CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS FOR VETERANS
- The projected U.S. veteran population is 23,816,000.
- More than 2.9 million veterans receive service-related disability compensation.
- As of September 2007, some 223,564 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom filed for disability claims; some 20,000 to 30,000 of those are severely wounded.
- Some 329,746 veterans receive compensation for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- 6.9 percent of veterans (1.725 million) are not able to work because they are disabled.
- The numbers of veterans using benefits for college or university study, or for business, technical and vocational training, have steadily increased. This trend likely reflects changes in labor market education requirements.
- The current G.I. Bill provides active-duty veterans with up to $1,321 per month to cover educational expenses, depending on years of service, rank and other considerations. If used for the maximum 36 months, this benefit will total $47,556.
- Under the post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which will take effect next August, veterans will receive: the cost of tuition and fees (not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education); monthly housing allowance in the same zip code as the school equal to the basic allowance payable to a military E-5 with dependents; stipend of up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies; and a one-time payment of $500 for individuals relocating from highly rural areas.
- Veterans who served at least 30 days of active duty service and were discharged due to a service connected disability qualify for the full 100 percent of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
- The percentage of veterans emphasizing the importance of educational benefits to achieving their goals has steadily increased. This reflects enlistment incentives promulgated in recent years, which have encouraged people to volunteer by emphasizing the education benefits they can obtain through military service.
- More than half of the veteran population (54.6%) has an annual family income of $50,000 or less.
- The average cost of a year's tuition, room and board, and fees for in-state students at public institutions in 2008-09 is $18,685, which is $74,740 for a four-year degree.
- With the maximum G.I. Bill benefit, veterans would still have on average a debt of $27,184 upon graduation.
- Average tuition and fees are up 36.3% from five years ago; they increased 6.4% in the last year alone
Sources
*VA Benefits and Health Care Utilization, 07/22/08
*National Survey of Veterans 2001, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
*The College Board, 10/29/2008.