Educating Team Pope Published March 1, 2007 By Nicole Campbell Staff Writer POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Obtaining higher education can help your chances of winning a game of Trivial Pursuit, but more importantly, a college degree increases marketability and earning potential in the workforce. The United States Census Bureau reported that workers with a bachelor's degree earned about twice as much on average per year than someone with a high school diploma, and those with an advanced degree earn almost three times more on average than a high school graduate. While the earning power is higher, a typical civilian college graduate has thousands of dollars in student loans, which can take decades to repay. Active duty Air Force personnel have resources such as tuition assistance and the Montgomery GI Bill, which together can eliminate the need for student loans and out-of-pocket expenses. Some people choose to pay the difference when TA doesn't cover the bill. Tech Sgt. Ansara Burgess, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, recently began a master's degree program through Webster University. "TA pays for all but $105 per class, which I pay out of my pocket. I know there is an option available that will allow me to go to school 100 percent tuition free, but it takes away my MGIB benefits. I am saving my MGIB to pursue my PhD work in the next three years," Sergeant Burgess said. During his time as a student, Staff Sgt. Michael Heath, 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron, did use his MGIB. He recommends completing the MGIB application process even before deciding on a program. "To get the MGIB, there are so many hoops. Once you apply it could take months to finally receive the funds, and that's after already paying for a couple of classes in the mean time. Plus, it's difficult to get a representative on the phone because [the VA] gets backed up with so many cases," Sergeant Health said. He said he had no problem receiving TA, and the Pope Education Center made the process easy and smooth. Education and training specialist, Kathy Farris, said the education center awarded $2.1 million in TA in fiscal year 2006, and has already used $1.2 million in FY 07 for 937 servicemembers. For active duty personnel to receive TA, they must provide a degree plan to the education center, and classes must be relevant to the degree in order to be approved. The center offers degree and academic counseling to all military and civilian personnel and their family members, and helps with college loan repayment procedures, commissioning programs, MGIB and VA information and provides College Level Examination Program and Defense Activty for Non-Traditional Education Support testing. On average, the center administers 1,200 College Level Examination Program and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support exams per year. In addition to the associate's degrees offered through the Community College of the Air Force, Pope personnel have the opportunity to earn degrees through Central Texas College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Campbell University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Webster University. The schools hold classes at Pope or online, or both. Mrs. Farris encourages students to seek grants and scholarships through their schools; students are required to complete a "free application for federal student aid," or FAFSA, before applying for any college aid. There are also outside scholarships, like those provided by the Pope Scholarship Committee, for active duty and their dependents (see information box). If you want to earn a degree there shouldn't be much holding you back. Guidance is available at the education center, money is available through the government and time is available in your schedule. "In the past I felt my high operational tempo made it rough for me to get into a classroom on a consistent basis, but with the availability of online classes, that excuse is becoming a lot less acceptable," said Sergeant Burgess. Sergeant Heath said he was able to work toward his degree "even in the desert." Sixty-three percent of all undergraduates enrolled in 2003-04 received some type of financial aid. Undergraduates were more likely to receive grants than student loans in 2003-04, but the average grant amount was less than the average student loan amount. About one-half (51 percent) of undergraduates received grants and about one-third (35 percent) took out student loans. The average amount of grants received was $4,000, and the average amount borrowed by undergraduates in 2003-04 was $5,800. Undergraduate financial aid estimates for 2003 to 2004 When financial aid does not cover college tuition, civilian students increasingly turn to student loans. Airmen who take advantage of tuition assistance and the Montgomery GI Bill while on active duty status should not have to rely on student loans, and therefore, will not have student loan debt to repay for years after graduation. Family members should try to win scholarships, such as the Pope Scholarship Fund, and apply for grants to offset college costs. Undergraduates enrolled in 2003-04 were more likely to receive federal grants than grants from any other source. Twenty-eight percent of all undergraduates received federal grants (such as Federal Pell Grants or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants), 18 percent received institutional grants, 15 percent received state grants, and 15 percent received grants from other sources (e.g., employers, parents' employers, or private foundations or organizations).