New GI Bill and Flight Training

Aceninja said:
Does anyone have any more info on this? So If I am getting this straight, if I go to a flight school that has a college degree program, (Aviator College for example), does the Post 9/11 GI Bill still cover 100% of flight training costs or only up to $17,500k/year? Would Aviator be considered as a public or private school?
Last year they were paying 100%, does this mean that in this August the rates will be lowered?
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If you receive 100% benefits under the post 9/11 GI bill and are attending through an institute of higher learning they will pay up to the maximum instate tuition of where the school is.
Example. I attend flight school in Oregon, OHSU has the highest tuition at close to $24,000 so as long as I do not go over that per term I am alright.

As of now it seems as though if you are still attending a institute of higher learning for flight training nothing will change in Aug except the BAH gap between terms that have gaps.
 
http://forums.jetcareers.com/embry-...ty/119366-riddle-no-longer-100-free-vets.html

I was reading the above thread and was a bit concerned. I guess whether or not the New Post 9/11 GI Bill pays 100% of the costs or not depends on if you are attending a private or public school? Since ERAU is private, I guess that's out of the question. In the case of Aviator, while the school itself is private, the degree program is through Indian River State College, so I'm thinking it's counted as public.

http://www.gibill.va.gov/post-911/post-911-gi-bill-summary/Post911_changes.html

But what about the new changes coming this year? Will that affect the flight training part at all?

To quote an earlier post,
This is a bad deal for some, I'm just starting at school in Minnesota that offers flight training. The current mn rate is 37000 per term! Starting in august that will get reduced significantly. Would I need almost 40k a term, no. But 20,000 a year may not be enough to cover flight cost and my tuition for classes. This will be the case for the majority of states. The ability to go to a tech school is great but they are lowering the dollar amount paid in most states, places like California will benefit greatly but the majority will lose out. Many of us may have to hope for a yellow ribbon program or pay out of pocket. The whole purpose of the post 9/11 bill was so that school would be 100% paid.
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Either way I'm contacting the school directly and will let you guys know what I hear, but in the meantime if someone else has more info on this please feel free to chime in.
 
I found this site because I am looking for more info myself.

Let me tell everyone what I know so far.

I have been enrolled at a private university (LeTourneau in TX) since the fall and my tuition has been covered 100% so far (roughly $35K per yr) with the ch.33 Gi Bill. I will be leaving after the summer session because the Gi Bill will only be paying $17.5K per year, which will not come close to covering my costs there.

The yellow ribbon program usually only covers tuition, not flight fees.

For non-university or non-degree plan flight schools, I understand that the Gi Bill will be paying $10K per year after August.

I have heard that public schools will still be covered 100% and I am looking into that now because I will be moving before the fall term so that I can continue my flight training.

To the person that commented that nothing will change at an institute of higher learning, I believe that he is incorrect. I am in TX which has a very high max credit hour but after August, ALL states will be capped at $17.5K per year.

My Gi Bill rep at school has admitted that while she does not know much at this point, it looks as though the VA will NOT continue to pay for my education at LeTourneau after the summer.

Any more info that people have would be greatly appreciated.

Also, Do we know of public schools that will not be affected?
Maybe College of Sequoias?
I have to find somewhere to transfer to for the fall.

I assumed that I would just go the $10K per year route but thats not going to go as far as I would have at LeTourneau.
 
tjwareusmc said:
Also, Do we know of public schools that will not be affected?
Maybe College of Sequoias?
I have to find somewhere to transfer to for the fall.
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No public schools will be affected. Private schools will have a cap of $17,500/yr, and flight programs not leading to a degree will be capped at $10,000/yr. This means that people must look for a flight training program offered through a public college/university that leads to a degree (ie: AS or BS in Applied Aeronautics).
 
So what constitutes a public school? A public university/school with its own flight program like UND or a public school with a flight training program done through a private company, such as Aviator/ATP?
 
