Alternative ways to use your ed award
If you plan on using the G.I. Bill to pay for school, there are still other ways for you to use your AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use it to pay for extra course supplies not covered by the G.I. Bill, to volunteer in another country, get wilderness medicine certifications, take enrichment classes, and much more. Learn more about the G.I. Bill here.
Get a computer, text book, or other course materials Do you still have more expenses for courses, even with the GI Bill? While many schools will accept your education award for these costs, it is at the discretion of the financial aid office. You can use your award to pay for expenses within the school's predetermined Cost of Attendance. (Cost of attendance is a financial aid term for the general amount it would cost for a student to attend that school). Some schools allow an increase of Cost of Attendance in a given year to help pay for supplies and equipment, such as a computer. Your best bet is to ask what the policy is. If you are a full-time student requesting to use the award on a computer, your chances are better than a student taking just one class. If you are a photography major, you have a better chance in asking to use the award to buy a camera than a student studying biology. Important: When you send Education Award funds to a school, they will arrive in two disbursements. This might affect your ability to purchase school items in a timely manner, so plan ahead! Living Expenses Are your living expenses higher than what your GI Bill benefits cover? Need help paying rent while in school? Not all schools allow this, but it is worth looking into. It is more likely for them to accept the award if you live in student housing, but contact your financial aid office to determine if they will accept the award. National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) NOLS offers a variety of classes around the world including mountaineering, rock climbing, horse packing, skiing/snowboarding, and wilderness medicine. There are also classes to become outdoor instructors and special courses for adults. NOLS is not a Title VI institution but does accept the education award and the GI Bill. Learn more about how to use your Ed Award for NOLS here. Outward Bound Unlike NOLS, Outward Bound does not offer certifications, but does have some really cool courses that you can receive college credit through Western State Colorado University. Courses vary from one-week to an entire semester or instructor courses to gain experience in outdoor skills, leadership and group facilitation and embark on a career in experiential education. Learn more about how to use your Ed Award here. Kling Mountain Guides You can use your award to take Kling Mountain Guide classes, if you sign up for the college credit option through San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. You don’t have to be a student there to enroll. You can learn more here. Here are some of the classes offered through the college credit program:
San Juan College also has a lot of great fire science classes. You can learn more here. Medical Skills Training: Wilderness EMT (via Aerie Backcountry Medicine, NOLS) Wilderness First Responder (via NOLS) Swiftwater Rescue Technician- Earn college credit for water rescue certifications and kayak safety classes through University of Idaho or and University of Utah. Learn more here. Another great training option: Aerie Backcountry Medicine- Aerie offers a variety of programs across the country and internationally. You can take anything from Wilderness First Aid to a full semester in Wilderness Medicine. You can receive college credit through University of Montana for most courses and use your education award to pay for it. Learn more here. |
Global Service Corps
Global Service Corps offers an overseas service experience with optional college credit and the chance to use your education award for program fees, airfare, and related expenses.Whether serving in Tanzania, Cambodia, or Thailand, you can stay involved in issues that are important to you while they make a positive impact on global communities. Global Service Corps community development projects focus on the areas of health, education, and nutrition. Programs are offered throughout the year and range in length from as short as two weeks, to more intensive internships lasting six months or longer. College credits are also available for all programs, though it is not required to earn credit to use the education award. Learn more here. Leave No Trace Master Educator Become certified to become a Leave No Trace Educator through NOLS. This course is only 5 days long and averages about $600-$800 in cost. Read more about the program here. Overseas Schools Want to study abroad or go to school in another country? A number of schools overseas and in Mexico and Canada are listed as Title IV and accept the award. You can also browse this document to see if the school you are interested in is Title IV. If your My AmeriCorps account won't allow you to send funds to the overseas school, you might consider taking out a Stafford or other federal student loan and then repaying the loan with your award. If an overseas school is NOT listed as Title IV but you would still like to attend using your education award, you might be able to enroll in a school stateside and participate in an exchange program. That way, you are paying your tuition to a school inside the U.S. while attending a school overseas. To make this option work, it will take a bit of research on your part. Start Your Own Business Ever thought about starting your own business? Most community colleges have business start-up classes that coach you while you start your business. Some schools even offer business incubator opportunities, which is a place for your business to grow during its beginning stages. There, you will have support, access to resources, and networking opportunities with other new entrepreneurs. Check with your local community college to see what entrepreneurship opportunities they offer. Enrichment Classes Want to use your G.I. Bill benefits for something else but still want to take classes for fun? You can use your award to take a class here and there at a community college or public university, as long as it's Title IV. You can take classes like guitar, swimming, photography, or anything else that's offered. If you take one or two classes per quarter at a community college, you can make your award last for years and gain a great deal of enrichment. The award can also apply to writer's conferences and other activities offered through schools, as long as the tuition is paid to an eligible institution. Scuba Diving for College Credit Want to learn how to scuba dive or brush up on your skills? Some colleges and community colleges offer scuba diving classes and certification programs through the Academy of Scuba. The Scuba For College Credit program will enable you to extend your Scuba skills far beyond a beginner course. You can develop your professional skills through our Continuing Education Platform or take “credit” courses, including Advanced Scuba Diver and several specialties for Marine Life Behavior and Underwater Ecology. You may have to enroll as a student first, in order to register for scuba class, but don’t let that prevent you from registering. Check your local community college to see what they have to offer, you may even be able to use your award for your scuba gear! Learn more about an example program here. |