Military and Veteran Students

 

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How to Access and Use Your Veteran Benefits

Types of Veteran Benefits

CH30 Montgomery GI Bill®
The Active-Duty Educational Benefit helps pay for education and training programs if you’ve served at least two years on active duty.

CH31-Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment
This Department of Labor program, facilitated by the Veterans' Administration, trains or retrains veterans for viable careers following service-connected injury or disability. This benefit pays tuition and fees directly to the college.

CH33-POST 9/11 GI Bill®/Transfer of Entitlement
This educational benefit is awarded based on accrued active or deployed service. If the benefit is transferred from a veteran to a dependent, it is known as post-9/11 TOE. This benefit covers tuition and fees directly to the college from 10% to 100%. Veterans are responsible for any amount not covered by the benefit. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

CH35-Dependents Educational Assistance
This benefit is awarded to dependent children or spouses of eligible veterans. The benefit is paid to the veteran, so the student must pay tuition and fees directly to the college. A college payment plan must be set up before certification.

CH1606-Reserve Educational Assistance
This benefit is available to eligible members of Reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces. Paid directly to the member who is responsible for paying tuition to the college.

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) / State Tuition Assistance (STA)

• MOGUARD
• Air Force
• Army
• Coast Guard
• Navy/Marine Corps

Eligible members of the Federal National Guard and Reserve components of the Army, Coast Guard and Air Force can use their educational benefits to cover tuition directly at STLCC. However, this benefit does not cover fees, which remain the responsibility of the member. To start using your Federal or State Tuition Assistance, please consult your unit's Educational Service Officer (ESO) or military counselor.

STLCC refunds up to 60% of tuition for students who drop or withdraw within the allowed timeframe, following the semester's withdrawal policy. The percentage of unearned Tuition Assistance (TA) funds returned depends on the length of the semester and courses taken, with refunds calculated up to 60% of course completion.

Missouri Returning Heroes Act
The Missouri Returning Heroes Act (Section 173.900, RSMo) provides reduced tuition for certain combat veterans attending public higher education institutions. This act was established on August 28, 2008, and amended on August 28, 2019.

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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

 

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How to Prepare Your VA Benefits

1. Apply for Benefits
   • Start your application at e-Benefits or VA.gov.
   • Click on the Education and Training tab, then select How to Apply.
   • After approval, you’ll receive your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). In the meantime, print the Education Status page from the site and submit to enrollment services if needed.
2. Meet Your SCO and Collect Your Veteran’s Benchmark
   • Visit your campus School Certifying Official (SCO) to get your packet and Veteran’s Benchmark form.
   • Take the form to advising and ensure your courses meet program requirements. Return it to your SCO with a copy of your schedule for certification.
   • Notify your SCO of any schedule changes to avoid overpayment.
3. Register for Classes
   • After planning with advising, use your MySTLCC ID to log in to Archer Connect and register for your classes.

 

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Provisions for U.S. Armed Forces Members and Family

In-State Tuition and Re-Admission for Active-Duty Service Members

• Active-Duty Service Members: Public post-secondary schools cannot charge active-duty service members more than the in-state tuition rate for residents of the state. This rate also applies to the service member’s spouse and dependent children.
• Continuous Enrollment: If you, your spouse or your dependent child pay in-state tuition, you can continue to do so if you remain continuously enrolled, even if the service member is re-assigned to a location outside of the state.

Re-Admission of Service Members

• Prompt Re-Admission: Schools must re-admit service members with the same academic status they had before their military service. This applies to any student who had to pause their education due to military duty.

 

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Veteran Resources and Benefits

As a veteran student, you have access to a variety of resources and benefits beyond STLCC. These services can support your education, career goals, financial needs and overall well-being.