Robert Morris University to offer free tuition for veterans

Robert Morris University announced Thursday it will offer veterans of the armed services free tuition for graduate and undergraduate degrees.

With its newly created RMU Military Service Award, the Moon Township-based private university will cover the difference between its full-time tuition and a federal tuition subsidy offered to veterans under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill. The offer is open to all veterans, not just Pennsylvania residents. The federal subsidy is equivalent to the highest tuition of any public institution in the state in which the veteran chooses to attend college.

The school also announced it is opening a Veterans Education and Training Center to help veterans and their families with transition services, and assist with enrollment. Services offered will include academic advising, flexible course scheduling, and counseling. RMU is seeking space near the airport-area military bases to house this new facility.

“Since 9/11, thousands of veterans from western Pennsylvania have returned from deployment,” RMU president Gregory Dell’Omo said in a statement. “In this difficult economy, we want to remove barriers and give our best and brightest opportunities for private education that might not otherwise be available. Our goal is simple: give veterans the opportunity to get a private education and graduate with no debt, so the first paycheck they earn is all theirs.”

Under the award program, half of the difference between RMU’s tuition and the veterans' subsidy is covered by the university, and the other half will come from the federal government through the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program. Spouses and dependents of veterans also may qualify for the RMU Military Service Award.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2009/02/09/daily41.html

 

It is not totally FREE. Just only after the GI Bill, but then if a Veteran uses all his GI Bills for undergraduate degree. Then his Master degree at RMU is not totally free.

 

Great deal!

 

I am a veteran but my GI Bill benefits ran out a few years ago (time span of ten years after service). Therefore I wonder if this does not include me for anything.

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to, sir. It looks like it is only valid for those with a remaining Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit.

http://vets.rmu.edu/

The program they are using for this is called the "Yellow Ribbon Program." It can apply to any private university for those with Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. It is up to the university. Read more about it here:

http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_BILL_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm

 

Is there a list of institutes participate into the Yellow Ribbon Program?

 

The GI Bill website says that a searchable list will be available beginning 1 Apr 09.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_BILL_info/ch33/yellow_ribbon.htm

 

The site says they will have a search engine for institutions participating in the yellow ribbon program starting on April 1st...

 

When I was in the service, there was no GI Bill, just some crappy program called VEAP, or Veterans Education Assistance Program. It was the worst. It didn't pay for anything. I pulled my money out of the program (you had to pay into it while you served; Uncle Sam matched it 2 for 1).

I wish universities would take into account that not all veterans are covered by the GI Bill, but could still use a break on tuition and fees. I served in two "hot zones" (Beirut in 1984 and the Persian Gulf during the Iran/Iraq war), but I didn't qualify for any education benefits? It doesn't seem right.

 

I agree. One of my coworkers is a veteran who served in the 80's, and he also was on the VEAP plan. He said it was enough to cover about one year of tuition for his 4 year degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland back in the early 90's.

 

TCord,

Do you have any kind of disability from the service? I think the minimum is around 10/20% to qualify for VA benefits. Even if you don't, talk to the VA, they may be able to help in some way.

 

Thankfully, I have no service-related disabilities.

The officer at the VA tried to talk me out of withdrawing my VEAP money (which was MY money. It came out of my paycheck) because he said I "would have no education benefits." I had applied to a broadcasting school, which cost about $4,000, if I remember correctly. I had $7,000 saved through VEAP. They wanted to give me $700. They explained that VEAP is "meant to ASSIST with education costs, not pay for all of them."

Well, what good does that do me? I could have just saved all of my own money during my five years of service and paid out of pocket. VEAP sucks.
I know the GI Bill has its own faults, but I would have loved to have had access to those benefits.

 

Anybody in here is able to search for schools that particpate in yellow ribbon program? I attempted to search, but couldn't find anything.

 

try these

Yellow Ribbon Program

Approved Programs Search

 

Yeah, I tried those... when I selected include the Yellow Ribbon Program, the result was zero entry.

 

They changed the date; it's no longer April 1st and now it is late spring/early summer. Go to the first link that Kevin gave and read the answer to the 4th question down.

 

Thanks, I went to the site more than 5 times, but couldn't see that. I think I need a pair of glasses.