Step 1: Apply for Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits

• Visit VA Education for detailed information about federal education benefits.
• Contact VA Education 888.442.4551 for personalized help with your GI Bill® benefits.
• Whatcom's Veteran Services Office can help with applying for GI Bill® benefits.
• After applying for benefits, VA Education will send you a certificate of eligibility. Please provide your certificate of eligibility to Whatcom's Veteran Services Office.
• If you have used VA Education benefits at a prior college, please submit a Change of Program or Place of Training to transfer your GI Bill® benefits to Whatcom Community College.

Step 2: Apply for admissions to Whatcom

• After applying for admissions you will receive a welcome email with next steps.
• Visit your WCC Student Portal to setup your ctcLink account and WCC student email located in your MYWCC.

Step 3: Initial math and English course

• Military connected students needing a math or English course can meet with a Veteran Services Advisor for help with placement.
• English Informed Self-Placement
• Math Guided Self-Placement

Step 4:  Apply for financial aid and scholarships.

• Military connected students can use financial aid and scholarships while using VA Education benefits.

Step 5: Build your VA Education approved degree plan and enroll in classes

• An approved degree plan is required to use GI Bill® benefits.
• A Veteran Services Academic Advisor can help you build an approved degree plan, and enroll in classes.
• Schedule your advising appointment with a Veteran Services Advisor.
• David Aguilar - schedule an appointment
• Jarid Corbitt - Schedule an appointment
• You can also email or call Veteran Services 360.383.3015 to schedule an appointment

Step 1: Start the Military Tuition Assistance application with your education service office (ESO) from your branch of service, and get approval from your command. For more information, visit:

• Army
• Air Force
• Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard

Step 2:Apply for admissions to Whatcom

• After applying for admissions you will receive a welcome email with next steps.
• Visit your WCC Student Portal to setup your ctcLink account and WCC student email located in your MYWCC.

Step 3: Initial Math and English Course

• Military connected students who need a math or English course can meet with a Veteran Services Advisor.
• English Informed Self-Placement
• Math Guided Self-Placement 

Step 4: Apply for financial aid and scholarships. Military connected students can use financial aid and scholarships while using military Tuition Assistance education benefits.

Step 5: Build your Tuition Assistance approved degree plan and enroll in classes

• Tuition Assistance benefits require an approved degree plan.
• A Veteran Services Advisor can help you build your branch approved degree plan, and enroll in classes.
• Schedule your advising appointment with a Veteran Services Advisor.
• David Aguilar - schedule an appointment
• Jarid Corbitt - Schedule an appointment
• You can also email or call Veteran Services 360.383.3015 to schedule an appointment.

Step 6: Submit your degree plan and class information using your Tuition Assistance branch portal.

• Army
• Air Force
• Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard

Step 7: Submit your Tuition Assistance signed Authorization to Whatcom's Cashier Window in Laidlaw Center, room 141, or email to Whatcom's Business Office 360.383.3367.

Spouses of service members on active duty, under Title 10 orders, with pay grades of E1 through E5, W1 through W2, and O1 through O2 are eligible to participate in the My Career Advancement Account (MYCAA) Scholarship program. 

Step 1: Apply for MYCAA benefits

Step 2: Apply for admissions to Whatcom

• After applying for admissions you will receive a welcome email with next steps.
• Visit your WCC Student Portal to setup your ctcLink account and WCC student email located in your MYWCC.

Step 3: Initial math and English course

• Military connected students needing a math or English course can meet with a Veteran Services Advisor for help with placement.
• English Informed Self-Placement
• Math Guided Self-Placement

Step 4:  Apply for financial aid and scholarships. Military connected students can use financial aid and scholarships while using federal education benefits.

Step 5: Build your degree plan and enroll in classes

• The MYCAA requires a specialized degree plan to use MYCAA benefits.
• A Veteran Services Advisor can help you build an approved degree plan, and enroll in classes.
• Schedule your advising appointment with a Veteran Services Advisor.
• David Aguilar - schedule an appointment
• Jarid Corbitt - Schedule an appointment
• You can also email or call Veteran Services 360.383.3015 to schedule an appointment.

