While Illinois prides itself on taking care of its war veterans, a World War II-style GI Bill signed into law this week by President George Bush still could mean a lot for the state.

The bill would provide $63 billion in education funding to recent war veterans for the next 10 years and allow them to attend any public college free of charge, much like the original GI Bill did for World War II veterans.

"It made going to school your full-time job," said Patrick Campbell, legislative director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and an Iraq War vet. "You worry about getting into school and you worry about getting as many degrees as you can but the government will worry about paying for it."

But in Illinois, veterans already have access to the Illinois Veterans Grant, a program that pays tuition at state-supported schools.

The new GI Bill, which goes into effect in the 2009-2010 school year, gives veterans enough college cash to attend the state's most expensive state school. In Illinois' case, that's University of Illinois at Chicago at $9,742 per year.

Veterans also can use the money to attend a private school to help offset higher tuition, which isn't included in the Illinois Veterans Grant.

"Any time they make more money available, that's got to help," said Tracy Morris, Illinois Valley Community College director of admissions and records.