College Finances for Military Families - (Confidently Prepared Military Money) by Kate Horrell (Paperback)

About the Book

College Funding for Military Families is a simple yet comprehensive guide to help service members, veterans, and their families make smart, informed decisions about paying for higher education. From understanding the education benefits earned through to learning how to combine those resources with other forms of financial aid, this book walks readers through the entire planning process.

Whether you're new to military life or left the service years ago, this book offers clear explanations of the most valuable military-related education benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill. It also explores how military families can use tools like 529 plans, scholarships, grants, and federal student aid as part of their college financial plan. Readers will learn how to maximize eligibility, avoid common pitfalls, and develop a customized plan for the whole family.

Written by a financial educator with deep expertise in both college funding and military benefits, College Funding for Military Families is packed with real-life examples, practical tips, and up-to-date guidance tailored to the unique needs of military households. Whether your goal is a four-year university, a trade school, or graduate study, this book will help you unlock the full value of your military-connected education benefits--and create a path that helps everyone in your family accomplish their education goals at the lowest possible cost.

Book Synopsis

College Funding for Military Families is a simple yet comprehensive guide designed to help service members, veterans, and their families make smart, informed decisions about paying for higher education. With clear explanations and practical information, this book walks readers through the entire planning process--from understanding the education benefits earned through military service to learning how to coordinate those resources with other forms of financial aid. When you're done reading, you'll have a clear view of how to build a college financial plan that supports the education goals of the entire family.

Whether you're navigating your first duty station or left the service years ago, this guide demystifies the complex landscape of military education benefits. It provides straightforward information about the most widely used programs, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, and the Yellow Ribbon Program. It also breaks down how and when to transfer GI Bill benefits to a spouse or child, what happens when eligibility changes, and how to ensure that those benefits are used efficiently and strategically. In addition to federal programs, College Funding for Military Families shines a light on state-level programs for military dependents, outside scholarships, and the implications of military life on in-state tuition.

Military families will see how to layer military-connected education benefits with civilian financial tools such as 529 college savings plans, federal student aid (including the FAFSA and Pell Grant), and private scholarships and grants. You'll learn how prioritize all these resources to build a strategic college funding plan that stretches resources for multiple children or degrees.
This guide also addresses the realities of military life that affect educational planning--frequent moves, deployment cycles, unpredictable orders, and the transition to civilian life. You'll find tips on how to maintain eligibility through these challenges, how to choose flexible or military-friendly schools, and how to spot red flags in schools that aggressively market to military families.

Written by a financial educator with deep expertise in both college funding strategies and military benefit systems, this book is packed with real-life examples, timelines, and plain-English explanations that help military households avoid costly mistakes. It's not a textbook--it's a practical resource you can refer to again and again as your family's education needs evolve.

Whether your goal is a four-year university, a trade school, a graduate degree, or professional certification, College Funding for Military Families will help you unlock the full value of your benefits and build a cost-effective plan that works for your family. It's a must-read for any military household thinking about higher education--whether you're planning years in advance or scrambling to meet next semester's deadlines.

Review Quotes

"There's nobody I'd trust more than Kate to help me, or anyone for that matter, navigate the complexity of maximizing GI Bill benefits. Full stop." Brandon Lovinger, ChFC(R) MQFP(R) Founder, Enlisted Money

"Kate demystifies the options for using your GI Bill and other VA educational benefits, along with all of the combinations of financial aid. She's already done the complex research to get their four young adults through college, and she knows how to work the system!" Doug Nordman, Author of "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement" and co-author of "Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence."

About the Author

Kate Horrell AFC(R), ChFC(R), MQFP(R) is a trusted financial educator who works to help military and veteran families navigate their pay and benefits.
Kate shares her knowledge with clear, actionable advice on maximizing education benefits like the GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, and state-specific programs. Her deep understanding of how these benefits interact with federal financial aid and tax considerations--gained through her own experiences as a mom of four college-graduated kids--makes her a go-to resource for military parents and students planning for higher education.
Through her writing, speaking engagements, and one-on-one advising, Kate empowers families to be confidently prepared for every stage of life.