Veteran Benefits Eligibility
There are several state and federal education benefits for both Veteran and Military students, each with its own eligibility criteria. Please check out the list below and find your benefit.
All VA Chapters provide students with some form of financial compensation. For more information regarding the type of compensation you can expect please find your Chapter and it’s corresponding answer below.
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill |
Chapter 35: Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) |
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) |
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) |
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill
This benefit is multi-faceted as it covers tuition and fees while also providing students with a basic/monthly allowance for housing (BAH/MAH). All payments are based off the Veteran/Dependents percentage which is provided on the students Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits.
Tuition and Fees:
Please note that DCCC participates in the VA’s “dual certification process.” This means DCCC certifies only student credit hours first. This ensures students receive their BAH and book stipend owed to them at no delay. The VA recognizes that not all students will keep the classes they start with, so to avoid any debts being owed by the student or college we are required to “re-certify” your enrollment after the “refund period” with tuition and fees applied. Students can typically expect to see a VA tuition and fees payment applied to their account by no later than the middle of November for the Fall and March for the Spring.
The amount of tuition and fees to be paid to DCCC is determined by the percentage of benefit you are eligible for.
Find the percentage of the full benefit you’re eligible for:
- 1,095 days or greater (36 months+): 100% of the full benefit.
- 910 to 1,094 days (30 to 35 months): 90% of the full benefit
- 730 to 909 days (24 to 29 months): 80% of the full benefit
- 545 to 729 days (18 to 23 months): 70% of the full benefit
- 180 to 544 days (6 to 17 months): 60% of the full benefit
- 90 to 179 days (90 days to 5 months): 50% of the full benefit
Monthly allowance for housing (BAH/MAH)
All student BAH is paid on the first of each month for the previous month that they are enrolled (ie: September payment is made on October 1).
In order for students to receive the maximum BAH available to them three things must be true:
- All courses start and end at the same time:
- Fall 2023 (August 26th – December 15th)
- Spring 2024 (January 18th – May 6th)
- All students must take 12 credit hours with at least one 3 credit hour course in person.
- All courses are applicable to the students major. Students completing their last term at DCCC are allowed to “round out” by taking non-applicable courses to fulfill their full time BAH requirement.
- To be eligible for BAH students must have a rate of pursuit greater than 50%
| Campus Locations | Fall/Spring | Summer 1/2 | Full Time BAH/MAH |
|
Marple Upper Darby Southeast Center |
12 Credits | 4 Credits | $2,346 |
|
Downingtown Brandywine Pennocks Bridge |
12 Credits | 4 Credits | $2,751 |
To determine your Rate of Pursuit and BAH if you are taking less than 12 credit hours please use the following formula: (Total Credits /12 = your percentage rounded to the nearest tenth). Example: 9/12 = 75% rounded to the nearest tenth = 80%. You can then expect 80% of the Full Time BAH listed above.
Apply directly on the VA website.
Chapter 35: Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)
This benefit is paid monthly and rates are for courses at colleges and universities.
The amounts listed here are for a full month of enrollment. The VA will pay you a percentage of the full month’s rate based on the number of days that you’re enrolled in the month. The VA call this a prorated payment. For example, if your school starts on the 20th, you would get a payment for 10 days of enrollment that month. Your payment would be 1/3 of the monthly rate.
The VA will pay you up to the rate listed here based on how many courses you’re taking:
- Full-time enrollment: $1,488 for each full month
- 3/4-time enrollment: $1,176 for each full month
- 1/2-time enrollment: $862 for each full month
If you’re enrolled less than 1/2 time, the VA will pay you up to the amount listed here for every month you’re enrolled—but no more than the cost of your tuition and fees:
Less than 1/2-time and more than 1/4-time enrollment: $862 for each full month (or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less)
1/4-time enrollment or less: $372 for each full month (or the cost of your tuition and fees, whichever is less)
If your tuition and fees are less than the monthly rate, the VA will send you a lump sum (one payment) at the start of each term.
Example: If you’re enrolled less than 1/2 time and more than 1/4 time, and you attend a 90-day term, you may get up to $2,586 for the term ($862 per month x 3). But if your tuition and fees are less than $2,586, then we’ll send you the amount of your tuition and fees at the start of the term instead.
Apply directly on the VA website.
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)
This benefit is paid monthly and rates are for courses at colleges and universities. The amounts listed here are for a full month of enrollment. The VA will pay you a percentage of the full month’s rate based on the number of days that you’re enrolled in the month. The VA calls this a prorated payment. For example, if your school starts on the 20th, you would get a payment for 10 days of enrollment that month. Your payment would be 1/3 of the monthly rate.
We’ll pay you up to the rate listed here based on how many courses you’re taking:
- Full-time enrollment: $466.00 for each full month
- 3/4-time enrollment: $349.00 for each full month
- 1/2-time enrollment: $233.00 for each full month
- Less than 1/2-time enrollment: $116.50 for each full month
Apply directly on the VA website.
