The University of North Alabama may be known for its football traditions, but the Florence, Ala. school also has a strong commitment to veterans education. UNA enrolls 7,100 students, with about 70% of students coming from the state. University of North Alabama's Department of Academic Support Services helps non-traditional veteran students use Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to earn bachelor's degrees and master's degrees.
Post-9/11 GI Bill and Veterans Education Benefits at University of North Alabama
U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Wayne P. Bergeron, M.S., consultant for Military and Veterans Affairs with the University of North Alabama, notes that more than 200 students use Post-9/11 GI Bill and other veterans education benefit programs at UNA. In addition, he says, "we have seen the number of Post-9/11 GI Bill students double from the fall of 2009 to the fall of 2010. We expect to see that number increase again in the fall of 2011."
So who is the "average" student using GI Bill benefits at University of North Alabama? "I am not sure if there is an 'average' or 'typical' GI Bill student since they run the gamut of student types and are all outstanding individuals," Bergeron says. "We do have a large number of Reservists and National Guard members who have been deployed and are now using their GI Bill benefits to finish the degrees they started before deploying. We also have seen a fair number of recently retired military who are using their benefits to pursue an advanced degree."
Bergeron also notes that UNA's proximity to military facilities increases the rate of dependent and spousal participation in VA GI Bill benefit use. "Additionally, with being located near Huntsville and Redstone Arsenal, which has a large military and defense related community, we have seen an increase of military dependents using their parent's or spouse's GI benefits. One area we are hoping to expand on is getting more active duty service members into our online and non-traditional programs both at the undergraduate and graduate level."
Tuition and Fees at University of North Alabama - Use GI Bill Calculator
Undergraduate, in-state fees and tuition are among the lowest in the nation at just $167 per credit hour, or $2,200 per semester for full-time enrollment. Out-of-state students pay an additional $185 per credit hour per semester. Graduate tuition is $228 per credit hour for Alabama residents and an additional $228 per credit hour for out-of-state residents.
Because tuition and fees are so low for in-state students, VA Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits will cover tuition and fees for in-state undergraduate and graduate students receiving 100% of veterans education benefits. Go to the VA.gov GI Bill website to view the GI Bill calculator and verify eligibility and coverage for out-of-state students.
GI Bill recipients also qualify for up to $1,000 to cover book and material costs, as well as a housing allowance for each month of school attendance that could total as much as $1,500.
Veterans Education Benefits for Post-9/11 GI Bill at UNA
Bergeron adds that there is no single most popular major for veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. "We have GI Bill students in every college at the University--Business, Arts and Sciences, Education and Nursing. Currently most are in the traditional on-campus programs, with most in Arts and Sciences since that is the largest college.... We would like to work to make more of our programs available online and tailored to the non-traditional GI Bill and military student to make it easier for them to get a quality education from what we feel is an outstanding university with a long history of supporting the military and veterans."
For more information about admissions, veterans benefits and using the GI Bill at University of North Alabama, visit their website or call 800-TALK-UNA.