As a veteran friendly institution, Southwestern College accommodates the needs of veterans and their family members. Southwestern College is a proud participant in the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Principles of Excellence, offering portable degree programs to assist veterans with accelerating their careers. Veterans can utilize the various Chapters of the GI Bill® to pay for tuition, and depending on the GI Bill® Chapter, eligible veterans may be able to obtain a degree with no out-of-pocket expenses. Credit is awarded for military education and training including CCAF, JST, DANTES, and ACE-evaluated training.
Applying for VA Education benefits:
Changing your Education Benefit or Accessing your Certificate of Eligibility
VA Education Benefits
Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®
The Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill® provides a monthly stipend to eligible veterans and service members to help pay for school.
Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment
Formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E), Chapter 31 provides eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities the support they need to prepare for, find, and maintain meaningful employment. Benefits may include education and training, career counseling, employment services, and other resources designed to help veterans achieve their career goals.
Chapter 33 – Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post 9/11 GI Bill®, provides education benefits to eligible service members and their dependents.
- The VA pays the school directly for the tuition.
- The VA may pay you a book stipend at the beginning of each term, if eligible.
- The VA may pay you a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA), if eligible.
- If you are not eligible for 100% of the benefit, you are responsible for what the VA does not pay for tuition.
- Student will need to verify enrollment each month with the VA to receive their benefits.
Chapter 35 – Survivors’ And Dependents’ Educational Assistance
Chapter 35 Benefits are for eligible spouses or children of service members who have died or are 100% disabled from service related disabilities. The VA pays the monthly benefit directly to the family member.
Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve
The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) is an assistance program created to attract quality men and women to the Armed Forces. The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of benefits to eligible persons for education and training opportunities. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.
Tuition Assistance Top-Up
This benefit may be used by the service member when the tuition exceeds the Federal Tuition Assistance credit hour amount. Service members are permitted to apply their GI Bill® benefit to cover the difference. Click the link above to learn more.
For additional information about using VA Educational Benefits, please see our current course catalog.
Enrollment Certifications
Students wishing to use education benefits will need to submit the VA Benefits Certification Form.pdf to va@sckans.edu at the beginning of each term. Benefits will not be processed until this form has been received. VA education benefits will be certified after the drop/withdrawal period for each session.
Federal Financial Aid
Southwestern College participates in Federal Financial Aid programs. For more information about the application procedures and timelines, contact a financial aid counselor at finaid@sckans.edu or call toll-free at 888.684.5335.
Helpful Links
Questions? Email us at va@sckans.edu