Penn State World Campus understands that military and veteran students may encounter financial challenges in reaching their educational goals. That’s why we make an array of resources available to help you finance your education, like fee waivers, tuition assistance, scholarships, and federal student aid (if applicable). Explore the following opportunities designed to make your Penn State education more affordable. Our military team can assist you in understanding what options are right for you.

Undergraduate Application Fee Waiver

Service Members, Veterans, Spouses/Dependents

We are proud to offer active-duty, guard, reservist and veteran applicants an automatic application fee waiver for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. Spouses and dependents can receive an application fee waiver by attending one of our military webinars, where you can learn more about our programs, military support services, and other benefits.

Next Steps

Active-duty, guard, reservist and veteran applicants will not be prompted for fee payment when they submit their application. Join one of our military webinars to learn more about the application process. Spouses and dependents are also eligible for the application fee waiver by attending a military webinar.

Graduate Application Fee

Veterans and active-duty service members receive a discounted application fee of $40. Some graduate programs may waive the application fee. Check the program’s website for application instructions, the link to apply, and to see whether an application fee waiver is offered.

Military Grant-in-Aid

Service Members, Spouses

You are dedicated to your country — and one way we honor your service is by helping to make a Penn State education more affordable. Our Military Grant-in-Aid program makes it possible for service members and their spouses to save on undergraduate tuition, bringing our tuition rate closer to the Department of Defense cap. Military Grant-in-Aid, offered only through Penn State World Campus, lowers the cost of undergraduate tuition to $376 per credit. When combined with military tuition assistance, the remaining student investment is $126 per credit for the 2024–25 academic year. Grant-in-Aid cannot be combined with most GI Bill® benefits.

Eligibility:

  • Active duty, guard, and reserve for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, and their spouses (individual Ready Reserve and inactive National Guard are not eligible)
  • Applicable to all undergraduate programs and undergraduate courses offered by Penn State World Campus
  • You, or your spouse, must be serving in the military at some point during the semester in which you are registering
  • Service members and/or spouses electing to use their GI Bill® education benefits (Chapters 30, 31, 33, and 35) or any other Penn State Grant-in-Aid are not eligible
  • Service members electing to use their Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) benefits are eligible to use Military Grant-in-Aid along with those benefits
Next Steps

If you have questions regarding qualification for the Military Grant-in-Aid, contact our admissions team. Newly admitted and current students should submit their completed Military Grant-in-Aid form each semester to the Penn State World Campus Bursar. We recommend doing so at the time you schedule classes and no later than two weeks before the semester starts.

VA Education Benefits

Service Members, Veterans, Spouses/Dependents

You may be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We’ve provided an overview of these benefits below, and our team is available to assist with questions. We also encourage you to visit the VA website or your service branch’s education office for the most detailed information regarding your options.

Next Steps

Review the various VA education benefits featured below and visit the VA website, where you can check your eligibility and apply online. We recommend that you apply as soon as possible. Apply your benefits at Penn State World Campus by sending a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to [email protected]. Contact Penn State World Campus VA Certifying Officials at 814-863-6638 or via email at [email protected] with any questions.

 

If you are a current Penn State World Campus student, see VA education benefits information for current students. Please note that your VA Certification Request form must be submitted for every semester in which you are enrolled.

Our Section 1018 of Public Law 116-315 page provides informational resources to guide your calculations on covering the total cost of an education program based on your circumstances.

Post-9/11 GI Bill – Chapter 33

Service Members, Veterans, Spouses/Dependents

If you served on active duty after September 10, 2001, you may be eligible to receive payment for a percentage of the tuition and fees that are paid directly to the University, along with a monthly housing allowance, and a books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year. Some service members may also transfer unused benefits to their dependents. You may be eligible to receive this benefit if you:

  • have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001
  • are still on active duty
  • are an honorably discharged veteran
  • or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE) – Chapter 31

Service Members, Veterans

If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE), or Chapter 31, can help. You are eligible to apply for VRE benefits and services if you: 

  • are an honorably discharged veteran
  • and have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10 percent from VA

If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your basic period of eligibility ends 12 years from one of these dates, whichever comes later: 

  • the date you received notice of your date of separation from active duty
  • or the date you received your first VA service-connected disability rating

If you are still on active duty, you may be eligible for VRE benefits and services if you:

  • have a 20 percent or higher pre-discharge disability rating and will soon leave the military
  • or are waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while you were on active duty

Montgomery GI Bill – Chapters 30 and 1606

Service Members, Veterans

The Montgomery GI Bill provides education benefits for tuition, books, and fees paid directly to service members and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The VA offers two unique benefits: The Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30) and the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606). You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits.

Tuition Assistance Top-Up

Service Members

Military students who are eligible for Chapter 30 or 33 GI Bill — and approved to use military Tuition Assistance (TA) — can elect to use their VA education benefit to cover part of the remaining expenses when TA does not cover 100% of tuition and fees.

Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship

Spouses Only

If you are a military spouse, you may be eligible to receive up to $4,000 of financial assistance via a Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) Scholarship. This program helps military spouses pursue licenses, certificates, certifications, or associate degrees necessary to gain employment in high-demand, high-growth career fields. Penn State World Campus is a participating school, and our military team can help you through the application process.

Next Steps

Visit the MyCAA website for information on eligibility, application process, and more.

Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) – Chapter 35

Dependents Only

The DEA program offers education and training opportunities to eligible surviving dependents or dependents of veterans who are permanently or totally disabled due to a service-connected disability.

Next Steps

Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for benefit eligibility and other information.

Tuition Assistance

Service Members

Funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance (TA) program can cover a significant portion of tuition expenses for eligible active duty, National Guard, and Reserve service members. We recommend service members speak with their Education Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their military service prior to enrolling to confirm eligibility and availability of education benefits. For information on specific benefits and the approval process, click on your branch of service below or visit your military education center.

Next Steps

Click on the appropriate service branch link above. When requesting approval for TA, be sure to use OPE-ID #00332900, which is the identification number that Penn State World Campus shares with Penn State University Park campus. Once your tuition assistance form is approved, please send it to the Penn State World Campus Bursar.

Scholarships

Service Members, Veterans, Spouses/Dependents

We are proud to offer scholarships designed to provide financial support specifically to Penn State World Campus military and veteran students. Scholarships are for undergraduate degree-seeking students and are for both full-time and part-time learners. There is one application for all World Campus scholarships, including military scholarships.

Next Step

Visit the scholarships page on our student website to learn more about these and other scholarships open to service members, veterans, and their families.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements:

Military Student Experience Webinar

November 21, 2024 / 7:00 pm (EST)–7:30 pm (EST)
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