Research shows that the average student loan debt of veterans hovers around $56,000. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 hovers near 21 percent.

That combination of high student loan debt and few jobs has certainly been troublesome for some military veterans. As author Hayley Fox points out in this article for TakePart, military programs exist to help those in educational debt, but gaps in coverage remain, and the system can be confusing and hard to navigate.

The good news: the non-profit Leave No Veteran Behind.

Nonprofit Pays Off Educational Debt for Vets Uncle Sam Can’t Help

By George Vukovich Director, Veterans Outreach, American Military University Just this month, a historic event was announced regarding higher…

by Jim Sweizer Vice President, Military Relations – American Public University System How many times have you gone into…

Over the weekend, California governor Jerry Brown signed 21 bills that will benefit military veterans. Among them is a bill that will allow veterans to continue to use GI Bill benefits while attending California colleges.

More from Patrick McGreevy of the Los Angeles Times:

Gov. Brown Signs Bills to Help Veterans, Create Orange County Cemetery

It’s no secret that veterans entering college for the first time have different needs than the typical student who jumps directly from high school to the university level. Veterans are generally older, are more likely to have a family, and have been living a much different lifestyle.

With those differences in mind, NerdScholar’s Gianna Sen-Gupta has put together a list of tips for the Huffington Post that can help veterans make the right decision about which school to attend.

6 Tips to Help Veterans Choose the Best College

By Gary Rawlings

How does the VA scandal tie into the tools we need to measure quality in government or how new techniques can transform government at the local level? None of the tools or techniques for improvement means anything without human integrity. Somehow, the organizational culture at the VA went haywire, and bonuses became more important than the delivery of service.

By Matt C. Peeling

While the ongoing investigation into Corinthian College is exposing the poor management and improper practices of that particular school, the findings are not indicative of all for-profit schools.

by John Aldrich
AVP, Military Relations, American Public University System

There is a lot of talk out there, usually by people who pick up their news from the latest network sound-bite, that associate degrees have become the new high school diploma. When I hear these types of statements, I can’t help but wonder what would motivate someone to make such an uneducated comment?

by Debra Wales, M. Ed & Counseling
Education Coordinator, Ft. Benning, GA – American Public University System

You may be eligible for PELL if you were deployed last year: How to get the most of PELL dollars for your undergraduate education.

In addition to using Tuition Assistance (TA) or your GI Bill to fund your education, you have the option of using a PELL Grant.  What is a PELL Grant?  A Federal Grant usually awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree and unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid.  The grant money given to you is based on your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).