Here is what I was able to find out from the VA Rep at Aviator;
As of now the VA benefits under Chap 33 remain unchanged. However, it is true that a cap was talked about and is planned to come into effect in August 2011.
The upcoming changes being so confusing and uncertain, we requested an on-site visit this month by a V.A. official to be able to ask clarification and have concrete accurate answer for our future applicants.
Once we have more details about the upcoming changes, when, how, who, how much …. I will certainly send you an e-mail to keep you informed.
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Confused here as well. If anyone finds out anything from other schools please post here so we can all be updated.

Perhaps we can all email groups like AOPA etc, and try to raise the cap from $17,5 for private institutions. It wouldn't hurt to send an email, I had heard that AOPA played a part in getting the Post 9/11 GI Bill to be amended to allow flight/technical training (although that cap is still $10,000/year).
 
Aceninja said:
So what constitutes a public school? A public university/school with its own flight program like UND or a public school with a flight training program done through a private company, such as Aviator/ATP?
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Just my best guess but I would think that it is determined by who you pay the money to. If the public school collects all the fees then it is public in the eyes of the VA. If the private school collects the money directly then the VA will look at them as private. Again... just my opinion.
 
Tadpole said:
Besides the new changes to the Post 9/11 that were just voted on a couple weeks ago....as long as you transferred from the Montgomery GI Bill to the Post 9/11 you still retain the ability to use your Post 9/11 for the 60% reimbursement deal.

I transferred over almost a year ago expecting to lose that option. I got a letter in the mail with the paperwork for the transfer that surprised me saying that I still have that option. Though it looks like that is all changing anyway and it doesn't matter.
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So do you still keep the BAH if you invoke the 60% option. I just called the VA and they told me there was no such option. I have the Chap 30 bill right now, if they are gonna cap fees at 17.5, I think I will just hold on to my MGIB..
 
Aceninja said:
So do you still keep the BAH if you invoke the 60% option. I just called the VA and they told me there was no such option. I have the Chap 30 bill right now, if they are gonna cap fees at 17.5, I think I will just hold on to my MGIB..
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If you do the 60% option then you are using the Ch30 (Montgomery) and the BAH/Book stipulent is not part of that program.
 
Well I found out from Aviator today that they are going to be counted as a private institution as far as the VA is concerned, so they will be affected by the proposed caps. Does anyone know any public multi engine schools along the likes of ATP or Aviator?
 
From our previous list:
I scrubbed the private colleges and added question marks to the ones I am unsure of.

Central Oregon Community College - Bend, OR
Big Bend Community College - Moses Lake, WA
Salt Lake Community College - Salt Lake City, UT
Palm Beach State College - Lake Worth, FL
University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND
North West College of Aviation - Seattle, WA (Public/Private???)
Yavapai College - Prescott, AZ (Public/Private???)
Middle Tennessee State University - Murfreesboro, TN
Cochise College - Douglas, AZ (Public/Private???)
Chandler Gilbert Community College/UND Partnership - Phoenix, AZ
AIMS College - Greeley, CO (Public/Private???)
Portland Community College - Portland, OR
Indian Hills Community College - Ottumwa, Iowa
Westfield State College - Westfield, MA
Kansas State University
San Jacinto College Central-Pasadena, TX (Public/Private???)
Bridgewater State College
College of the Sequoias, Visilia, CA
The Community College of Baltimore County
Dodge City Community College
Hibbing Community College
Liberty University (Public/Private???)
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Middle-Georgia College (Public/Private???)
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Wallace State Community College
 
subpilot said:
From our previous list:
I scrubbed the private colleges and added question marks to the ones I am unsure of.

Central Oregon Community College - Bend, OR
Big Bend Community College - Moses Lake, WA
Salt Lake Community College - Salt Lake City, UT
Palm Beach State College - Lake Worth, FL
University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND
North West College of Aviation - Seattle, WA (Public/Private???)
Yavapai College - Prescott, AZ (Public/Private???)
Middle Tennessee State University - Murfreesboro, TN
Cochise College - Douglas, AZ (Public/Private???)
Chandler Gilbert Community College/UND Partnership - Phoenix, AZ
AIMS College - Greeley, CO (Public/Private???)
Portland Community College - Portland, OR
Indian Hills Community College - Ottumwa, Iowa
Westfield State College - Westfield, MA
Kansas State University
San Jacinto College Central-Pasadena, TX (Public/Private???)
Bridgewater State College
College of the Sequoias, Visilia, CA
The Community College of Baltimore County
Dodge City Community College
Hibbing Community College
Liberty University (Public/Private???)
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Middle-Georgia College (Public/Private???)
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Wallace State Community College
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So, there isn't one, available option for those of us living in Los Angeles or Orange counties? The largest metropolitan area on the west coast has not one public school with an aviation program? That baffles me... :o
 
