Media
IAVA and College Factual Relaunch NewGIBill.org
Free online benefits calculator provides instant college cost coverage info
NEW YORK (September 16, 2015) — Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) today joined College Factual to re-launch the NewGIBIll.org website, a highly advanced and innovative free online calculation tool designed to help veterans determine their best, most affordable education options. The announcement takes place on the same day as IAVA’s presentation at the Dreamforce Conference, the largest software event in the world, highlighting the organization’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to support its members.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with College Factual in the creation of the updated New GI Bill website and calculator. This tool provides an invaluable benefit to our returning service men and women and directly supports them in pursuing their educational goals,” said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. “College Factual is a pioneering organization that mirrors IAVA’s belief that veterans are an investment, not a charity. This newly re-designed tool is free, easy to use, and allows veterans to visualize a future upon their separation from active duty.”
The partnership between College Factual and IAVA will help veterans and active duty military optimize their education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The NewGIBill.org website is one of the most highly trafficked GI Bill sites on the web and has had more than 1 million visitors thus far.
The Post-9/11 generation of veterans are unlike any of their predecessors from earlier wars. They are the first all voluntary military force, and with the typical returning veteran increasingly younger and part of the “millennial generation,” these new veterans grew up with the internet and communicated with family members via email and Skype during their deployments. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and maximizing social networking platforms, IAVA is building communities of veterans and connecting them to the resources they need.
Based on each veteran’s individual information, the new online calculator at NewGIBill.org computes:
- The college’s sticker price;
- Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits; and,
- The school’s average yellow ribbon award.
With just a few keystrokes, the updated tool quickly informs veterans whether their education costs will be covered by military service benefits and enables them to immediately compare benefits from three colleges simultaneously. Additionally, the benefits calculator computes:
- College room and board fees;
- Military housing allowance;
- Books and supplies; and,
- Military book stipend.
Incorporating these factors, the easy-to-use tool rapidly estimates the veteran’s total out-of-pocket education costs. The calculator is based on and builds on an earlier online initiative from IAVA. With the relaunch, the best tool on the web just got better.
IAVA’s participation at Dreamforce and the launch of NewGIBill.org build upon its tradition as a leader in the non-profit space in social and digital innovation. Some examples of IAVA’s tech-focused innovations include:
• IAVA.org, which was re-designed and launched in November 2014 and helps veterans access assistance, peer support, and obtain the latest news about our community. IAVA.org is updated in real time to remain relevant.
• MyIAVA, the premier online social network for veterans. The site’s discussion groups cover topics ranging from mental health care, to finding employment, to uniting communities of veterans from specific states or units.
• The Wait We Carry, dramatizing the human impact of the VA backlog, which keeps over 200,000 veterans waiting to receive the disability benefits they earned through their service.
About College Factual: College Factual provides unique proprietary college content and insights, college rankings, and an extensive array of college comparison and decision making tools helping students find their best fit, best school and best deal in higher education. The company also provides insights, rankings and badges to help colleges identify and market their strengths effectively.
About IAVA: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the leading post-9/11 veteran empowerment organization (VEO) with the most diverse and rapidly growing membership in America. As a non-profit founded in 2004, IAVA’s mission is to connect, unite and empower post-9/11 veterans. Celebrating its 11th year anniversary, IAVA has connected more than 1.2 million veterans with resources and community, and provided more than 5,000 veterans with personalized support from IAVA’s Master’s level social workers.