Pennsylvania Broadens Guard Members’ College Tuition Benefit

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania is broadening a college tuition benefit for National Guard members who sign up for another six-year enlistment.  Gov. Tom Wolf on Monday signed legislation he calls the nation’s most extensive higher education benefit for a state Guard unit .  Since 1996, National Guard members who sign up for a six-year enlistment get 10 semesters, or five years, of tuition credits equal to the annual tuition rate charged by Pennsylvania’s state system universities.  The new reenlistment benefit is identical, but can also be used by spouses or children.
The institution must be approved by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. The benefit starts immediately for Guard members. Family members can start claiming the benefit next summer. The new benefit is projected to cost about $12 million annually by 2024.