also:
Miami Dade College
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Honolulu Community College has a flight program but I talked to their V.A. rep and there is some problem with their certification with the V.A. at this time.
 
Do any of these colleges have a ME track, along the lines of ATP/Aviator? Most of the colleges that I've seen are primarily SE, with 15 or so hours of ME instruction.
 
I ran across this thread while helping my husband search for flight schools. This is a list I've compiled of FAA-approved degree-granting schools (per http://av-info.faa.gov/PilotSchool.asp):


STATE SCHOOL TYPE 2-yr. 4-yr. BAH

ALABAMA Wallace State Community College Public Y N 936

ALASKA University of Alaska - Anchorage Public Y Y 1836

ARIZONA Arizona State University Public N Y 1335

ARIZONA Embry-Riddle Aeronatucial University Private N Y 1335

ARKANSAS Henderson State University Public N Y 888

CALIFORNIA American Academy of Aeronautics Private N Y n/a

CALIFORNIA Pacific Union College Private N Y 1653

CALIFORNIA San Diego Christian College Private N Y 1998

COLORADO Aims Community College Public Y N 1011

COLORADO Colorado Northwestern Community College Public Y N 1143

COLORADO Metropolitan State College Public N Y 1458

DELAWARE Delaware State University Public N Y 1320

FLORIDA Broward College Public Y* N 1752

FLORIDA Embry-Riddle Aeronatucial University Private N Y 1245

FLORIDA Miami Dade College Public Y N n/a

ILLINOIS/INDIANA Vincennes University Public Y N 951

ILLINOIS Lewis University Private Y Y 1275

ILLINOIS Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Public Y Y 984

ILLINOIS Southwestern Illinois College Public Y* N 1131

ILLINOIS University of Illinois Public N Y 1188

IOWA Indian Hills Community College Public Y N 918

IOWA Iowa Lakes Community College Public Y N 888

IOWA University of Dubuque Private N Y 1020

KANSAS Hesston College Private Y N 999

KANSAS Kansas State University Public Y Y 1113

KENTUCKY Eastern Kentucky University Public N Y 999

LOUISIANA Northwestern State University Public N Y 879

MASSACHUSETTS Northshore Community College Public Y* N 2307

MICHIGAN Northwestern Michigan College Public Y Y 1080

MICHIGAN Western Michigan University Public N Y 1122

MINNESOTA St. Cloud University Public N Y 1008

MISSISSIPPI Delta State University Public N Y 951

MISSOURI Saint Louis University Private N Y 1131

MISSOURI University of Central Missouri Public N Y 915

MONTANA Rocky Mountain College Private N Y 1050

NEBRASKA University of Nebraska-Kearney Public N Y 1032

NEW HAMPSHIRE Daniel Webster College Private N Y 1650

NEW JERSEY Mercer County Community College Public Y N 1740

NEW YORK Dowling College Private N Y 2466

NEW YORK Farmingdale State College Public N Y 2466

NORTH CAROLINA Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute Public Y N 1014

