Austin College is approved by the Veterans Administration (VA) to certify eligible students for educational benefits and is approved to participate in the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance Program. There are various programs available for veterans and their dependents as well as active-duty military personnel. To learn more about the various programs available, visit the Veterans Affairs Benefits website or the website for each military branch’s tuition assistance program.
Admission to Austin College
Veteran and active military applicants follow the same application process as all other prospective students. Admission to Austin College is reviewed holistically through a committee review process. Austin College does not employ high-pressure recruitment tactics nor engage in admission practices that offer commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payment programs for securing enrollment of any student, including our veteran and active military population. (Read more on the holistic approach for admission.) Additionally, all students admitted under our Early Action 1 or 2 and regular decision admission plans have until May 1st to submit their deposit. The deposit is refundable through May 1st.
Financial Aid
Veterans and active service members may also be eligible for other forms of financial aid. For information on the financial aid application process and deadlines, see Applying for Aid or contact Assistant Director of Financial Aid Cathy Raines at craines@austincollege.edu or 903.813.2900.
Information for Veterans | Information for Active-Duty Military Personnel
Tuition Assistance for Active Military Students
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Each military branch has its own application process, eligibility criteria, and restrictions. See each branch’s TA site for detailed information:
To apply for TA funds, members of the military must first contact their Educational Services Officer (ESO), military counselor or military service for approval. This approval must be obtained prior to enrolling for courses. Service members should visit their respective branch’s education portal for additional information. After receiving approval, service members should contact the Registrar’s Office (registrar@austincollege.edu or 903.813.2371) for next steps.
Tuition Information
Full-time undergraduate tuition is $43,340.00 per year for students entering in Fall 2021 or later and $42,405.00 per year for students who entered prior to Fall 2021. The per semester hour cost for students who graduate in four years and complete 34 course credits (136 semester hours) would be $1,274.71 for students entering in Fall 2021 or later and $1,247.21 for students who entered prior to Fall 2021.
Part-time undergraduate tuition and graduate tuition are $6,055.00 per course credit ($1,513.75 per semester hour).
See the Business Office and Student Billing Information for more information.
Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance
The Department of Defense requires the College to return unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through the 60% point of the period for which assistance is awarded. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point in the semester is considered to have earned 100% of all TA funds for that semester and is not subject to the return of any TA funds.
We recommend that students contact their Educational Services Officer (ESO), military counselor or military service before dropping a TA-funded course to determine how this policy could impact TA and potential repayment obligations of the student.
Calculation of Unearned Tuition Assistance
When a student receiving TA funds drops a course, the percentage of funds earned will be calculated using the recorded drop date to determine the number of days the student was enrolled in the course and dividing that number by the total number of days in the award period. If the percentage is greater than 60, then the student will have earned 100% of the TA funds awarded; if the percentage is less than or equal to 60, then the student will have earned less than 100% of the funds and the unearned portion must be returned to the military service.
Example: A student receives TA funds for a course during a semester that is 100 days in length, and the student drops the course on the 40th class day. The percentage of earned TA funds is calculated by dividing 40 by 100, which equals 40%. Therefore, the student earns 40% of the TA funds, and 60% of the funds must be returned to the military service.
Cohort Default Rate
Austin College’s student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR) for the most recent year available (FY2018) was 6.4%, as provided by the Department of Education. The national average CDR was 7.3%. The percentage of Austin College students who borrowed was 21.2.
Information for Veterans
Applying for Veterans Educational Benefits
In order to receive education benefits under the New Post 9/11 or other Montgomery GI Bill® Programs students must complete an application. The application form can be done online (see How to Apply for Benefits Online below) or by calling 1-888-GI BILL-1 (888.442.4551) to have the application mailed to you.
Once this application is processed the Veterans Administration Office notifies applicants whether they qualify for benefits or not.
A “Certificate of Eligibility” is sent to those students who qualify. This certificate tells the veteran students how many months of entitlement they will receive and when their benefits expire. Students must email or bring a physical copy of their Certificate of Eligibility to the school by the first week of classes for the term in order to receive the benefit.
How to Apply for Benefits Online
- Go to: www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
- Click: “Find your education benefits form” (green button under “How do I apply?”)
- Answer the questions listed and follow the resulting steps
- Once you submit your application we recommend that you print a copy for your records; doing so may save you time and money!
Veteran Readiness and Employment
Students who feel they qualify for Vocational Readiness and Employment Services can go to the website to review eligibility guidelines. Veterans should apply online as indicated above or call 800.827.1000 to set up an appointment with a counselor.
Other Benefits for Qualifying Veterans
Yellow Ribbon Benefits
The Yellow Ribbon Program allows private schools to enter into an agreement with the VA to fund the tuition and fee costs that exceed the yearly national cap for students enrolled in private institutions (after August 1, 2014). The Yellow Ribbon Program is utilized in conjunction with student’s Post 9-11 GI Bill and funds are paid directly to the school when the enrollment certification is processed. Austin College is pleased to be a participant of this program.
See more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Qualifying for Full Benefits
In order to qualify for full subsistence, applicants who are undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of three course credit units (12 semester hours) in a regular semester and two course credit units (eight semester hours) in a summer session. Graduate students must enroll in a minimum of two course credit units (eight semester hours) in a regular semester and one course credit unit (four semester hours) in a summer session. Regular attendance and satisfactory academic progress is required throughout the semester to remain eligible to receive benefits.
Further information concerning veteran’s benefits may be obtained from:
Veteran’s Services
Office of the Registrar
Administration Building
Austin College
900 North Grand Avenue
Sherman, TX 75090
Phone: 903.813.2371
Fax: 903.813.2378
registrar@austincollege.edu
Useful Links
| Applying for Benefits | Information on how to apply for the many benefit programs available to qualifying veterans and links to application forms. |
| Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB) Chapter 30 | The MGIB-AD program-sometimes known as Chapter 30-provides education benefits to Veterans and Service members who have at least two years of active duty. Links to information on available benefits, forms, and types of assistance are listed. |
| Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Chapter 31 | Information for Service members and Veterans with service-related disabilities regarding employment retaining, housing, career counseling, and many more services. |
| Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) Chapter 32 | VEAP is available if while in service elected to make contributions from military pay to participate in this education benefit program. The government matches the veteran’s contributions on a 2-for-1 basis. Lists types of assistance and training available. |
| Survivors & Dependents Assistance (DEA) Chapter 35 | Offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. |
| Reserve Educational Assistance (REAP) Chapter 1607 | REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. |
| Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserves Chapter 1606 | The MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments. |
| Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship | Assistance currently available for children of those who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Beginning January 1, 2015, the Fry Scholarship will also be available for surviving spouses of those who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. |
You may also contact the VA Regional Office at these numbers:
| Education | 1.888.442.4551 |
| Monthly Verification of Attendance | 1.877.823.2378 |
| Direct Deposit | 1.877.838.2778 |
| Other VA Benefits | 1.800.827.1000 |
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.