VA Education Programs
GI Bills® are available for many different types of VA Education Programs. Make sure the education program you wish to enroll in will be qualified for reimbursement under the GI Bill® you are eligible for. Visit VA Education and Training for a detailed listing and definition of the programs available and to apply.
Veterans Educational Benefits Information
- Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act
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also known as the “Forever GI Bill® ,” was signed into law on August 17, 2017, and brings significant changes to Veterans’ education benefits over the next few years. Most enhance or expand education benefits for Veterans, service members, families and survivors. For more information pleas visit the GI Bill Fact Sheet.
- Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) - 36 months entitlement
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The Post - 9/11 educational benefit is a new education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. You may receive benefits for any approved program offered by a school in the United States that is authorized to grant an associate (or higher) degree.
- Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30) - 36 months entitlement
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The Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty, called "MGIB" for short, provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans.
- Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) - 36 months entitlement
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The Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve is an education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve. An eligible reservist may get education benefits while in a program approved for VA training. This includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, as well as the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It is the first program that doesn't require a person to serve on active duty in the regular Armed Forces to qualify.
- Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) (Chapter 1607) - 36 months entitlement
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REAP (Chapter 1607 of title 10, U.S. Code) is a new education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard, who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Chapter 31) - 48 months entitlement
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The VetSuccess program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For Veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, Vet Success offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.
- VEAP (Chapter 32) - 1 to 36 months entitlement
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VEAP is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available.
- Vietnam Era GI Bill® (Chapter 34) - 36 months entitlement
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Chapter 34 (VEAP) provided education benefits to individuals who served on Active Duty after January 31st, 1955 and prior to January 1st, 1977. The benefit expired on December 31st, 1989. However, Public Law 98-525 authorized the conversion of the Vietnam Era GI Bill® to the Montgomery GI Bill®. This conversion enabled many Vietnam Era veterans to qualify for benefits under Chapter 30. Vietnam Era veterans who think they may be eligible for this conversion should contact the VA Education Customer Service Office at (888) 442-4551. Press 1, if you have a touch-tone phone, then Press 0 (zero) to speak with an Education Counselor.
Dependents Educational Benefits Information
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The California College Fee Waiver (CFW) program benefits the spouse and children of U.S. veterans. Students meeting the eligibility criteria may get their college fees waived if they attend a California Community College, a California State University, or a University of California campus.
Once approved, the form needs to be emailed to Graciela Sanchez, gsanchez@vcccd.edu in Financial Aid.
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Dependents VA Educational Benefits (DEA)(Chapter 35) - 45 months entitlement
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Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans who:
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are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition
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are hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment; and are likely to be discharged or released from service for this service-connected disability,
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are missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force.
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died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition
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Transfer of Post 9/11 Benefits (TEB) (Chapter 33) - 36 months entitlement
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Service members enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill® program will be able to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children.