NORTH DAKOTA University of North Dakota Public N Y 999

OHIO Bowling Green State University Public N Y 1089

OHIO Kent State University Public N Y 885

OHIO Ohio University Public N Y 951

OHIO The Ohio State University Public N Y 1041

OKLAHOMA Oklahoma State University Public N Y 918

OKLAHOMA Southeastern Oklahoma State University Public N Y 951

OKLAHOMA Tulsa Community College Public Y* N 912

OKLAHOMA University of Oklahoma Public N Y 918

OKLAHOMA Western Oklahoma State College Public Y N 915

OREGON Lane Community College Public Y N 1086

PENNSYLVANIA Community College of Allegheny County Public Y N 1443

PENNSYLVANIA Community College of Beaver County Public Y N 1443

PENNSYLVANIA Lehigh Carbon Community College Public Y* N 1323

PENNSYLVANIA Marywood University Private N Y 948

SOUTH CAROLINA Bob Jones University Private N Y 1038

SOUTH DAKOTA South Dakota State University Public N Y 951

TENNESSEE Middle Tennessee State University Public N Y 1320

TENNESSEE Tennessee State University Public N Y 1320

TEXAS Central Texas College Public Y N 1014

TEXAS LeTourneau University Private N Y 1047

TEXAS Midland College Public Y* N 1287

TEXAS Mountain View College Public Y N 1425

TEXAS San Jacinto College Public Y N 1557

TEXAS Texas State Technical College Public Y N 966

UTAH Utah State University Public N Y 969

UTAH Westminster College Private N Y 1137

VIRGINIA Averett University Private N Y 936

VIRGINIA Liberty College Private N Y n/a

WASHINGTON Big Bend Community College Public Y N 1032

WASHINGTON Central Washington University Public N Y 1230

WASHINGTON Clover Park Technical College Public Y N 1395

WASHINGTON Green River Community College Public Y N 1566

WISCONSIN Gateway Technical College Public Y N 1143


* Based on info provided on the program's web site, the school seems to have agreements with other degree-granting institutions for the 2-yr. degree to feed into a 4-yr. degree (i.e., all credits earned are transferrable).

BAH information was estimated using http://www.newgibill.org/calculator. If multiple campuses came up in the search, I generally took either the 'main' campus amount or the lowest possible amount.

Some FAA-approved institutions are not represented here because either a.) I could not verify that the institutions grant degrees in conjunction with flight training, b.) the institutions are not listed in the FAA's database under an easily recognizable name (this happens more often than you might think), or c.) I accidentally overlooked them.

I have not cross-referenced this list to see how many of these programs/schools are VA-approved. Some of the program web sites indicate whether they are approved, but some do not. If anyone knows for sure about the schools on this list that have not yet been discussed (it looks like there are quite a few repeats), please chime in!
 
ooooaky... so my big question is "FAA approved" flight school secret government code-talk for part 141?
 
Just an update for anyone still looking at schools. I have officially started at San Jacinto College in houston/pasaden, tx. The program is great, and so far 100% covered by the MGIB. Tuition for private flight and ground is already in the account thanks to the VA, and studying hard. Planning on the instrument courses in the summer, and by the end of the year, hopefully commercial. Any questions feel free to IM/PM or email me. I am on the post 9/11 GIBILL, and 75% of the students in the class are veterans. Also in the night class, three of us are ex-Army Infantry. Thought that was funny. There is one Navy, one Coast Guard active, and two or three Air Force guys.
 
So, what are the options for those of us in the L.A. area? Are we just stuck with $10k a year, without any option to get $17,500?

This is still a bit confusing...
 
I'm fortunate enough to have hit at just the right time to finish up my flight training at a private institution (Also attending LeTourneau in Texas) before all of these changes go into effect. It was a pretty sweet deal there for a couple of years. I'll be graduating in May, but I'm thinking about going on to get my CFI at a non degree-granting program. I will graduate with about 10 months left of benefits under the post-9/11 program. Today I spoke with a rep who said that in this situation the amount ($10,000) would be prorated to however many months remained in the benefits program, if the total remaining was less than 12 months. My only remaining question is will there be any type of BAH or stipend in addition and, if so, how will it be caculated? I'm guessing it will be more like the previous bill where its just the flat rate with no exras. Either way I feel bad for you guys just starting out - they really gutted this thing big time. I've been able to get all my licenses and ratings plus a degree from a very expensive private university, and ended up paying about $1000 a semester. There's no way anybody will be able to afford to pursue flight training at a private university now without some serious scholarships or loans to make up the difference.
 
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