Aid for Military & Veterans
SUNY Jefferson
Schedule an Admissions Appointment

Aid for Military & Veterans

In addition to the standard forms of financial aid, if you are active duty military or a veteran you may be eligible for more financial assistance to pay for college.  Jefferson is well positioned to provide assistance that will  make coming to college a seamless transition.

The Federal FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is available after October 1st each year and we recommend you complete the FAFSA and all requests for aid by June 1st for Fall semester and December 1st for Spring semester.

Financial Aid for Current Active Duty Service Members

Active duty service members have various financial aid opportunities available to use.  

Branch specific tuition assistance information:

  1. Army
  2. Air Force
  3. Navy
  4. Marines
  5. Coast Guard
  6. Space Force

Veteran Services – assists Veterans, Active Duty family members, and Veteran family members.

Our Veteran Services Office is available to assist you in applying for your VA Educational benefits.  There are several steps and you can complete them on your own using the steps below or stop into Veteran Services for one on one assistance. 

  1. Complete a JCC VA packet and return it to Veteran Services:
    1. JCC VA application
    2. JCC Veterans Memorandum of Financial Understanding
    3. Certificate of Residency
    4. Loan and Bookstore Authorization form
      1. Mail or drop off forms to:   
        Veteran Services
        Collaborative Learning Center, First Floor – Building 15
        1220 Coffeen Street
        Watertown, NY 13601
      2. Fax: 315-786-6574
      3. Email: ahogan@sunyjefferson.edu or sschulz@sunyjefferson.edu
  2. For Veterans only: copy of DD 214, Member 4
  3. For family members using transferred benefits bring us the transfer approval letter.
  4. VA Educational Benefits: https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/ - screenshot a copy of the confirmation once application is submitted and send it to Veteran Services at JCC.
  5. Send a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) you will receive from the VA in the mail (typically around 30 days after application).
  6. Schedule an appointment with Veteran Services

42

Percentage of Jefferson students are affiliated with the military

82

Percentage of Jefferson students that receive financial aid

VA Educational Benefits by Chapter

Active Duty Educational Assistance for Veterans who served at least 181 active duty days and were honorably discharged. Based on active duty service beginning on or after July 1, 1985, or entered on active duty before January 1, 1977, and served on Active Duty for any number of days during the period October 19, 1984, to June 30, 1985 and continued on active duty through June 30, 1988.

Benefits

  • The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and some certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship /on-the-job training, and correspondence courses.
  • The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, length of your service, your category, and if DOD put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called “kickers”).
  • You usually have 10 years to use your MGIB benefits.
  • To apply - https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

For Veterans who are ten percent or more disabled with a service connected disability, this benefit covers tuition, fees, books, supplies and a monthly subsistence allowance.

Benefits

  • VR&E is a program which helps eligible disabled veterans get and keep lasting, suitable jobs. It also helps seriously disabled veterans achieve independence in daily living.
  • You may be eligible for VR&E if you are rated 10% disabled or more.
  • VA will pay your training costs, such as tuition and fees, books, supplies, equipment, and, if needed, special services. While you are in training, VA will also pay you a monthly benefit to help with living expenses, called a subsistence allowance.
  • For more information and to apply https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/

Statement of Compliance with 38 USC 3679
Jefferson Community College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that covers individual borrow additional funds, on any that covers individual because of the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33. For chapter 31 students JCC requires authorization from the student’s vocational rehabilitation counselor per regulation 38 USC 3679. 

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to 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. To be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® you must have been discharged under honorable conditions.

Benefits

  • A tuition & fees payment (paid directly to the school) not to exceed the tuition & fees at the most expensive state Institution of Higher Learning.
  • A monthly housing allowance based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents. This amount is based on the ZIP code of the location of the school you are attending.
  • An annual book stipend of $1,000 maximum per year paid proportionately based on enrollment.
  • To apply - https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

Statement of Compliance with 38 USC 3679
Jefferson Community College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that covers individual borrow additional funds, on any that covers individual because of the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33. For chapter 33 students JCC requires a certificate of eligibility per regulation 38 USC 3679. 

Chapter 35 Dependent Education Assistance (DEA)

For children and spouses of veterans who died or were permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must have arisen out of active service in the Armed Forces. Veterans who died from any cause while such service-connected disability was in existence, service person missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or service person forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power may qualify through Chapter 35.

Benefits

  • Provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training.
  • If you are a son or daughter and wish to receive benefits for attending school or job training, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26.
  • If you are a spouse, benefits end 10 years from the date the VA finds you eligible or from the date of death of the veteran. If the service member died in the line of duty the spouse’s benefits end after 20 years.
  • If the service member died in the line of duty you may be eligible for the FRY scholarship and receive up to 81 months of benefits.
  • To apply - https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

For qualified active reservists.

Benefits

  • You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs.
  • Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program.
  • You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.
  • Your eligibility for the program normally ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. If you were medically discharged your eligibility is extended unless the reason for being medically discharged was caused by misconduct.
  • To apply - https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/

Tuition Assistance

Other Military NYS Awards

Vietnam Veterans Tuition Awards (VVTA)

This program provides financial assistance to eligible veterans matriculated in undergraduate and graduate degree programs on either a full-time or part-time basis. Students can be awarded up to 100% tuition per semester for full-time study or $5,000 per academic year, whichever is less. To be eligible for this program, the veteran must:

  • be a legal resident of New York State
  • have served in the armed forces of the United States
  • have been discharged from the service under other than dishonorable conditions
  • Apply for a Federal Pell Grant and NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award (Part-time students do not need to apply for a TAP award). 
    • Indochina between December 22, 1961 and May 7, 1975
    • Persian Gulf anytime during the Desert Storm conflict
    • Iraq/ Afghanistan during the current military conflicts

The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 requires educational institutions to make certain disclosures to students using federal military and/or VA educational benefits. To view and print a copy of an estimated personalized cost of attendance you can visit the SUNY Net Price Cost Calculator  and select "Jefferson Community College" from the dropdown. Additional financial information can be found at the NCES College Navigator site. 

The SUNY Financial Aid Plan (FAP) will provide a more in-depth analysis and accurate picture of student cost once the student has filed their FAFSA, completed a SUNY application, and has been accepted by a campus.