Military

If you test on a military base, at a college test center sponsored by a nearby military base, or at a DANTES-funded test center, and your exam is DANTES-funded, you won’t be charged an administrative fee.

Pillar College is CLEP Fully-Funded test center, we have agreed to forego charging DANTES-funded test-takers an administrative fee to take a funded CLEP exam at our institution.

Education and Training Education and Training Benefits help Veterans, Service members and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school, or training program, and getting career counseling.

Post–9/11 GI Bill®

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is an education benefit program for Service members and Veterans who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. For additional information on education and training opportunities please visit www.va.gov/ education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11 or call 888-GI-BILL-1 (888-442-4551) or 1-800-MyVA411 (800-698-2411), option 5.

Post–9/11 GI Bill® Eligibility

To be eligible, the Service member or Veteran must serve at least 90 aggregate days on active duty after September 10, 2001, and remain on active duty or be honorably discharged. Active duty includes active service performed by National Guard members under title 32 U.S.C. for the purposes of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard; or under section 502(f) for the purpose of responding to a national emergency. Veterans may also be eligible if they were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability after serving 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001. Additionally, under the Colmery Act of 2017, all Purple Heart award recipients are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill® entitlement providing the award was made during service occurring after September 10, 2001 and the recipient continued duty or received an honorable discharge.

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Contents of Benefit

Generally, Service members or eligible Veterans may receive up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. No beneficiary may use more than 48 months of education and training benefits from any combination of programs, with the exception of VR&E benefits. Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® includes graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational/technical training, on-the-job and apprenticeship training, flight training, correspondence training, licensing and national testing programs, and tutorial assistance.

Education and Training

Based on the length of active-duty service, eligible participants are entitled to receive a percentage of the cost of in-state tuition and fees at public institutions, or the tuition and fees capped at a national maximum rate for private or foreign schools.

Current rates can be found at www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates. If a Service member or Veteran is eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill® or the Montgomery GI Bill®-Selected Reserve and qualifies for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, an irrevocable election must be made to receive benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. That means in most instances, once the election to receive benefits under the Post- 9/11 GI Bill® is made, the individual will no longer be eligible to receive benefits under the relinquished program.

Eligibility for 100% of Post-9/11 Bill benefits

You’re eligible for 100% of the full benefit if you meet at least 1 of these requirements:

· You served on active duty for a total of at least 1,095 days (at least 36 months), or

· You served on active duty and received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2011, or

· You served on active duty for at least 30 continuous days (without a break) and were discharged by an official military service because of a service-connected disability.

· 910 to 1,094 days (30 to 35 months): 90% of the full benefit

· 730 to 909 days (24 to 29 months): 80% of the full benefit

· 545 to 729 days (18 to 23 months): 70% of the full benefit

· 180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months): 60% of the full benefit

· 90 to 179 days (90 days to 5 months): 50% of the full benefit

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are paid to the institution on the student’s behalf. The tuition and fee rate is based on the Service member or Veterans’ months of duty as service members:

· 910 to 1,094 days (30 to 35 months): 90% of the full benefit

· 730 to 909 days (24 to 29 months): 80% of the full benefit

· 545 to 729 days (18 to 23 months): 70% of the full benefit

· 180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months): 60% of the full benefit

· 90 to 179 days (90 days to 5 months): 50% of the full benefit

Monthly Housing Allowance

A monthly housing allowance (MHA) is paid directly to the student, provided the student is attending more than half time. Currently, MHA is equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents but prorated based on benefit level and rate of pursuit (e.g., full- time student, ¾-time student, etc.). MHA is calculated based on the ZIP code of the campus location where the student physically attends most of their classes.

If a student is only taking online courses, their MHA is half the national average. Please note, however, that MHA is not payable to individuals enrolled in flight or correspondence training; to individuals while pursuing training at half time or less (regardless of the type of training); or to individuals while on active duty or their spouses.

Current rates can be found at www.va.gov/ education/benefit-rates. Additional benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® include a yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year (paid directly to the Service member, Veteran, or eligible dependents) and a one-time payment of $500 paid to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas.

The Yellow Ribbon G.I. Bill Education Enhancement Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program allows institutions of higher learning (such as colleges, universities, and other degree-granting schools) in the U.S. and overseas to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition and fees that exceed the amounts payable under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The institution can contribute a specified dollar amount of those expenses and VA will match the contribution not to exceed 50% of the difference.

To be eligible, the student must be a Veteran, active-duty Service member, individual awarded a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, Fry Scholarship recipient, or a transfer-of-entitlement-eligible dependent receiving benefit at the 100% benefit rate.

Visit the Yellow Ribbon webpage at www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/yellow-ribbon-program for additional information about the program and find out if your school is a participant.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship Eligibility

The Fry Scholarship provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to the children and surviving spouses of Service members who died after September 10, 2001

· While serving on duty other than active duty as a member of the Armed Forces.

· From a service-connected disability while a member of the Selected Reserve.

Eligible beneficiaries attending school may receive up to 36 months of benefits at the 100% level. The Fry Scholarship pays full tuition and fees directly to the school for all in-state students at public schools. For those attending private or foreign schools, tuition and fees are capped at a statutory maximum amount per academic year. An MHA and a books and supplies stipend are also paid to the student.

Surviving children who are eligible may begin an approved program of education before the age of 18. A child’s marital status has no effect on eligibility. If the qualifying parent’s death occurred

before January 1, 2013, the child’s eligibility ends on their 33rd birthday. If the qualifying parent’s death occurred on or after January 1, 2013, the child’s eligibility never expires.

