Veterans: Funding Opportunities at Community Colleges

Published
Written by
Learn about the specific financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to veterans attending community college. You served our country - now let the country serve you financially.
After faithfully serving our country, members of the armed forces may contemplate their next career move. If you are considering attending a community college to further your training and education, you are in store for good financial news! There are a variety of programs and scholarships specifically designed to help fund veterans pursuing higher education. 

Federal Funding for Veterans
 
Before you enroll in a community college, it is important to verify that the campus qualifies for veterans assistance. For example, Kennebec Valley Community College in Maine has received approval from the Maine State Approving Agency for Veterans Educations Programs, which qualifies their veteran students to receive aid under the GI Bills. You can always contact the financial aid office at the community college you are considering to verify that they are eligible for funding from the GI Bills. 
 
The federal government provides many funding opportunities for veterans looking to further their education. Some of the programs include the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty, the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve, as well as the Reserve Education Assistance Program. However, depending upon your eligibility, the Post 9/11 GI Bill may be the best option. To compare which program would be ideal for you, utilize the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Benefits Comparison Tool.
 
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is specifically available to veterans who served for at least 90 days on or after September 11, 2001 and received an honourable discharge. This program will pay for your tuition (as long as it does not exceed the maximum in-state tuition charged by a public institution in the state), a monthly housing allowance if you have dependents, as well as a stipend of $1,000 annually for books.   
 
Scholarships Available through Community Colleges
 
In support of veterans, many community colleges offer specific scholarships for veterans. For example, if you are considering attending a Pennsylvania community college, then you may be eligible for the John P. Murtha Community College Veterans Scholarship, which is administered through the Veterans Leadership Program of Western Pennsylvania. If you do not qualify for the GI Bill and received an honourable discharge, you may qualify for this scholarship, which covers the annual tuition. 
 
At De Anza Community College in Cupertino, California, the school has a specific scholarship for veterans who are working towards degrees in technology, medicine, science, engineering or business. If you are a veteran who sustained an injury during combat, or who served in a combat zone, you may be eligible for a $2,000 award. 
 
If you are considering attending Las Positas Community College in Livermore, California, then you could apply for the Pedrozzi Foundation Veterans Scholarship, which provides $1,000 awards to 10 veterans who are graduates of a Livermore high school. 
 
Grants from Non-Profit Organizations
 
Beyond the funding available through community colleges and the federal government are grants from non-profit organizations. Some of these scholarships include:

For example, the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Tillman Military Scholars Program provides scholarships to “veterans who demonstrate a record of service to their communities.” In 2009, the program gave $642,000 to 52 veterans, and its ultimate goal is to provide $3.6 million each year to veterans, according to USA Today. 
 
The Disabled American Veterans’ Jesse Brown Scholarship is also applicable for community college students. If you are under the age of 21 and volunteer with the Disabled Veterans Association, then you qualify to apply for this scholarship. Since the scholarship’s inception in 2000, the program has given nearly $600,000 in scholarships to 87 recipients. 
 
You bravely served our country, and now it’s time for the federal government, community colleges, and non-profit organizations to serve you. Take advantage of the financial resources available to help you pursue your higher education.

Additional Resources [+]
{"http://www.communitycollegereview.com/articles/231":{"comments":{"data":[]}}}

Previous Article

The Minority Report: How Minority Students are Really Faring at Community Colleges The Minority Report: How Minority Students are Really Faring at Community Colleges
A performance gap continues to exist at community colleges for minority and low-income students. Learn about the troubling statistics and how the performance gap can be closed.

Next Article

At-Risk Students Find Success at Community Colleges At-Risk Students Find Success at Community Colleges
Learn about how community college programs can specifically help at-risk students achieve both academic and professional success.

comments powered by Disqus

Recent Articles:

How Community Colleges Plan to Spend Summer Vacation
How Community Colleges Plan to Spend Summer Vacation
Published May 23, 2013
We take a look at some of the non-credit classes and special programs on tap and community colleges to bring in members of the community during the summer months.

The Pros and Cons of Online Learning The Pros and Cons of Online Learning
We examine the advantages and disadvantages of using online classes to earn your two-year degree.

10 Ideas for Improving Community College Completion Rates 10 Ideas for Improving Community College Completion Rates
Community colleges do not traditionally boast high completion rates, but there are many ideas in the works at schools across the country to bring those rates up. We look at a few that are making headlines today.

  • More articles: About Community College, Financing, Student Issues / Attending College, College Policies, Courses in College
    • RSS/XML Feed RSS

    About Community College:

    Student Populations

    With such a diverse demographic, community college students from all walks of life can find helpful articles in this section.

    Most Popular Articles:

    Note: Data has been gathered from the Dept. of Education, schools, and commercial data sources.