Military Aid

Overview

Whether you’re active duty, a veteran, a dependent of a service member, or looking to join ROTC, PLNU offers a variety of military aid programs and resources.

Here are a few resources that may assist military students and veteran beneficiaries:

Military Children Scholarships:

ROTC

ROTC participants, please contact your ROTC unit to determine your eligibility:

Your unit will submit an authorization list every semester. PLNU will invoice your unit after the last day to drop a semester course.

Please note: ROTC may be treated as a resource that counts against the student’s eligibility for certain need-based state and institutional grants and scholarships.

VA Benefits

Veterans Administration (VA) benefits are awarded to veterans of the Armed Services and dependents who qualify. Please visit the Veteran's Affairs website or your local office for more information and to begin the application process. VA awards must be certified by the university. For further help with processing your certifications, please contact us.

Chapter 33

Students who are 100% eligible for the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® are authorized to receive up to $27,120.05 in VA monies for the 2023–24 academic year.

If you are 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, the VA will cover all of your tuition and fees for the fall semester, and you will receive the remainder of the $27,120.05 in the spring semester.

For those attending classes at the greater-than-half-time rate, a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents at the location of the school. (Note: Active duty students and their spouses cannot receive a MHA.) View BAH calculations.

An annual book and supplies stipend of $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment.

VA benefits may be treated as a resource that counts against the student’s eligibility for certain need-based state and institutional grants and scholarships.

If you are interested in other scholarship opportunities for military students, visit todaysmilitary.com to learn about financial aid offered by the U.S. Armed Forces.

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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

Formerly known as "Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab)", Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) helps students to pay tuition and mandatory fees. In addition, VR&E can sometimes be used to help pay for books. Award amounts are based on information provided by the student to the Student Financial Services (SFS) Office and must be verified by the issuing agency. If the student has filed a FAFSA, VR&E is treated as need-based aid.  This means that if the student is receiving other federal, state or institutional need-based aid, VR&E may cause other aid to be reduced or cancelled to avoid the student from being funded in excess of demonstrated financial need.

 

Yellow Ribbon

There are unlimited Yellow Ribbon Grants offered by Point Loma Nazarene University.

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program (Yellow Ribbon Program) is a provision of the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. The program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the highest public in-state tuition rate. PLNU will match up to $13,000 of remaining tuition and fees charged after the primary Chapter 33 tuition benefit has been certified and verified by the VA for the school year.

After consulting with the VA and determining your maximum eligibility rate, only those with a 100% benefit rate may receive this funding. Therefore, a student may be eligible if:

  • 100% eligible for Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and a veteran.
  • Eligible dependent for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post 9/11 GI Bill® based on the active duty service member or veteran’s service under the eligibility criteria listed above. (Child dependents eligible. Spouse dependents excluded).
  • Starting August 1, 2022, you may become eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program if you're currently an active duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level (you already served on active duty for at least 36 months) or if you're a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active duty services member who meets these qualifications.
  • Must be accepted for admission by PLNU for the upcoming academic year, are an applied student or in good academic standing as a returning student.  Applied and returning students must be registered as a full time student at the time the award is disbursed.

PLNU Yellow Ribbon Grants will be awarded to undergraduate and graduate students whose tuition and fees exceed the VA cap for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® for the applicable academic year.

  • A valid Certificate of Eligibility from the Veterans Administration verifying 100% eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program is required.

If you believe you are eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, please contact the Veteran Services Department by emailing veteranservices@pointloma.edu.


Yellow Ribbon Program monies are only awarded in the spring term. At this time, if you are 100% eligible, your Post 9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon Program monies will cover 100% of your fall and spring semester eligible tuition and fee charges and may extend into the summer term if you choose to attend.

Example: for the 16/17 academic year, there will be a total of $21,970 (Post 9/11) + up to $20,000 (Yellow Ribbon) for eligible tuition and fees.*

*VA will only cover tuition and fees that are required for your degree completion.

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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Active Duty Assistance

As an active duty service member you may be eligible to use your tuition assistance for your education program. For full details on how to use your tuition assistance, please visit your command or unit education officer.

Tuition Assistance Students Must Provide a Tuition Assistance Authorization Form (issued by command education officer).

For further assistance please contact us.

National Guard Education Assistance Award Program

The California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program (CNG EAAP) is a state-funded program designed to provide an educational incentive to improve skills, competencies, and abilities for up to 1,000 service members who remain active in the National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia. Participants can receive up to the amount of the Cal Grant A award for attending the University of California or the California State University, up to the Cal Grant B award for attending a community college, up to the Cal Grant A amount for a recipient attending a non-public institution, or up to the Cal Grant A award plus $500 for books and supplies for graduate studies.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Is an active member of, and has served two (2) years in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia;
  • Agrees to remain an active member in the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia throughout the participation period in the CNG EAAP;
  • Agrees to use the award to obtain a certificate, degree, or diploma that is currently not held;
  • Has been accepted or registered at, or enrolled in, a qualifying institution;
  • Agrees to maintain enrollment in at least three (3) academic units per semester, or the equivalent, at a qualifying institution;
  • Agrees to maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in a qualifying institution; and
  • Is a resident of California for at least one year immediately preceding the date of determination. 

How to Apply:
Applicants must submit an application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the application deadline date of January 22, 2010. Applications will be processed, verified, and awardees selected.