Southwestern College is approved for VA education benefits and is pleased to accept a full range of benefits and programs for military members, military spouses, and veterans. To determine your eligibility, call the Veterans Benefits Administration at 1-888-GI-BILL-1.
Military Tuition Rates
Exclusive military tuition rates are available to military members and their spouses. See our tuition and fees page for more information.
Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®
The Montgomery GI Bill helps service members and veterans pay for education and training programs with monthly cash payments. If you have contributed to the program and served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve, you can receive up to 36 months of financial assistance for college, technical schools, flight training, or apprenticeships. Eligibility generally lasts for 10 to 14 years after your separation from the military.
Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment
The Chapter 31 VR&E program helps veterans and service members with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain suitable employment. If you have an employment handicap, this benefit covers the full cost of tuition, fees, books, and supplies, while providing a monthly housing allowance during training. VR&E offers personalized coaching and five distinct support tracks—ranging from immediate re-employment to long-term education or independent living services.
Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill®
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Chapter 33 provides education benefits for individuals who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. This benefit covers up to 100% of public tuition and fees paid directly to your school, provides a monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on the school’s location, and includes a stipend of up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies. Best of all, for those who left service on or after January 1, 2013, these benefits never expire, and qualifying service members may even transfer unused benefits to their spouses or children.
Chapter 35 – Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
The Chapter 35 DEA program provides monthly education and training benefits to the eligible survivors and dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or deceased due to a service-connected condition. Eligible children and spouses can receive up to 36 months of financial help (or 45 months if benefits began before August 1, 2018) for college courses, apprenticeships, and certification testing. While spouses generally have 10 to 20 years to use the benefit, children typically must use it between the ages of 18 and 26. VA pays stipend directly to dependent or spouse.
Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve
The Chapter 1606 MGIB-SR program provides monthly education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserve, as well as the Army and Air National Guard. Eligible service members can receive up to 36 months of financial assistance for college degrees, vocational training, certificates, or apprenticeships. To qualify, you must have a 6-year obligation to serve in the Selected Reserve and complete your initial active duty for training (IADT).
Rudisill Decision
A landmark 2024 Supreme Court ruling changed how veterans can use their education benefits. The court ruled that eligible veterans with multiple periods of service can access both the Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) without being forced to forfeit one for the other. This historic decision allows qualifying veterans to unlock up to 48 months of total educational assistance (up from the standard 36-month limit), giving you significantly more flexibility and funding to pursue your educational goals.
Federal Financial Aid
If you are interested in using federal financial aid from the FAFSA, please visit the financial aid website at Financial Aid to learn more.