Veterans
Providing an easier path to your college degree is one way Five Towns College joins our nation in repaying you for your service. With the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, education-related benefits, including funds for tuition, housing, books and supplies, are better than ever for our veterans. In addition, financial aid and scholarships and New York State tuition awards and grants may also be available to help you with costs that are not covered by your veteran benefits. Parents are allowed to transfer their Veteran Benefits to their children.
Learn more about the benefits that you have earned and start on your path to success. Visit the GI Bill website for more information on eligibility.
Post-9/11 GI Bill – Chapter 33
The Post-9/11 GI Bill is for individuals with at least 90 of continuous active service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
The amount of financial assistance is dependent upon the state in which the particular institution or program is located. The amount made available to an individual is capped at the highest in-state, undergraduate tuition & fees rate. A veteran’s length of active duty service after September 10, 2001 determines the benefit eligibility as follows:
- 100% – At least 36 months
- 100% – At least 30 continuous days and service-connected disability discharge
- 90% – At least 30 months
- 80% – At least 24 months
- 70% – At least 18 months
- 60% – At least 12 months
- 50% – At least 6 months
- 40% – At least 90 days
Approved training under the Post-9/11 GI Bill includes undergraduate and graduate degrees and vocational/technical training. All training programs must be offered by an institution of higher learning (IHL) and approved for GI Bill benefits. Additionally, tutorial assistance and licensing and certification test reimbursement are approved under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program
Five Towns College is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Please contact the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs at 516-299-2256 for details regarding the 2012-2013 agreement. Veterans who have served a minimum of 36 months of active duty service after September 10, 2001 are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program. This program enhances your educational entitlements by covering virtually 100% of additional tuition and fee costs above the allocated annual allowance.
Montgomery GI Bill – Chapter 30
The Montgomery GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Individuals must have entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and completed at least two years continuous active service. Some service members may contribute up to an additional $600 to the GI Bill to receive increased monthly benefits. For an additional $600 contribution, service members may receive up to $5,400 in additional GI Bill benefits. The additional contribution must be made while on active duty. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.
Vocational Rehabilitation – Chapter 31
Veterans who have been declared disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs due to service related injury are eligible for this benefit. Services generally last up to 48 months, but they can be extended in certain instances.
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) – Chapter 32
VEAP is available to individuals who first entered active duty between January 1, 1977 and June 30, 1985, contributed to the program, and did not contract with the Armed Forces under a delayed entry program. Benefits are dependent upon total contributions made and are calculated individually. No allowance is made for payment for dependents. Active duty service members may receive full VA educational entitlement under the VEAP program.
Dependents Educational Assistance – Chapter 35
DEA provides educational benefits to dependents and survivors of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition, were a prisoner of war, or missing in action. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.
Reserve GI Bill – Chapter 1606
The Reserve GI Bill is available to any person who enlists, re-enlists, or extends an enlistment in the Selective Reserve for not less than six years, in addition to any other period of obligation after June 30, 1985, completed 180 days of service in the Selective Reserve, and is satisfactorily participating in required training in the Selective Reserve.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) – Chapter 1607
REAP is a new education benefit program designed to provide assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or a national emergency. Certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 may either be eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
Troops to Teachers Program (TTT)
The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Troops to Teachers (TTT) Program is a national program designed to assist eligible military personnel to transition to a new career as public school teachers in targeted schools. The program does not provide jobs nor issue teaching certificates, however, for eligible military personnel, the program offers state specific certification counseling, referral services, financial assistance toward certification expenses, and financial incentives to teach in low income schools where there are critical teacher shortages.
Veterans Tuition Awards
Provides financial awards for full- and part-time study to eligible veterans matriculated at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution or in an approved vocational training program in New York State.
Visit the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation website for more information on eligibility.