If you are a US service member, utilizing your GI Bill benefits can help you get the training and education you need to progress your career. Here are some of the ways to get the most out of your GI Bill benefits when you're looking at online college for military service members.

Matching Benefits

Since the GI Bill was enacted in 1944, colleges and universities have used a variety of strategies to attract US service members to enroll at their institutions. Because the US government provides GI Bill benefits in full at the time of enrollment, recruiting students who qualify for GI Bill benefits can give an institution a quick influx of cash. When you're looking at online colleges for military veterans, it's important to look for institutions that match your GI Bill benefits.

1. Yellow Ribbon: a Yellow Ribbon is an institution that equally matches GI Bill benefits. This means that if the GI Bill covers your tuition but not the entire cost of attendance (housing, parking, meals, etc.), the institution will not only cover the remaining costs but also provide a rebate check for any remaining funds. Yellow Ribbon benefits are very important if you're considering a provide online college for military veterans and/or training that involves additional expenses. Some examples include flight training, mechanical certification, residencies, internships, etc.

When looking for an online college that offers a Yellow Ribbon program, it's important to schedule a meeting with an admissions counselor about how the program works and the types of limitations on the program. Some institutions only match GI Bill benefits to cover the true cost of attendance and will not offer a rebate on the remaining funds.

2. Silver Ribbon: a Silver Ribbon institution matches GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of tuition. This means that if your GI Bill benefits do not cover tuition, the institution will cover the remaining balance. Although not as generous as the Yellow Ribbon program, there are far more Silver Ribbon institutions in the United States.

Giving Credit

Most US service members have experience and/or college credits earned at a previous institution before they enroll in an Online college for military veterans. You can spend less of your GI Bill benefits so that a spouse or child can use them if an institution is willing to honor the credits you earned at another institution and/or award you credits for training you received in your uniform.