Financial Aid - Benefits for Veterans and Dependents
The information provided throug this site is intended to assist students in utilizing available veterans's benefits for their BC3 education. Veterans are encouraged to contact the Department of Veteran's Affairs for the most current information.
Department of Veterans Affairs 1.888.442.4551
Know What's Available
Many of these programs may be utilized concurrently to provide substantial aid in completing a degree at BC3
Other Education Programs and Services for Veterans and Dependents
Tuition Assistance (TA) for Reservists:
A Federal tuition payment program that pays up to 100% of tuition.
Paperwork is initiated through the Reserve unit; payment is made to your student account. Students who receive an additional tuition waiver (e.g. staff waiver or graduate assistant waiver) may not be eligible for TA payment. Students who are eligible for TA are eligible for Chapter 1606 GI Bill.
Educational Assistance Program (EAP) for National Guard members:
A state-funded program which awards an education grant in the amount of tuition to qualifying National Guard members.
Paperwork is initiated through the Guard unit, and should be submitted at least 2-3 months prior to the term. When eligibility is determined, the student receives an award letter indicating the amount of tuition payment; payment is made directly to the student's account. Students who receive EAP are also eligible for the GI Bill.
Criteria for eligibility
- PHEAA approved. must be enrolled in an accredited Commonwealth of PA college that is PHEAA approved
- must be enrolled in approved program of education
- must be a member in good standing of the National Guard with an obligation to serve for 6 years from date of entry into the program. This obligation may be incurred through enlistment/reenlistment/extension.
- must be a resident of Pennsylvania 12 months prior to enrollment
- must be a Private through Sergeant major, Warrant Officer 1 or 2, or Lieutenant
- may not possess a Bachelors degree or higher degree, if full-time
- may not be an ROTC Scholarship participant
- failure to complete the 6 year service agreement of being deemed an unsatisfactory participant will result in repayment of all monies paid under the EAP, plus interest & fees.
- Eligibility is limited to five years of full-time or part-time grants, or the equivalent.
Application Process
- enlist, reenlist or extend enlistment for 6 years
- obtain application from PANG Education Officer, submit application, cost and promissory note for the EAP to the PANG Education Officer
- enroll in an approved program at a PHEAA approved school
- have PANG Education Officer verify eligibility and send application to PHEAA
- school and student are notified of student's EAP eligibility; school verifies enrollment; PHEAA disburses monies to the school
Kicker:
An incentive program for qualified soldiers which pays between $100-350 per month in addition to the GI Bill.
Kicker & GI Bill payments are delivered in the same monthly check. A copy of the kicker contract must be presented to the BC3 Veterans Affairs.
Student Loan Repayment (Reserves/Guard):
Members of the Reserves or National Guard may be eligible for annual loan repayment of 15% of eligible loans or $500, whichever is greater.
Maximum payment will not exceed $10,000 in most cases; maximum annual payment will not exceed $1,500 plus interest. Contact the National Guard or Reserve recruiting station.
- Basic eligibility: enlisting for 6 years, 8 years, or extending enlistment of 3-6 years; AFQT score of 50+ for NPS only; not a permanent technician or AGR; MOS qualified, and have a position vacancy; must execute form through Reserve/Guard unit to select Student Loan Repayment (SLR).
- Which loans qualify for repayment: Stafford, Perkins, parental (PLUS), Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL), Auxiliary Loans (ALAS).
- Scope of repayment: loans secured prior to, on, or after date of enlistment, or those which have been secured for at least one year. SLR can be combined with enlistment bonus, retention bonus, GI Bill, Tuition Credit or ACES programs.
- How to apply: Soldier completes Part I of form DD2475 (DOD Annual Loan Repayment Application) obtained from Reserve/Guard unit; unit completes Part II and sends to lender (bank); bank completes part III and returns form to unit for payment processing.
- Termination of repayment: termination will occur if soldier completes term of service, is reclassified to ineligible MOS, becomes an unsatisfactory participant, or separates from the Reserve/Guard as an enlisted person, fails to extend term of service for period of non-availability, or is enrolled in the Active Duty portion of the Montgomery GI Bill.
Tutorial Assistance:
Veterans can receive tutorial assistance after meeting the following criterea:
Tutorial assistance is available if the student is receiving VA educational assistance, attending at least half time and has a deficiency in a subject making tutoring necessary. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551.
VA Work Study:
The VA Work Study program permits eligible Chapter 30, 1606 or 35 students to perform VA-related services in return for payment based on the higher of the Federal or State minimum wage.
An eligible person may work up to 25 hours times the number of weeks in the enrollment periods, and must have remaining entitlement under one of the above GI Bill programs. Students may work at a school VA office, VA regional office or medical facility, or approved State employment office.
Work study sites:
- VA Medical Center, Butler, PA Ph: 724-287-4781
- Butler County Veterans Affairs Ph: 724-284-5353
- Mercer County Veterans Affairs Ph: 724-662-3800
