Military Benefits & Financial Aid

As required by PA Act 11 of 2015, Veterans and Military Personnel, their spouses, and/or dependent children, may be eligible for reduced tuition rates as outlined below.

• Veterans, their spouses, and/or dependent children, who reside in the Commonwealth of PA will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate. For purposes of this policy, a veteran student is defined as an individual who: (a) Served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component and National Guard, and was discharged/released from service under conditions other than dishonorable; or one who is an active-duty service member; and (b) Resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
• Active military personnel, their spouses, and/or dependent children, who are enrolled online (distance) and who reside outside of the Commonwealth, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.
• Any individual who receives VA education benefits under chapters 1606, 1607, 30, 31, and 33, and who resides outside of the Commonwealth, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.
• Civilian personnel who work at a Department of Defense facility in the Commonwealth of PA, their spouses, and/or dependent children, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.

As outlined above, those who qualify must provide proof of service, which may include one of the following: DD214, current military ID, and/or VA Certificate of Eligibility. Documentation must be submitted here.

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit offered to current service members of all branches of the Armed Forces to assist with the cost of tuition. Some Department of Defense employees and military spouses may also be eligible to receive a form of Tuition Assistance. Federal Tuition Assistance pays up to a certain amount of tuition and authorized fees per semester hour. That amount is determined by the service branches. In addition, you will have to work through your respective military education advisor or education services officer (ESO) at your military installation to apply for tuition assistance benefits.

Click your branch of the military below for more specific information relevant to the type of Tuition Assistance you will be using.

 Air Force
Army (Army IgnitED)
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy

The Educational Assistance Program (EAP) for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard is jointly administered by PHEAA and the PA Department of Military and Veterans Attairs. This program provides tuition assistance for students who enter into a service commitment with the Pennsylvania National Guard, typically for a period of six years. This is a program ONLY offered to Pennsylvania National Guard members and is a non-taxable grant.

It pays full-time tuition (up to 12 credits) + technology fees directly to the college. Payments are made from the PA Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) to the school. It can be be used for up to five years.

This information is intended to offer general guidance in requesting your military benefits. Specific questions related to your situation should be directed to your readiness NCO. Be advised these procedures may be modified without notice. Guard members should contact their readiness NCO for specific application requirements regarding Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) and the Education Assistance Program (EAP).

Additional questions can be answered and assistance can be obtained by calling 717-861-9238 for FTA and 717-861-8894 for EAP.

If you are receiving veterans’ education benefits you are also eligible to apply for scholarships awarded by LCCC, including those awarded by Scholarships & Financial Aid, the LCCC Foundation, and other scholarship awarding units.

In addition, you are also eligible to apply for military scholarships awarded by the University, as well as external entities.

You must apply for scholarships in order to be considered. You are not considered for scholarships based on attendance at LCCC or your use of veterans’ education benefits. Students are required to complete a FAFSA before qualifying for financial aid.

To apply for general scholarships awarded by LCCC, please submit the appropriate application. For more information regarding scholarships, please visit http://sydotnet.net/paying-for-college/scholarships/.

LCCC Veteran-Military Scholarship

The LCCC Veteran-Military Scholarship recognizes veteran and military students, spouses and dependents who demonstrate a commitment to pursuing higher education, academic success and community service. Funds can be used towards books, supplies, and other related expenses. Click here to review the eligibility and application process.

LVMAC Scholarship Opportunity

The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (LVMAC) scholarship program is now seeking applications from eligible veterans, children of those veterans, and ROTC students enrolled in your institution who have a Lehigh or Northampton County home of record.

The scholarship selection committee will award amounts up to $2,000 based on individual need after the individual qualifies. Online applications and all instructions can be found under the “Scholarship Program” tab at www.lvmac.org.  The awards checks will be mailed directly to the student to spend for his or her specific needs.

Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association Scholarship

The Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association Scholarship has been established to recognize relatives of Army Service Women. This scholarship is based upon academic achievement and leadership as expressed through co-curricular activities and community involvement. Two (2) $1,500.00 scholarships will be given annually. The recipients will be notified by mail or email. The checks will be forwarded to the acceptance institutions. Click here to review the eligibility and application process.

Veterans Special Emergency Reserve Fund (V-SERF)
Funds are awarded through Lehigh Valley Community Foundation to assist veterans with educational expenses as the result of an emergency, job loss, medical issues or traumatic circumstances. To apply for this one time scholarship, submit the application Veterans/Reservist’s Special Emergency Reserve Fund (V-SERF)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

Recipients may qualify to receive payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and a book stipend. Recipients can receive up to 36 months of benefits. Recipients who combine this benefit with one or more other Chapter Benefits can receive up to 48 months of total benefits. A recipient’s benefit amount is affected by their rate of pursuit (number of credit hours being taken divided by the number of credit hours considered to be full-time).

VA tuition and fee payments are paid directly to LCCC and are applied as a 3rd party payment to the student’s billing account.

Monthly Housing Payments are sent directly from the VA to the student (not to the school) via direct deposit. Benefits are paid in arrears (after the training period). For example, a student receives payment for August at the beginning of September. Payment amounts vary annually and are on the Department of Defense (DoD) Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for E-5’s with dependents. The amount of this benefit varies from 50% to 100% depending on the length of active duty service. Recipients must have a rate of pursuit of more than 50% to receive the monthly housing allowance. Students enrolled in only distance learning or online courses are only eligible for a monthly housing allowance equal to 50% of the national average of all Basic Allowances for Housing. Payments are prorated for any partial months of attendance (ex. August & December). Payment amounts do not include enrollment break periods (ex. Winter & Summer break).

Book Stipends are sent directly from the VA to the student (not to the school) via direct deposit. A lump sum payment is made each semester. These stipends are prorated based upon the percentage of benefit awarded.

This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits.

Recipients receive a monthly stipend from the VA. A recipient’s benefit amount is affected by the veterans training time.

All payments are sent directly from the VA to the student (not to the school) via direct deposit. Benefits are paid in arrears (after the training period). For example, a student receives payment for August at the beginning of September. Payment amounts do not include enrollment break periods (ex. Winter & Summer break).

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is available for veterans who have a service-connected disability. Interested applicants need to meet with a VA counselor to apply for Chapter 31 benefits, or apply online. The basic period of eligibility in which VR&E services may be used is 12 years from the date of separation from active military service or 12 years from the date the veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected disability rating. Once the VA has determined a veteran’s eligibility, the VA Counselor will send authorization to the School Certifying Official to certify enrollment and set up the benefit with LCCC.

Recipients may qualify to receive payment for tuition and fees, a subsistence allowance, and books. The veteran’s Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) counselor will determine the number of months of the veteran’s Chapter 31 Benefit eligibility. A recipient’s benefit amount is affected by their rate of pursuit (number of credit hours being taken divided by the number of credit hours considered to be full-time).

VA tuition and fee payments are paid directly to LCCC and are applied as a 3rd party payment to the student’s billing account.

The MGIB-AD program provides up to 36 months of education benefits for veterans and service members who have at least two years of active duty.

Recipients receive a monthly stipend from the VA and can receive up to 36 months of benefits. Recipients who combine this benefit with one or more other Chapter Benefits can receive up to 48 months of total benefits. The delimiting date for this benefit is 10 years from the last period of qualifying active duty service (at least 90 days in length). A recipient’s benefit amount is affected by their training time.

All payments are sent directly from the VA to the student (not to the school) via direct deposit. Benefits are paid in arrears (after the training period). For example, a student receives payment for August at the beginning of September. Payments are prorated for any partial months of attendance (ex. August & December). Payment amounts do not include enrollment break periods (ex. Winter & Summer break).

Recipients must verify enrollment at the end of each month by Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by Interactive Voice Response (IVR). Visit the WAVE website or call 877-823-2378. Failure to verify enrollment will result in non-payment of the benefit.