Military & Veteran Students

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MCCC Military & Veterans Services

Mercer County Community College is approved for Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill® benefits, US Army Tuition Assistance, US Navy Tuition Assistance, US Air Force Tuition Assistance, USMC Tuition Assistance, US Coast Guard Tuition Assistance, NJ National Guard Tuition Wavier Program, and MyCAA.

The goal of the Mercer County Community College Veterans Services Office is to ensure that veteran, military, and dependent students are successful at MCCC and able to take fully advantage of the broad range of educational and cultural activities offered by MCCC while being able to share their diverse experiences with the college community.

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Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill^®

http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/education_programs.asp

How to Receive Benefits at MCCC as a New Student

This provides a useful overview of how to get started with receiving Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill® benefits. Please also review the steps below to ensure you receive your benefits at MCCC.

• Ensure that your desired program is eligible for benefits. Most programs at MCCC are eligible, but if you have a question about eligibility, please email vets@mccc.edu.
• Apply for your benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• If this is the first time you will be using your benefits they you will fill out, Application for VA Education Benefits VA Form 22-1990.
• If you have used your benefits elsewhere prior to MCCC, then complete, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training VA Form 22-1995. This form is available through the same online application, VONAPP, where you apply for your benefits.
• Provide your VA Certificate of Eligibility for benefits to MCCC Veterans Services Office
• Complete a MCCC Request for Certification form to receive GI Bill® benefits at MCCC.
• VERY IMPORTANT: THE MCCC REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION MUST BE DONE FOR EVERY SEMESTER YOU WANT TO USE YOUR BENEFITS.
• If you are receiving benefits under Ch. 33 (the Post-9/11 GI Bill®), you do not need to take any additional action to be certified. Tuition and fees payments will be sent directly to MCCC on your behalf; all other stipends and payments (e.g. BAH, books stipend) will be sent to you.
  • If you are receiving a partial amount of Ch. 33 then you must pay the partial tuition and fees that the Ch. 33 GI Bill® does not cover.
• If you are receiving benefits under Ch.30 or Ch.1606, you must verify your enrollment each month with the VA via the Web Automated Veteran's Enrollment (WAVE) system. Benefits will be sent directly to you (whether via paper check or direct deposit), and you are responsible for transferring any of these payments to MCCC.

How to Receive Benefits as a Continuing Student

Each semester that you would like to receive VA benefits at MCCC, you must submit the MCCC Request for Certification form, obtained from the MCCC Veterans Services Office (room SC110) or by emailing vets@mccc.edu.

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Tuition Assistance

How to Apply for Tuition Assistance

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New Jersey National Guard Tuition Waiver Program

Students who are members in good standing in the New Jersey National Guard are entitled to receive free tuition for up to 15 credits per semester. The National Guard member is responsible for paying college fees, laboratory fees, and the cost of books and supplies. http://www.state.nj.us/military/education/NJNGTP.htm

Students must:

• Submit NJDMAVA Form 621-2-R to the MCCC Veterans Affairs Office. This document must be dated not more than 60 days before the registration date.
• Fill out the MCCC Request for Certification form
• Each year the member must apply, through the Financial Aid Office at the institution, for all available state and federal student grants and scholarships for which the member may be eligible to receive. [This may be accomplished by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).]

*You are required to use available financial aid before the National Guard Tuition Waiver will be applied to your account. Understand that if you are eligible to use the National Guard Tuition Waiver you will not pay for your tuition out of pocket (up to 15 credits). Your tuition will be covered by financial aid, the waiver, or a combination of both. You are still required to cover the cost of any applicable fees due to the College.