Washington State law provides veterans, active duty, reserve, Washington National Guard, and eligible family members in-state tuition when approved documentation is provided. Review the Military Connected In-State tuition for eligibility. Email your completed application with the required documentation to Veronica Corral 360.383.3038 or drop-off your completed application at Whatcom Community College's Office of Entry and Enrollment Services in Orca Central, Heiner Building. We will contact you if we have questions, and as soon as a final decision has been reached.

If you have questions about your military connected status, required documentation, or would like assistance completing the Military Connected In-State Tuition Application, please contact Veteran Services 360.383.3015 or Veronica Corral 360.383.3038

Service members, veterans, and dependents using Veterans Administration education benefits or Tuition Assistance are required to have all prior civilian and military credits evaluated and applied to their selected degree or certificate of study.

Request official transcripts from all prior colleges sent to:

Admission and Registration
Whatcom Community College
237 West Kellogg Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
360.383.3030
registration@whatcom.edu

In accordance with Title 38 USC 3679, Whatcom Community College adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Veteran Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to Whatcom Community College is pending from VA. Whatcom Community College will not:

• Prevent the student's enrollment;
• Assess a late penalty fee;
• Require students to secure alternative or additional funding;
• Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students will be required to:

• Produce a certificate of eligibility for educational assistance under Ch. 33 or Ch. 31 by the first day of class (a "certification of eligibility" can also include a "Statement of Benefits" obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs website-eBenefits, or a VAF 28-1905 authorization form from Ch. 31 authorization purposes.)
• Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies and procedures.

 A member of the Washington National Guard or any other military reserve component who is a student at an institution of higher education and who is ordered for a period of 30 days or less to either active or inactive state or federal service and as a result of that service or a follow-up medical treatment for injury incurred during that service misses any of the following: class, test, examination, laboratory, class day on which a written or oral assignment is due, or other event upon which a course grade or evaluation is based, is entitled to make up these events without prejudice to the final course grade or evaluation. The makeup must be scheduled after the member's return from service and after a reasonable time for the student to prepare for the event.

Please contact Veteran Services 360.383.3015 if you are called to an active or inactive state of federal service while enrolled at Whatcom Community College.

We recommend you visit the following websites before deciding to attend Whatcom Community College. 

• Tuition Assistance (TA) Decide: This dynamic information and comparison tool is designed specifically to aid participants of DoD's Tuition Assistance (TA) program in making informed choices on schools and education programs. 
• Financial Aid College Financing Plan: The Financial Aid College Financing Plan is a Federal tool used to notify students about their possible financial aid award package. It is designed to simplify information about school costs and financial aid.
• College Scorecard: College Scorecard makes it easier for you to search for a college that is a good fit for you. Use the College Scorecard to find out more about affordability and value of colleges you are interested in attending.
• College Navigator: This college search engine produces information relevant to admissions statistics, retention, financial aid, and academics. It also gives you another way to compare schools, find schools in your area, and determine costs associated with attending those schools.
• Paying for College: Use this website to get help in making informed financial decisions about how to pay for college, understand financial aid offers, and student loan repayment.

Active duty, reserve, and National Guard students who receive military Tuition Assistance (TA) are refunded proportionally through at least 60% of the quarter for which the funds were earned. TA funds are earned proportionally during the quarter, with unearned funds returned based on when a student stops attending due to officially withdrawing from a course. If the student does not officially withdraw and stops attending the last date of attendance will be determined by the instructor.

• VA Education Call Center - 888.442.4551
• VA general benefit information – 800.827.1000
• Bellingham Vet Center: "Help without Hassel" 360.733.9226
• VA Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC): 360.848.8500
• VA Debt Management: 1.800.827.0648
• VA Puget Sound health care enrollment: 1.800.329.8387
• VA Puget Sound health care: 206.762.1010
• Whatcom County disabled American veterans: 360.715.7453
• Whatcom County veterans assistance program: 360.715.7453
• FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid)
• Post-9/11 GI Bill® Housing Allowance calculator
• We recognize that those who served may require additional support while pursuing their educational goals. Whatcom's Access and Disability Services Office is available to help students who may need accommodations. Get connected with Access and Disability Services.

Whatcom Community College recognizes veterans with red, white, and blue honor cords at the annual commencement ceremony. Veterans, active military, reservists, and Washington National Guard students who are participating int he commencement ceremony are eligible to receive the honor cord. Please contact  Veteran Services 360.383.3015 to get your graduation honor cord. Proof of service, such as DD214 or military ID card, is required.