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St. Cloud State University

St. Cloud State University

Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
Specific Populations

Veterans

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to veteran-students who have applied for educational benefits and have not yet received their government payment. These funds are advance payments of the earned educational benefits and will be deducted from future education payments.

Checks will be distributed to eligible students at the 57 VA regional benefits offices starting October 2, 2009. Effective Friday, October 2nd, veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov.

For more information, visit the VA website at www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1790

Veterans’ Resource Office

Located on the St. Cloud State University campus, the Veterans’ Resource Office assists student veterans in a variety of areas of college life. A full array of the services provided may be found on its website at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/veterans/. You may also visit the office in the Administrative Services Building, Room 101.

You may also wish to access the on-line resource MyMilitaryEducation.org which is a one-stop resource for educational benefits and resources for veterans and their families.

Veteran/GI Bill Office

This office will assist you with questions concerning your educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation, or Family Member programs.  Contact the office in the Administrative Services Building, Room 118, at http://www.stcloudstate.edu/registrar/veterans/, or (320) 308-4040.

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

Individuals who have served in the Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001 may be eligible for three educational benefits: tuition, housing, and book allowance.

Only active duty time served after September 10, 2001 counts as eligible service. Students enrolled less than half-time (6 credits) are not eligible for the housing stipend.

The Veterans Administration (VA) will begin processing applications for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits starting May 1, 2009. The application form is available online at:www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-1990-ARE.pdf. Students will receive a response explaining the VA's decision regarding eligibility for the program. Payments for the Post-9/11 GI Bill will not be processed by the VA until August 1, 2009.

You may review further information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill at www.gibill.va.gov and also review a benefits comparison. You may also contact the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-456-8519 for additional information.

Minnesota GI Bill

The Minnesota GI Bill program was established in 2007 to provide postsecondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible to receive up to $1,000 per semester and part-time students may be eligible to receive up to $500 per semester.

To be eligible you must be a Minnesota resident enrolled at a Minnesota institution who is a:

  • veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time on or after September 11, 2001, or;
  • non-veteran who has served honorably for a total of five years or more cumulatively as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 11, 2001, or;
  • surviving spouse or child of a person who has served in the military at any time on or after September 11, 2001, and who has died or has a total and permanent disability as a direct result of that military service.

If you meet the above eligibility criteria Apply Online or print, complete, and submit a paper application along with a copy of your Form DD-214 to the St. Cloud State University Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, Room 106, Administrative Services Building.

Active and Reserve Soldiers Tuition Assistance

Effective October 1, 2009, Active and Reserve Soldiers will request tuition assistance payment on-line through www.GoArmyEd.com

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