A College Financing Plan for Military Spouses

Going back to school is an exciting opportunity to start fresh with your career. The training and professional possibilities often seem endless – until you have to finance it all. That’s where you need a college financing plan.  

What Is a College Financing Plan?

A college financing plan is a tool that gives students information about the education costs and the financial aid available at any given school. The goal is to help you compare schools, estimate and plan for your fees and decide where to enroll.

Universities and colleges often include estimates for room and board, books and supplies and transportation in these plans. You can compare costs for on- and off-campus living and assess the impact of grants and scholarships on out-of-pocket fees.

As a military spouse, you may have access to unique financial aid. Developing an education financing plan can help you maximize funding and reduce the amount you pay.

MyCAA Grant for Military Spouses

Each new posting can make it challenging for military spouses to find jobs in a similar field with similar pay. The My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship is a military spouse education grant created to help you pay for coursework that leads to a license or certification in a portable career.

How It Works

The MyCAA scholarship provides up to $4,000 in tuition funding to eligible military spouses. The benefit caps at $2,000 per fiscal year and only applies to courses and exams included in your education training plan.

You are eligible for the MyCAA grant if:

• You are legally married to a service member on active duty.

• The service member is in pay grades E1 to E6, W1 to W2, and O1 to O3.

• You have graduated high school.

• Your military sponsor is on Title 10 military orders.

• You are legally married to a member of the National Guard or the Reserves in the same pay grades.

• You attend a MyCAA-approved school, such as MedCerts.

What It Covers

The MyCAA grant can help cover the cost of tuition and exam fees for a license, certification or associate’s degree that will help you gain employment. It also covers the licensing and education costs to maintain your license or certification, up to $4,000.

The grant only applies to testing fees and courses with credit from an approved military spouse education program. You may not use MyCAA for books or supplies, technology, student activities, transportation, lodging or non-credit courses.

Where to Start

The first step is to confirm your grant eligibility. You can check your status by opening a My Career Advancement Account with your Department of Defense Self-Service Logon (DS Logon) or talking to a MyCAA expert.

Next, choose a program from a MyCAA-approved school, such as MedCerts. Expert MyCAA consultants can help you select an option that leads to a high-demand career, find other scholarships and learn back-to-school financial tips. Once you pick your program, apply for MyCAA funding and enroll.

Learn With MedCerts

MedCerts is a premier provider of fully online certification programs in a flexible format. We’ve helped over 10,000 military students earn professional credentials, and many through the MyCAA grant. Talk to an expert consultant today.