Austin College is approved by the Veterans Administration (VA) to certify eligible students for educational benefits. There are various programs available for veterans and their dependents. To learn more about the various programs available, visit the Veterans Affairs Benefits website.
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 on-line (see How to Apply for Benefits Online on this page), by contacting the VA certifying official in the Registrar’s Office at Austin College, registrar@austincollege.edu, to have a form sent to you, 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 by mail 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 bring a copy of their Certificate of Eligibility to the school in order to receive monthly benefit amounts.
How to Apply for Benefits Online
- Go to: www.ebenefits.va.gov
- Click: Apply for Benefits (top left corner)
- Click: Launch VONAPP and apply for benefits
- Complete: VONAPP or Veterans Online Application
- Once you submit your application we recommend that you print a copy for your records; doing so may save you time and money!
Vocational Rehab Educational Benefits
Students who feel they qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation 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 exceeds 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, Room 123
Austin College
900 North Grand Avenue
Sherman, TX 75090
Phone: 903.813.2373
Fax: 903.813.2373
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. |
| Vocational Rehabilitation 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 |