October 1, 2012: By the Numbers

October 1, 2012: By the Numbers

$13,871

This represents "the Post-9/11 GI Bill average per participant benefit in FY2011," according to a comprehensive Congressional Research Service report published last month -- The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Post-9/11 GI Bill): Primer and Issues (PDF).
 
The report provides extremely detailed information about the GI Bill, including its benefits, who is eligible, how it interfaces with other DoD/government education programs, and some key issues, including:
  • Quality of Programs of Education
  • Participant Educational and Employment Outcomes
  • Counseling and Informational Services 25
  • Relationship to Department of Education Student Financial Aid Programs
  • Recovery of Overpayments
  • Benefits for Out-of-State Tuition and Fees
  • Transferability for Former Servicemembers
  • Benefits for Business Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs
Note that Congress itself does not make Congressional Research Service reports directly available to the general public, but several organizations collect as many as they can and put them on the open web. The Federation of American Scientists offers an especially large collection that is continually updated.