Surviving spouses who are eligible have no timeline on when they can use the benefit; however, a spouse will lose eligibility for this benefit upon remarriage.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

The Edith Nourse Rogers Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarship will provide up to nine months of additional benefits (to a maximum of $30,000) to qualifying Veterans and Fry Scholars:

· Seeking a qualifying undergraduate STEM degree alone or as part of a dual-degree program; or

· Have earned a qualifying post-secondary degree or graduate degree and are enrolled in a covered clinical training program for health care professionals; or

· Have earned a qualifying STEM degree and are seeking a teaching certification.

To be eligible, Veterans or Fry Scholars must have exhausted or will exhaust their Post-9/11 GI Bill® entitlement within 180 days and must have completed at least 60 semester credit hours (or 90 quarter credit hours) toward their degree already. A qualifying undergraduate STEM program requires at least 120 semesters (or 180 quarter) credit hours for completion or be a teaching certification program. Priority will be given to individuals who are entitled to 100% of Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and to those who require the most credit hours. The Yellow Ribbon Program may not be used with this extension. Schools may apply Yellow Ribbon funding, but VA cannot match it. These additional benefits cannot be transferred to dependents.

For more information, please visit www.va.gov/education/otherva-education-benefits/stem-scholarship.

Survivor’s and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are (a) permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or (b) died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. Eligible surviving dependents may be eligible for 36 months of degree and certificate courses, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. (Note: If benefits were used prior to August 1, 2018, eligible surviving dependents may be eligible for 45 months of benefit entitlement.)

To be eligible, you must be the child or spouse of:

· A Veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must arise out of active service in the Armed Forces.

· A Veteran who died from any cause while such permanent and total service-connected disability was in existence.

· A Service member missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.

· A Service member forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.

· A Service member who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability.

Surviving spouses lose eligibility if they remarry before age 57 or are living with another person who has been recognized publicly as their spouse. They can regain eligibility if their remarriage ends by death or divorce, or if they cease living with the person. Dependent children do not lose eligibility if the surviving spouse remarries.

Visit www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/ dependents-education-assistance for more information.

Period of Eligibility

The period of eligibility for Veterans’ spouses expires 10 years from either the date they become eligible or the date of the Veteran’s death. Children generally must be between the ages of 18 and 26 to receive educational benefits. VA may grant extensions to both spouses and children. The period of eligibility for spouses of Service members who died on active duty expires 20 years from the date of death. Spouses of Service members who died during active duty whose 10-year eligibility period expired before December 10, 2004, have 20 years from the date of death to use educational benefits.

If the event that qualifies a spouse or children for DEA benefits happened to the Veteran or Service member on or after August 1, 2023, the child turned 18 years old on or after August 1, 2023, or the child completed high school or secondary education on or after August 1, 2023, then there are no age or time limits to use DEA benefits if eligible.

Training Available

Benefits may be awarded for pursuit of associate, bachelor, or graduate degrees at colleges and universities; independent study; cooperative training; study abroad; certificate or diploma from business, technical, or vocational schools; apprenticeships; on-the-job training programs; farm cooperative courses; and preparatory courses for tests required or used for admission to an institution of higher learning or graduate school.

Benefits for correspondence courses under certain conditions are available to spouses only. Beneficiaries without high school degrees can pursue secondary schooling. Those with a deficiency in a subject may receive tutorial assistance if enrolled half time or more.

Special Benefits

Dependents over age 14 with physical or mental disabilities that impair their ability to pursue an education may receive specialized vocational or restorative training, including speech and voice correction, language retraining, lip reading, auditory training, Braille reading and writing, and similar programs. Certain disabled or surviving spouses are also eligible.

Montgomery GI Bill® Active duty (MGIB-AD)

The MGIB-AD (Chapter 30) is an education benefit that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible Veterans and Service members for college degree and certificate programs, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech

training, licensing and certification testing, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Benefits generally expire 10 years after discharge. Current payment rates are available at www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/ montgomery-active-duty. Veterans may be eligible for this benefit if they entered active duty after June 30, 1985, are honorably discharged, did not decline MGIB in writing, and served three continuous years of active duty (or have an obligation to serve four years in the Selected Reserve after active-duty service). There are exceptions for disability, re-entering active duty, and upgraded discharges. All participants must have a high school diploma, equivalency certificate, or have completed 12 hours toward a college degree before applying for benefits.

GI Bill® Resident-Rate Requirements

VA must disapprove programs of education at public Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) for payment of benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill® -Active duty, and Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship programs if the school charges qualifying Veterans and dependents more than the in-state rate for tuition and fees. The student must live in the state where the school is located (regardless of the student’s formal state of residence). This requirement is also effective for the payment of benefits under the DEA program.

The in-state tuition provisions do not apply to those individuals on active duty using benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and MGIB-AD.

Application Process

To file online for education benefits, visit www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply.

The following three options are available for Veterans to apply for education benefits:

· Visit your nearest VA regional benefit office (www.benefits. va.gov/benefits/offices.asp) and apply in person.

· Consult with the VA Certifying Official who is usually in the registrar’s or financial aid office at the school of your choice. This official has application forms and can help you apply.

· Call 888-GI BILL-1 (888-442-4551) or 1-800-MyVA411 (800698-2411), option 5 to have the application form mailed to you. If you wish to find an accredited attorney, claims agent or Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to assist you with your education benefits, you can find a local representative including a recognized VSO, attorney, or claims agent by state/territory, zip code, or by the organization’s name online using www.va.gov/ogc/apps/ accreditation/index.asp.

Priority Enrollment

The VA will improve outreach and transparency to Veterans and Servicemembers by providing information on whether institutions of higher learning administer a priority enrollment system that allows certain student Veterans to enroll in courses earlier than other students. This change went into effect August 16, 2017.