Maximizing Financial Aid for Veterans

Subtitled, "What administrators can do to help veterans take advantage of education benefits," this article by Haley Chitty is worth sharing widely around campus.

Because of the variety of sources that provide veteran education aid, many veterans don’t take advantage of all possible benefits. Many aren’t aware that specific types of aid are available, and many more have inaccurate assumptions about benefit programs. For example, some veterans don’t apply for federal student aid because they assume that their military educational benefits make them ineligible for federal student aid.

To help veterans navigate the complicated financial aid process, institutions should work to provide a one-stop shop to give veteran students information about all the possible benefits in one location. Providing a one-stop shop requires various offices on campus to work closely together to provide all relevant information in one location. Ideally, the veteran affairs, financial aid, admissions and various academic departments would collaborate to provide aid, admission, academic and living support to veterans to ensure full access and success at the institution.