Getting Started with VA Educational Benefits

1. Apply for Admissions

2. Submit forms to any Veterans Resource Center location in person or email to VRC@collin.edu.

- DD214 (Member 4 Copy) if applicable
- Certificate of Eligibility - Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®)
- Collin College Veterans Application (VAAP)
- Collin College Degree Plan Request Form
- Collin College Certificate Plan Request Form
- Form 22-1995: Request for Change of Program or Place of Training

 

3. Order official transcripts and send to: Transcripts@collin.edu.
- The VA requires Collin College to review all previous transcripts, including military transcripts (JST or Community College of the Air Force). Please ensure you have submitted all of them to transcripts@collin.edu. 

4. Apply for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) (optional)

5. Register for courses

6. Tuition and Fees Payment
- In order to receive VA educational benefits you have to take courses that are required on your specific degree plan.

1. If you took 2 semesters off, you will need to resubmit your Veterans Benefits paperwork to the Veterans Services Office by visiting in person or email at VRC@collin.edu. 

 

2. Complete the Collin College Degree Plan Request Form or Collin College Certificate Request Form (if you changed your degree plan)

3. Register for courses
- In order to receive VA educational benefits you have to take courses that are required on your specific degree plan.

 

4. Tuition and Fees Payment
- Except for Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®) and Chapter 31 (VR&E), all veteran and dependent students must pay their tuition and fees from their own resources no later than payment deadline and be prepared to meet expenses until their first check arrives (this includes any "extra" expenses associated with programs such as Art of Culinary). All eligible benefits are retroactive back to the first day of classes.

- Chapter 33 Waiver (Ch. 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® students only) (Submit EACH semester prior to payment deadline)

- Failure to do so will result in being dropped for non-payment.
- Net Price Calculator/Shopping Sheet
Utilize this calculator to make an early estimate of your total annual cost of attending Collin College. This tool is intended to provide general guidance in planning your educational financing and is not an application for financial aid.

Veterans:

- Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Transfer of Education Benefit - (Veteran Checklist) (Dependant Checklist)

• The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.

 

- Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB-AD) - (Checklist)

• The Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD), MGIB, program provides up to 36 months of benefits to help pay for education and training programs.

 

- Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve - (Checklist)

• Provides education benefits for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard under the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve program.

 

- Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment - (Checklist)

• Chapter 31 provides benefits for entitled Veterans with service-connected disabilities and employment hardships who require training or education to qualify for a suitable job.
• To start this process Email the Veteran Resource Center at VRC@collin.edu. 

 - Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents Educational Assistance - (Checklist)

• Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training benefits to eligible children and spouses of veterans or service members who have died in service, are currently captured or missing, or have a permanent and total service-connected disability.
  

 

- Fry Scholarship - (Checklist)

• Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (chapter 33) to include the children and spouses of service members who die in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs administers a variety of education benefit programs. Many veterans and active duty personnel may qualify for more than one education benefits program, including but not limited to, the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, the Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty MMGIB-AD), the Montgomery GI Bill®- Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR), and the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA).

For help in determining which program best fits your particular needs, visit the "Benefits Comparison Tools" web page at: https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool.

 

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 at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.