Veterans pursuing higher education—whether a technical program, bachelor’s, or advanced medical degree—can tap into an extensive range of benefits, scholarships, and support programs. With strategic planning, you can stretch your GI Bill® benefits, reduce debt, and transition successfully into your next career.
Before enrolling in classes or using your benefits, decide exactly what you want from your education:
Technical Certificate – Short-term skills for immediate employment.
Associate or Bachelor’s Degree – Foundational academic path for many professions.
Advanced Degrees (MD/DO, PhD, Master’s) – Require additional benefits or funding beyond the GI Bill®.
Veterans often find strong peer networks in academic spaces, with a tradition of “pulling each other up” once in the door. The key is to plan your education pathway before committing benefits.
Eligibility:
Post-9/11 GI Bill® – For those with 90+ aggregate days of active duty after Sept. 10, 2001, or discharged due to a service-connected disability.
Reserves & National Guard – Eligible with qualifying active duty service.
Transfer Option – Unused benefits can be transferred to a spouse or dependent child if eligible.
How to Use:
Apply online via the VA website.
Receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
Enroll in your program and give your COE to the school’s Certifying Official (SCO).
The SCO certifies your enrollment with the VA to trigger payments.
Covers: Tuition, fees, books, supplies, and a monthly housing allowance (if eligible).
Even if you have GI Bill® coverage, you should apply for all available aid:
FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid; apply every year.
California College Promise Grant (CCPG) – Waives two years of community college tuition for eligible CA residents, helping preserve GI Bill® months.
Veteran-Specific Scholarships – Such as the Pat Tillman Foundation; often less competitive than general scholarships.
School-Based Veteran Awards – Internal funding offered by many universities.
GI Bill® Extensions & Alternatives:
STEM Extension (Edith Nourse Rogers Scholarship) – Extends benefits from 36 to 45 months; must nearly exhaust GI Bill® first.
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) – For veterans with 30%+ service-connected disability. Offers GI Bill–equivalent benefits without strict time limits and can be used for post-bac or graduate study.
If you’re aiming for medicine or healthcare:
Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) – Pays full tuition, fees, and stipend in exchange for post-graduation VA service.
Specialty Education Loan Repayment Program (SELRP) – Up to $40,000/year for physicians in high-need VA specialties.
Veterans Healing Veterans Scholarship – Full tuition and stipend at select schools with VA service commitment.
Service to School – Free mentorship, application support, and access to the VetLink Addendum, which showcases deployments, duty stations, medals, and other service achievements in resume format.
Apply to Veteran-Friendly Schools – Those actively recruiting veterans often have higher acceptance rates.
Warrior Scholar Project (WSP) – Week-long academic boot camps at select universities to ease the transition into college; attending at your target school can build connections and generate recommendation letters.
SOFtoSOM – Supports special operations veterans pursuing medicine with research opportunities and financial aid guidance.
American Corporate Partners (ACP) – One-on-one mentorship in healthcare and other fields.
MedTechVets – Connects veterans with mentors in MedTech, pharma, life sciences, and medical devices.
If you suspect you have service-connected injuries or conditions:
Make a complete list and apply to the VA for a disability rating.
Build your case with documented medical history; if needed, spend time getting evaluations first.
If you ETS’d after a combat deployment, you have 5 years of VA healthcare under the PACT Act.
Register for the Burn Pit Registry if applicable.
Six months after receiving a rating, you may request an increase—some veterans use third-party “claim assistance” services for better results.
VR&E Use:
Must have at least some remaining Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits.
Bring documentation of at least five service-connected conditions to your meeting.
Show why your MOS is no longer viable and how your chosen degree will lead to employment.
Provide a strong CV and resume.
Be prepared to justify your education plan every term.
Most universities and medical schools have veteran support staff in:
Student Affairs
Registrar’s Office
Dedicated VA Liaison Office
They can help certify benefits, connect you to peer support, and ensure you get access to veteran resources.
By combining the GI Bill® with scholarships, medical education programs, veteran-focused mentorship, and on-campus resources, you can dramatically lower costs, gain powerful career guidance, and transition smoothly into civilian and professional life, whether your path leads to a skilled trade, a bachelor’s, or a medical degree.
VR&E Chapter 31 Information Session (Every Month):
An overview of Chapter 31 VR&E
The five support and service tracks of VR&E
On-the-Job Training (OJT) including Non-Paid Work Experience (NPWE) and Special Employer Incentive (SEI)
Employment Services offered by our Employment Coordinators
Guidance on the application process
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