tuition and fees. You need to qualify at the 100% benefit level, and your school has to participate. The school decides how much to contribute, and VA matches it. Spots are first come, first served, so apply early.
Rogers STEM Scholarship
If you're in a STEM undergrad program and running low on benefits, the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship can add up to 9 months of benefits or $30,000, whichever comes first. You need at least 60 credit hours completed in a qualifying program that requires 120 or more, and 6 months or less of GI Bill entitlement left. It can't be used for graduate programs. Business degrees generally aren't on the approved list, so check VA's list of fields before you count on it.
Why I keep recommending operations management
I think operations management is an outstanding degree for veterans. Planning, logistics, and leading people under pressure are what we did in uniform, and they translate directly into the classroom. Pair the degree with internships and student worker programs, and you'll graduate with experience employers can see. That combination did more for my career than any single class.
Sources: VA: Post-9/11 GI Bill · VA: Yellow Ribbon Program · VA: Rogers STEM Scholarship
