Continuing Education for Veterans

When you’re affiliated with the military and want to pursue higher education, you are often awarded a wealth of beneficial opportunities and resources that may not be applicable to many other students. Because the government, schools, and community recognize that service to your country is noble and honorable, non-traditional college students like you are rightfully given several advantages over the general population, such as a variety of veterans education benefits and college grants for veterans. Since many veterans are adults returning to college, this is another factor that needs to be taken into consideration for this unique group.  

Veterans Affairs Benefits

Depending on when you served and for how long, your military education benefits may differ from others. You may also receive different benefits if you are still active in the military or if you are the dependent or spouse of someone who has served. The best way to determine if you have benefits and what benefits you have is to apply at Vets.gov. From there, a college advisor who is specially trained to serve students using military education benefits, called a School Certifying Official, can assist you in using them to help pay for college. Aside from just tuition, you may also be eligible to receive a housing and book stipend!

School-specific benefits

Aside from the standard military benefits, you are issued via the Department of Veterans Affairs (commonly referred to as the VA), schools themselves may offer a variety of resources and benefits. For example, at Lord Fairfax Community College (LFCC), military students are eligible for early registration before most other students. This allows them to get “first choice” of the courses, teaching staff, and schedule they want! They also get free printing (whereas other students must pay to print), their own designated space for studying, eating, and just hanging out, and designated advisors who serve only their special population.

At LFCC, another unique benefit has just been implemented. Veteran students can sign a form that waives them from the placement test requirement that all other students must follow. By virtue of their military experience alone, these students can decide for themselves if they want to take the English or Math placement tests. If not, they are automatically placed into college-level courses.

Community and employment benefits

In addition to educational benefits, military students can take advantage of community resources. Through the Student Veterans of America organization, with groups on most college campuses, opportunities for leadership, fellowship, and veterans employment and training services are offered. These can help students transition from military life to student life to life in the working world.

All in all, it’s a great time to be a military college student!