Military Aid

Our goal at Carolina University is to support those who serve. We accept all chapters of military assistance through GI Bill® (VA), Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and Military Tuition Assistance (TA). Carolina University also promotes resources to service members and their families to help them reach their educational goals.

 

GI Bill® (VA) 

 

Carolina University accepts all Chapters of educational benefits for veterans. To ensure that you receive full benefits promptly, please review the following information:

  • Apply for your education benefits at www.va.gov. 
  • Submit their most recent Certificate of Eligibility to financialaid@carolinau.edu.
  • Students' education benefits will be placed on their accounts once classes are certified, which happens once classes begin.
  • Certificate and AA programs are not eligible for VA Education Benefits.

 

Student status for VA Benefits is based on the monthly course load. The information below applies to VA Benefit requirements for full, three-quarters, or half-time benefit levels. The Post 9/11 monthly housing stipend is only payable for a rate of pursuit greater than half-time. The rate of pursuit is calculated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This calculation is determined by training level, credits taken in a term, and term length. CU does not calculate the Rate of Pursuit. 

 

Enrollment Criteria

 

 

Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E, previously Voc Rehab) 

Please submit your VR&E approval to financialaid@carolinau.edu. VR&E is invoiced once the recipient’s enrollment is confirmed. 

 

Late Fee Policy for Veterans

In compliance with the VA’s regulations, the Student Accounts Department will not penalize or prohibit a GI Bill student from attending or participating in courses while awaiting VA payment (for up to 90 days).

 

To qualify for this, a student must turn in their Chapter 31 or 33 Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of Financial Aid. This forbearance will last until the earlier of either:

  • The date VA provides payment to the educational institution, or
  • 90 days after the date the educational institution certifies the student’s tuition and fee charges to VA.

For more information about our late fee policy, please visit: https://catalog.carolinau.edu/policies/financial-policies#overview

 

Tuition Assistance (TA)

Active and reserve service members should contact their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor prior to enrolling at CU to see if they qualify for tuition assistance. Service members should also visit their respective Military Service’s education portal for additional information about TA benefits: 

 TA recipients should submit TA course approval to the Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@carolinau.edu.

 

Federal and State Aid

To help support your educational needs, we encourage all students to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Based on your FAFSA results, you may be eligible for the following federal aid:

  • Undergraduate Students: 
    • Pell Grant: up to $11,092 over three semesters for the first bachelor’s degree.  
    • Federal Loans: up to $11,500 over three semesters for independent students. Up to $7,500 over three semesters for dependent students.
  • Graduate or PhD Students: 
    • Federal Loans: up to $20,500 over three semesters.  

Additionally, North Carolina residents, including active military who are stationed on a North Carolina base, who complete the FAFSA and a Residency Determination Systems application, may be eligible for the following state aid:

  • Undergraduate Students: 
    • North Carolina Need-Based Grant: between $5,000 - $10,000 over fall and spring semesters for the first bachelor’s degree.

 

Military Appreciation Scholarship

Carolina University is grateful to all the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. With profound appreciation, we offer the following Military Appreciation Scholarship to the following groups pursuing a Bachelor's degree on campus:

  • For those not participating in the military’s TA program, this scholarship provides a one-third tuition scholarship to honor those who have served or are currently serving in our U.S. Armed Forces. All other standard fees apply.

  • For the spouses of an armed forces member, this scholarship provides a one-third tuition scholarship to honor those who have served or are currently serving in our U.S. Armed Forces. All other standard fees apply.

     

Additional Assistance

Folds of Honor

  •  Folds of Honor is dedicated to providing educational scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen and disabled military service members.

Military Officers Association of America

  • The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) scholarship fund provides scholarships for children of military families.

National Military Family Association

  • The National Military Family Association (NMFA) is dedicated to helping military families with the unique challenges of life. The NMFA provides a scholarship for military wives pursuing an education.

Pat Tillman Foundation

  • The Pat Tillman Foundation helps active military veterans and their spouses who are full-time students with scholarships, leadership development, and a global community of mentors and peers. 

Veterans United Foundation

  • The Veterans United Foundation (VUF) is dedicated to helping enhance the lives of veterans and military families. The VUF provides scholarships for disabled veterans from a service injury and to the spouses/children of deceased service members from service-related deaths.

 

Point of Contact 

For all questions regarding military assistance, please contact financialaid@carolinau.edu. Our primary School Certifying Official (SCO) will be the first point of contact for all military aid.