Veterans benefits
Many veterans of the Armed Services who are interested in attending college are eligible to receive financial assistance through the Montgomery GI Bill® or the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. These educational benefits are administered by the Veterans Administration.
In order to determine funding eligibility, student veterans must complete an application for benefits. In addition, student veterans must activate educational benefits by contacting Gail Gray, veteran certifying official at Penn State Beaver, 724-773-3803.
Effective summer 2015, all eligible veterans regardless of benefit use, and military/veteran dependents actively using Chapter 33, Chapter 35 or Fry Scholarship benefits, will be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of residency. If you are a veteran and you are not using GI Bill® benefits, please contact Gail Gray to determine requirements to establish eligibility for the in-state rate.
For more information on veterans services at Penn State, please visit Penn State for Veterans.
Types of educational benefits
- Chapter 33 - Post-9/11 GI Bill® is for veterans who served on active duty after September 11, 2001, and who have served an aggregate period of at least 90 days.
- Chapter 1606 - The Montgomery GI Bill®, Selected Reserve is for members of the Selected Reserve which includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserves, the Army National Guard, and the Air Guard. The reserve components decide who is eligible for the program.
- Chapter 31 - Vocational Rehabilitation is for veterans with at least a 20% disability rating due to a service-related injury.
- Chapter 35 - Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance provides educational assistance to qualifying spouses and children of veterans who either died while on active duty or have a 100% disability rating due to a service-related injury.
- Chapter 1607 - Reserve Education Assistance Program is for reservists and national guardsmen who have served on active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress.
Reserve Tuition Assistance Programs
Members of the Selective Reserves may be eligible for tuition assistance. However each of the Armed Forces determines how to administer their own Tuition Assistance (TA). In addition each state may offer its National Guard service members state funded education incentives based on state guidelines and eligibility (i.e. TA, waivers, exemptions, student loan repayment, etc.). Military.com has gathered the following information about reserve TA benefits for each service:
- Army Reserve (USAR)
- Navy Reserve (USNR)
- Marine Reserve (USMCR)
- Air Force Reserve (USAFR)
- Coast Guard Reserve (USCGR)
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 on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.