Who is a Veteran?
A veteran is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) who served on active duty and was discharged under conditions that were other than dishonorable. There is no minimum number of days a student must have served on active duty to be considered a veteran. Periods of active duty for training, pursuant to an enlistment in the National Guard or Reserves, do not qualify a student as a veteran.
Former or current members of the National Guard or Reserves are not considered to be veterans unless they had prior or subsequent service with an active component of the Armed Forces.
Educational Benefits
Many members and former members of the armed services have earned educational benefits as a result of their service. To determine if you are eligible for educational benefits resulting from your military service, you must complete and file the appropriate forms and become certified to receive them. Eligible students may use their benefits to supplement their financial aid package.
Veterans can be certified under several chapters:
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®: active duty and veterans; not transferrable to dependents (pdf).
Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill®: active duty and veterans may be eligible for up to 36 months of benefit. This benefit may be transferred to qualifying dependents, with restrictions (pdf). Also see the Transferability Factsheet (pdf).
Tuition Assistance: If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program (also known as Federal Tuition Assistance - FTA). Check with your local Educational Assistance office for eligibility and enrollment requirements. Tuition Assistance Top-Up information (pdf)
Application Forms
Your application forms must be returned to the campus certifying official--Mr. Tharren Thompson, DEF Building--who will submit them to the VA Regional Office in Buffalo, NY, for processing. Once you have been approved by that office, the certifying official will verify your enrollment and you will receive your benefits on a monthly basis throughout the academic year.
For more information contact Tharren Thompson at (814) 375-4761 or call toll free at 1-800-346-ROAR.
The Penn State DuBois Veteran's Club
Penn State DuBois is proud of the Veterans Club and the active role it plays in campus life. Some club-sponsored activities are voter registration days, an annual Veterans Day program, and Bowling for Kids Sake. In addition to service projects, the club is active in fundraising projects that benefit the annual end-of-the-year trip. The Veterans Club is open to anyone--veterans and non-veterans--who shares an interest in service to campus and community.
If you are interested in joining, contact any member of the Veterans Club or call the Student Affairs Department at (814) 375-4760 (toll free at 1-800-346-ROAR).
Attention Military-Connected Students!
Recent state legislation now requires public institutions of higher learning, State-related institutions, State-owned institutions, and private institutions in Pennsylvania to charge resident tuition rates to veterans, their spouses, and dependent children who do not currently reside in Pennsylvania. Resident tuition rates will also be extended to guard/reservists/active-duty members, their spouses, and dependent children regardless of residency, as well as any civilian personnel, their spouses, and dependent children employed at a Department of Defense facility who are transferred to Pennsylvania by the Department of Defense and who reside in Pennsylvania.
Please note, under this legislation, “Veteran” is defined as “an individual who served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the National Guard and who was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. The term includes an individual described in 38 U.S.C. § 3319(b) (relating to authority to transfer unused education benefits to family members).
Please see the full act here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2023&se…
In order to receive the in-state tuition, veteran and/or dependent status must be verified. For more information about the process to request in-state tuition based on this legislation, please go to the Office of Veterans Programs website, https://equity.psu.edu/offices/veterans-programs/qualifying-for-in-stat….
*Please note, those students using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits automatically receive in-state tuition and do not need to complete this process.
"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 at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."
