Course of Study: Veterans must determine a major course of study and enroll in proper courses outlined in the current COCC catalog. VA will not pay for any courses already taken in which a passing grade has been received. Veterans will need to work closely with an advisor. Please inform the Veterans Coordinator if a change in major occurs.
Benefit Payments: Educational benefit payments are made directly to veterans. The payment is made for the number of days the veterans is certified for the month. When a veteran is certified for a whole month, the full monthly benefit is paid. If the veteran is only certified for part of the month, the benefit is prorated. Please see the rate chart link. If you paid into a kicker fund, your monthly payment will be higher.
Education Programs Monthly Rate Chart
Be sure to notify the VA at 1-888-383-2778 or WAVE of any address or direct deposit changes. If benefit checks are mailed to an old address they will be returned to the VA and may take up to six months to have another one issued.
Student Verification of Enrollment: Chapter 30, 1606, 1607 and 1607 veterans must verify their enrollment status by Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) at 1-877-823-2378. This must be done at the end of each month of enrollment in order to receive benefits.
Advance payment: Veterans eligible for VA benefits may apply for an advanced payment 30-120 days prior to the first day of the term, providing there has been more than 30 days between attendance. Processing of the application takes from four to six weeks after the application is submitted to the Veterans Coordinator. The first check includes pay from the first day of the term to the end of that month and the following month of the term and will be received in the Boyle Education Center prior to tuition due date. However, there is no guarantee. Thereafter, payments will be made directly to the Veteran for class attendance in the following month. Next checks would then arrive at the beginning of the fourth month.
Apply for Advance Payment
Note: Veterans are responsible for payment of tuition and books. Tuition is always due the second Friday of the term except for summer.
Satisfactory Academic Progress: Veteran students are considered in good academic standing with the VA when they maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better each term and complete 66.67 percent of their graded courses. A GPA of 0.0 results in immediate termination.
- All veterans are notified at the end of the each term in which they have not made satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Veterans will be placed on probation for one term. After one term of probation if the veteran has not made SAP, benefits will be terminated and the unsatisfactory progress will be reported to the VA.
In the event of extenuating circumstances, veterans may submit the official Veterans Petition to the Veterans Coordinator who will forward it for review. In reviewing petitions, consideration is given to:
- comments from instructors, advisors and counselors
- any evidence of improvement over past terms;
- degree of difficulty of courses; and
- graduation requirements for major.
Once benefits are terminated, veterans must enroll for and complete a minimum of 12 required credit hours at their own expense and receive a GPA of 2.0 or better to regain eligibility. Once grades are posted , please contact the Veteran Coordinator
Veterans Work-Study: If interested in Veterans Work-Study, contact the Veteran Administration: 1-888-442-4551
Click here to apply for VA Educational Benefits.