Veteran Education Benefits

Veteran’s Services

All new student veterans and eligible family members are encouraged to visit the Veterans Success Center at the Niceville campus for assistance with starting a VA file/record. NWFSC is approved for training by the State Approving Agency under the various Veterans’ training laws. Student veterans and eligible family members planning to enroll and use their VA Educational Benefits should consult with the Veterans Success Center staff well in advance of their first semester of enrollment. All new student veterans and eligible family members are encouraged to follow the application procedures found at https://www.nwfsc.edu/students/veterans/ when establishing their VA file with the Veterans Success Center.

Student veterans and eligible family members are also required to be familiar with the NWFSC VA Student Information Packet, which explains our processes and the rules imposed, by U.S. Code Title 38 and Title 10. The VA Student Information Packet can be found at https://www.nwfsc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-VA-Student-Briefing-Packet-Oct-2021-fillable.pdf.

In accordance with U.S. Code Title 38 and Title 10, the law requires that educational assistance benefits to student veterans and eligible family members be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of their training objective.

Student veterans and eligible family members are ineligible for VA Education Benefits beyond two consecutive terms of not meeting Academic Standards per the current NWFSC catalog. VA Education Benefits will be terminated following the second subsequent term of enrollment where their Academic Standing remains below the established requirements. If a student veteran or eligible family member is placed on Academic Suspension per the current college catalog, VA Education Benefits will be terminated immediately. Students may be re-certified for VA Education Benefits ONLY after achieving the minimum required cumulative grade point average and submitting a VA Form 22-1995 or 22-5495 (Chapter 35).

Training time for all programs, except Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®, is computed at full time, three quarter time and half time; please refer to your specific chapter payment chart at the GI Bill® website (https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool).

Training time for the summer term and any accelerated sessions in a term are computed differently. Student veterans and eligible family members are advised to contact the Veterans Success Center before registering for summer term and accelerated term classes to determine training time status.

Rate of Pursuit (RoP) applies specifically to Chapter 33 beneficiaries, as it differs from training time which is used for all other chapters. RoP is used to determine a student’s Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). RoP is computed by dividing the student’s credit hours by the full time rate, rounding to the nearest tenth and multiplying by the E-5 with dependent Basic Allowance for Housing rate.

The above enrollment information is based on 16 week terms (Fall and Spring). The Summer term is 12 weeks and enrollment hours are adjusted accordingly. Please reference the VA Student Information Packet for specific requirements.

The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid if the student’s RoP is more than 50%. The VA Regional Processing Office reviews the student’s RoP to determine whether MHA can be awarded: If a student’s RoP is more than 50% the student receives MHA; if the student’s RoP is 50% or less, then the student doesn’t receive MHA (Active Duty personnel receiving Chapter 33 benefits or spouses of Active Duty personnel receiving Transfer of Entitlement benefits are not eligible for MHA under VA due to receiving comparable compensation of Basic Housing Allowance).

It is advised that student’s use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool at https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool to determine their MHA rate. This tool provides MHA rates for main, branch campuses and extension campuses. Follow the steps below to receive an estimate of your MHA.

1. Search and select your school’s main campus from the list.
2. Scroll down to “Where will you take the majority of your classes?”
3. Select “Other Location” or “An Extension Campus.”
4. Enter the zip code of the other location or select the location from the drop down.

Chapter 33 beneficiaries who schedule all distance learning classes, (online, independent study, and video conferencing), are only eligible to receive half the national average in MHA. Rates are multiplied by the RoP rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.

All chapter 33 beneficiaries eligible for MHA must verify their enrollment status each month. Students enrolled in a program which begins on or after August 1, 2021 will either receive an option to opt into the text messaging process to verify their attendance monthly OR they will be required to contact the 1-888-442-4551 toll free number monthly to verify.

Northwest Florida State College cannot verify for students. The student must verify they continue to be enrolled by stating “yes” or if not enrolled as stated, should respond as “no” and the VA will contact the schools to determine when the change in enrollment occurred if not already reported.

This monthly verification process is ONLY for chapter 33 beneficiaries. This differs from the monthly certification process for non-chapter 33 students who use the W.A.V.E.S. system to verify enrollment to release their monthly stipend.

Chapter 33 beneficiaries must respond monthly to verify their enrollment. However, their MHA payments will continue to be released until two consecutive months have elapsed without any verification from the student.

NWFSC also has clock hour programs that the VA calculates training time on a weekly basis. To maintain full time status a student must have 22 clock hours per week for Applied Welding Technologies, 18 clock hours per week for Corrections Officer, Law Enforcement Basic, and Fire Fighter. Chapter 33 beneficiaries in clock hour programs who are full time are also eligible to receive books and supplies up to $1,000.00 each academic year paid proportionately based on enrollment.

Training time for the Summer Term and any accelerated session of any term is computed differently. Student veterans and eligible family members are advised to contact the Veterans Success Center before registering for Summer Term and accelerated term classes to determine training status.

All student veterans and eligible family members who wish to be certified for their VA Education Benefits must submit a VA Certification Request form each term online at https://nwfstatecollege.formstack.com/forms/va_enrollment_certification_request_form_copy to initiate the certification process.

Student veterans and eligible family members are required to submit an updated VA Certification Request form for all schedule changes, to include: drop, withdrawal, never attended, and reinstatement or termination due to excessive absences.

Note: Student’s attendance is reported to the VA and may impact benefit payments.

Veterans’ Tuition Deferment Policy

Any eligible student veteran or eligible family member who wishes to pursue an approved program of study shall be granted upon request, a deferment for full payment of fees for a period determined by the Business Office, once per academic year (August through July).

1. The VA pays a chapter 33 beneficiary’s tuition directly to Northwest Florida State College.
   1. Upon initial application for VA education benefits, chapter 33 students whose Certificate of Eligibility has not been received (based on application confirmation page) may be eligible to use a VA deferment of fees once in lieu of their Certificate of Eligibility from the VA.
2. Chapter 35, 30, 1606, and 1607 students are responsible for paying Northwest Florida State College their tuition by the established and published payment deadlines.
   1. These students may be eligible to use a VA deferment of fees once per academic year.

Under no circumstances shall any person be allowed to enroll or re-enroll at NWFSC who has an unpaid fee deferment. A student who defaults on a VA deferment will lose the right to receive future deferments.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch. 33) or Veterans Readiness & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA.  

This school will not:

• Prevent the student’s enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
• Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

• Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
• Provide a written request to be certified;
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies