Veterans

Application Information for Veterans

The application process at Sterling College for veterans is designed to be as painless as possible. Here’s information that should be of use to you as you apply:

You will need to fill out an application, either our own Sterling College application, or through the Common Application.

Your application will also require a personal essay, your high school transcripts, college transcripts (if applicable), and two letters of recommendation. We do not require SAT or ACT scores.

We will need a copy of your DD-214 or your NGB-22.

You may be eligible to receive academic credit for your military service. In order to determine what credit we can grant, Sterling College will need a copy of any military transcripts.

The links below will direct you how to request your military transcript(s) from your branch of service.

• DD-214
• Army Transcripts (or call 1-866-297-4427)
• Coast Guard Transcripts
• Marine Transcripts
• Navy Transcripts
• American Council on Education (ACE) Transcripts

We will need you to fill out a FAFSA.

Understanding Veterans’ Financial Aid

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans’ Association New GI Bill Calculator will help you understand your benefits and your eligibility, including housing allowance for the Northeast Kingdom, books and supplies stipend, and more.

E-Benefits is the site that the VA requires all new GI Bill users to register with and utilize in order to track and understand their benefits. The Sterling College Financial Aid office requires veteran students to have registered and use this site as well.

The Vermont VA Education Assistance is for every veteran and his or her family in the state of Vermont; it is a one-stop shop for understanding your education benefits in the state of Vermont.

GI Bill

Sterling College accepts all applicable chapters of the Montgomery GI Bill. The post 9/11 GI Bill has been recently updated with many changes. It has been expanded to include active service members of the National Guard. Sterling College is a private institution, not a public one, so there may be a cap on tuition benefits.

We will need a copy of your certificate of eligibility.

Find more information, plus scholarships, at the GI Bill site.

Department of Defense MOU Policies

Return of Tuition Assistance: Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Sterling College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch within 30 days.

Instances when a Service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected Service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Schedule for returning unearned Tuition Assistance to the government

15-week Course Withdraw submitted

Before or during weeks 1-2 100% return
During weeks 3-4 90% return
During weeks 5-6 75% return
During weeks 7-8 50% return
During weeks 9 40% return (60% of course is completed)
During weeks 10-15 0% return

12-week Course Withdraw submitted

60% of course completed at 7.2 weeks

5-week Course Withdraw submitted

60% of course completed at 3 weeks