Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University Extends Military Benefits to Children...

Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University Extends Military Benefits to
Children of Fallen Soldiers

SAN DIEGO, July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- President Barack Obama has signed
into law the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill that extends GI Bill
benefits to the children of fallen soldiers. The bill changes the current law
and expands grants to survivors of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The new benefit, known as the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry
Scholarship in honor of a fallen soldier with three young children, will take
effect on Aug. 1, 2009. The law will allow children of those who have died
while on active duty since 9/11 to use benefits that could have been
transferred to them if their military parent had lived. Until now, the
Veterans Administration had to tell children of soldiers killed in the line of
duty that they weren't eligible for the GI Bill because their father or mother
did not serve long enough before they died.

In concert with the new legislation, Ashford University has extended its
Military Program to include the sons and daughters of military personnel who
lost their lives while serving their country, regardless of how long they
served.

Ashford University's military enrollment program is structured to match the
tuition assistance that is available to all qualified military personnel
through the GI Bill. Qualifying students can receive up to $4,500 per year,
which covers the cost of six online courses. The university also waives
application and technology fees and pays for all books and applicable shipping
costs.

As a part of the military program, Bridgepoint Education's Ashford University
also provides a specialized team of advisors who assist students with
enrollment, academic and financial needs. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:
BPI) is a provider of postsecondary education services focused on providing
higher access to higher education.

In addition to active-duty personnel, Ashford University currently offers
military benefits to active-duty spouses, veterans or retirees utilizing VA
benefits, vocational rehabilitation students, college-age spouses or
dependents who are using survivor benefits and Department of Defense
employees.

"We recognize the contributions made by our military and their families," KC
Haight, Ashford University's director of Military Relations and a former
member of the Armed Forces, said. "Providing financial assistance and special
support shows the university's appreciation for their service."

Last year, Ashford University was selected as one of the Military Advanced
Education Magazine's Top Colleges and Universities. The distinction placed
Ashford in the top three percent of military-friendly colleges in the nation.

Based in Clinton, Iowa, Ashford University provides on-campus and online
graduate and undergraduate degree programs. More than 97 percent of its
42,000 students are earning their degrees online.

About Ashford University
Founded in 1918, Ashford University is a coeducational institution regionally
accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools, with programs in education, business, accounting,
criminal and social justice, computer animation and graphic design, and other
areas. The University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as a
range of student activities and athletics, at its Clinton campus. Online
degree programs are available in education, organizational management,
business administration, and psychology. The University is known for its high
quality yet highly affordable on-campus and online programs, with tuition fees
among the lowest in the U.S. compared to other private institutions. Its
tagline is: "Higher Education Made Affordable"(SM). For more information,
please visit www.ashford.edu or contact Shari Rodriguez, director of Public
Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.

About Bridgepoint Education
Bridgepoint Education's postsecondary education services focus on offering
associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in the disciplines of
business, education, psychology, social sciences and health sciences.
Bridgepoint Education's regionally accredited academic institutions - Ashford
University and University of the Rockies - deliver their programs online as
well as at traditional campuses located in Clinton, Iowa, and Colorado
Springs, Colorado, respectively. For more information, please visit
www.bridgepointeducation.com or contact Shari Rodriguez, director of Public
Relations, at 858.668.2586 x2513.

SOURCE Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Shari Rodriguez, Director of Public Relations of Bridgepoint Education, Inc.,
+1-858-668-2586, ext. 2513, shari.rodriguez@bridgepointeducation.com