At Wilmington College, we strive to help military members and their families find the resources and financial aid they need to make school a reality.
For students who have served, or are currently serving, in the United States Armed Forces, or who are children or spouses of disabled or deceased veterans who passed away due to service related injuries, there may be VA educational benefits available.
APPLYING FOR VA PROGRAM BENEFITS
- Complete the Application for Benefits form on the VA website. See below for a list of benefit options, and you can contact the VA at 1-888-GI BILL 1 (1-888-442-4551) to help determine your eligibility.
- If you have used VA benefits in the past and have since changed schools or major programs, complete a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training.
- When you receive your Award Letter or Certificate of Eligibility, please be sure to provide a copy to the VA Certifying Official on campus by either emailing an electronic copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to records@wilmington.edu or by bringing a copy to the Office of Academic Records (College Hall 105).
- If you have questions please contact Debra Arneson in the Office of Academic Records at records@wilmington.edu or at 937-382-6661, ext. 464.
FINDING THE BENEFITS FOR YOU
With all the educational benefits available, it can be difficult to determine which benefit is best for you. We have provided a list of available benefits with links to additional information to get you started. You can also use the GI Bill Comparison Tool on the VA website to help you choose the best option and lead you through the application process.
Benefit Options
CHAPTER 1606 - MONTGOMERY GI SELECT RESERVE (MGIB-SR)
Members of the Reserve or National Guard who enlist, reenlist, or extend an enlistment after 6/30/85, for a period of 6 years. Learn more at the VA website.
CHAPTER 1607 - RESERVE EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (REAP)
Provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve that are called or ordered to active duty in response to war or national emergency declared by the President or Congress. Learn more at the VA website.
CHAPTER 30 - GI BILL ACTIVE DUTY (MGIB-AD)
Persons entering active duty on 7/1/85 or later, who made monthly contributions of $100 for 12 months. Persons must have completed 3 years of active duty, or 2 years active duty and 4 years in the selected reserve. Learn more at the VA website.
CHAPTER 31 -VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION
Veterans of World War II or thereafter whose service-connected disability, as determined by the VA, entitles them to benefits under this chapter. Learn more at the VA website.
CHAPTER 32 - (VEAP)
Persons entering service between 1/1/77 and 6/30/85, who made monthly or lump-sum contributions to the program while on active duty. Learn more at the VA website.
CHAPTER 33 - POST 9/11 GI BILL
For individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. If approved at 100%, Wilmington will match $4443 of benefits provided by the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students receiving this benefit are not eligible for any other institutional aid (see example below). See the VA website for more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program. Learn more at the VA website.
CHAPTER 35 -SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
Must include appropriate file number for processing. Available to spouses' and/or children or surviving spouses'; and/or children of a veteran with permanent and total service-connected disability: whose deaths were service connected, or; who died of any cause while rated permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability. Learn more at the VA website.
Financial Aid
The Office of Financial Aid/Student One Stop Center coordinates all federal, state, and institutional financial aid eligibility together with information we receive from the Veteran’s Affairs Office.
If you file your financial aid applications before you know your veteran’s benefits, you will receive a financial aid award based on non-eligibility for VA funding. Once we are notified that you will be receiving veteran’s benefits, your financial aid award may be recalculated. All Wilmington College Scholarships and Grants are applied to tuition and fees only. Veteran’s benefits do not affect federal financial aid, but may change state and institutional aid eligibility, as well as private/alternative loans. You will be notified of any changes to your award via email.
If you are a Wilmington College merit scholarship recipient, this scholarship may be combined with other tuition based awards, such as your veteran’s benefits or state grants, but cannot exceed the cost of tuition and fees. In addition, if you are receiving any Wilmington College need-based grant, scholarship, or private/alternative loan, your total financial aid package cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance.