Veteran Educational Benefits

  • Continuing students must complete and submit the VA Educational Benefits Request Form every semester and submit to your Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office located in the Student Service Center.
  • Be sure your new classes match your educational plan! To update your educational plan, schedule an appointment with a Veterans Counselor.
    • VRC Drop-In Counseling appointments are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM through the fall semester.
    • Call the VRC Welcome Desk: (408) 741-2158
  • Continuing students who have received VA Educational Benefits at a previous college must complete the Change of School Form 22-1995 through the Veterans Online Application and submit with your official transcripts to any of the school certifying officials below.

For additional information please contact:

Melissa Ceresa

Melissa Ceresa

Veterans Resource Center
Program Specialist & VA School Certifying Official

(408) 741-4694
[email protected]
Campus Center VRC

The West Valley College VRC takes 2-3 weeks to process VA Certification. After West Valley submits the certification, the VA Office takes approximately 3-6 weeks to process claims.

Educational Benefits

Veterans Administration Educational Benefits for eligible veterans includes a monthly educational allowance and a tutorial allowance.

The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
Veterans who have been evaluated and given a disability rating qualifying them for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program (Chapter 31) must contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (28) 10365 Old Placerville Rd. Sacramento, CA 95827.

The Post–9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

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 website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The Survivor and Dependent Educational Assistance Program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.
The Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve Educational Assistance Program (MGIB-SR) may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve, which includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

Monthly Rates and Equivalency

Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®)

Calculate your BAH rate

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 website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

Other Chapters

Chapter 30, Chapter 35 (Survivors & Dependents) and Chapter 1606 (Reserves), please visit the VA website to see your specific Rate Table.
 

Equivalency Chart

Use the chart below to determine semester equivalency in regards to payment.

Semester
Units
?		 15+
wk		 14
wk		 13
wk		 12
wk		 11
wk		 10
wk		 9
wk		 8
wk		 7
wk		 6
wk		 5
wk		 4
wk		 3
wk		 2
wk		 1
wk
12+ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
11 ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
10 ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
9 ¾ ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
8 ½ ¾ ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
7 ½ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
6 ½ ½ ½ ¾ ¾ ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
5 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¾ ¾ ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT FT
4 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¾ FT FT FT FT FT FT
3 ¼ ¼ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¾ ¾ FT FT FT FT
2 ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ¾ FT FT FT
1 ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ ½ ½ ¾ FT

Hour Equivalency Key
FT = Full-time
¾ = ¾ time
½ = ½ time
¼ = ¼ time

Priority Registration

West Valley College Student Veterans currently receiving GI Bill® benefits under any of the following chapters do not need to self-report and will automatically receive priority registration: Chapter 30, 31, 33, 1606, 1607 and VRAP.

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 website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

West Valley College Students Veterans not receiving GI Bill® benefits must self-report to be considered for priority registration.

Requirements:

  • Have a current Application for Admission on file at West Valley College
  • Completed Assessment Test
  • Attended Orientation
  • Veterans: must submit a copy of their DD Form 214 (Member-4 copy, with an honorable, a general, or other than honorable discharge) to the Office of Veterans Services and request priority registration
  • Active duty or state reservist: must show their military ID to the Office of Veterans Services

*NOTE: You must request priority registration with your Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office located in the Student Service Center at least one month prior to registration for the next academic term.

New GI Bill® Overview

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 website: https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

The new GI Bill® (Chapter 33) or so-called 'Post 9/11 GI Bill®,' boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill® was signed into law in 1944. This new benefit does not go into effect until August 1, 2009.

Many post 9/11 veterans and service members will soon see a new package of education benefits. This new Post 9/11 GI Bill®, or so-called GI Bill® for the 21st Century, boasts the most comprehensive education benefits package since the original GI Bill® was signed into law in 1944.

The new bill goes well beyond helping to pay for tuition; many veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, will get full tuition and fees, a new monthly housing stipend, and a $1,000 a year stipend for books and supplies. The new bill also gives Reserve and Guard members who have been activated for more than 90 days since 9/11 access to the same GI Bill® benefits.

The following links to the New GI Bill® Overview on Military.com provides a quick reference to answer the following questions you may have about Senator Webb's Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

  • When will these new benefits go into effect?
  • How do I apply for the new benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®?
  • Am I Eligible?
  • How much will I get for Tuition?
  • What is the Monthly Stipend for Housing?
  • How much is the book stipend?
  • Do the benefits expire?
  • Does it cover Licensing and Certification?
  • Does it cover tutorial assistance?
  • Can I transfer this benefit to my dependents?
  • How does it compare to the Montgomery GI Bill®?
  • Is there an enrollment fee?
  • How does it affect my current GI Bill® eligibility?
  • How do the two GI Bill® programs compare and what should I consider when choosing the right program for me?
  • Additional FAQs
Last Updated 7/12/24