VA Education Benefits at Appalachian
Student Veteran Services partners with the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarhips to process certifications for VA Education Benefits. The following information is designed to provide you with more information about VA Education Benefits and the process for receiving those benefits while you're enrolled at Appalachian. If you have questions or would like to have a conversation about VA Education Benefits, please feel free to reach out to us.
Apply EARLY!
The VA needs ample time to process your application for benefits, so the earlier you apply, the better! For the quickest and easiest application experience, apply online! If you have questions about the application process, please let us know.
Helpful Hint: If you are currently serving on active duty, but are separating at least two months before you begin attending Appalachian, you may want to wait until you separate from active duty before applying.
Online Certification Form
If you plan to use VA Education Benefits while you are enrolled at Appalachian, please reach out to us as early as possible. Appalachian uses an online certification request form to track VA Education Benefits requests. We won't know to add the form to your AppalNet Account until you let us know you are using benefits. Additionally, the form must be completed EVERY semester.
File your FAFSA!
Lots of folks don't realize that they can receive Federal Financial Aid (via the FAFSA) and VA Education Benefits at the SAME TIME! SURPRISE - you sure can! Be sure to file your FAFSA early (the application opens on October 1 of each year for the next academic year). Also, the Office of Student Financial Aid is staffed with helpful financial aid cousnelors that can assist you with the entire FAFSA process. PLUS, they can help you with a recalculation of your aid if the income you have to report on your FAFSA doesn't accurately represent your current financial circumstances. Reach out to them today if you have questions or if you would like more information on a recalcuation.
More about VA Education Benefits
To learn more about the VA Education Benefit programs Appalachian State University is approved to administer, click on the links below.
Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (Chapter 30) and Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606)
Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
Dependents Education Assistance Program (Chapter 35)
Each of the fact sheets provided above were drafted with information provided by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Additional information relevant to utilizing the benefits at Appalachian State has been added to each fact sheet. We encourage you to visit the VA's Education website for the latest information about each benefit program.
VA Benefits Explained
For an overview of VA Education Benefits, we encourage you to watch this video from Columbia University.
Tuition Assistance Programs
Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) for active duty, National Guard, and reservists, is administered by the Office of Student Accounts. More information about tuition assistance can be found here. Members of the North Carolina National Guard may also qualify for the North Carolina Tuition Assistance Program (NCTAP). More information about NCTAP can be found here.