At Southwestern College, we’re dedicated to serving our Veteran students. That means we’ll search for every opportunity for you to save on your degree or certificate. With more than 117 scholarships and 20 types of financial aid and assistance, our team makes sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
You don’t have to get a degree alone. Our college’s dedicated Veterans Services team is here to help you every step of the way. From filling out applications, to training and tutoring, we’ll make sure you succeed at Southwestern.
Learn MoreAt Southwestern, you’ll get in and then get out. We’ll make sure you get the classes you need to graduate on time and on budget. With flexible class schedules and many program options, there is something for everyone. We also offer priority registration for our Veteran and military-affiliated students.
Not only will our staff help you get the classes you need and graduate on time, but we’ll connect you with direct-to-career pathway programs that help you transfer the skills you earned while you served.
Southwestern is a fantastic place for military, veterans, and military-affiliated students to pursue their educational goals. We have a Veterans Services Department, which includes the Veterans Services Desk and Veterans Resource Center.
The Veterans Services Desk provides assistance with establishing a record, providing answers about class registration and declaring classes using VA educational benefits, and more. Our professional team of VA School Certifying Officials, staff members, and work-study students are here to provide the very best service available to all students using their VA educational benefits.
We aim to provide a warm, welcome environment for all. This includes a dedicated welcome lounge, conference room, computer lab with free printing, and a large student lounge. The VRC also helps with class registration, peer-to-peer counseling, VA visits to the VRC, personal wellness workshops, Military Ally trainings, employment opportunities, referrals, and more.
In general, payment for education benefits from the VA is typically received by the benefit user within 30 days after the educational institution submits the enrollment certification (depending on the current workload at the VA, etc.). To avoid delays, it is highly recommended that the student sets up direct deposit through the VA, and students without direct deposit can expect longer wait times for benefit payments. To check on the status of an education benefit payment, please call 888-GIBILL-1 (888-442-4551).
You may receive Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching. Other services may be provided to assist Veterans and Servicemembers in starting their own businesses or independent living services for those who are severely disabled and unable to work in traditional employment.
To learn more about the VR&E program, review the VR&E Process page and the tabs and links on this page. Click on the “How to Apply” tab to apply for VR&E services.
As the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran or Servicemember, you may qualify for certain benefits like health care, life insurance, or money to help pay for school or training. As the survivor of a Veteran or Servicemember, you may qualify for added benefits like help with burial costs and survival compensation. If you’re caring for a Veteran with disabilities, you may also qualify for support to help you better care for them — and for yourself.
Find out which benefits you may qualify for and how to access them here.
If you have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after Sept. 10, 2001 and are still on active duty, or if you are an honorably discharged Veteran or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days, you may be eligible for this VA-administered program. Purple Heart recipients, regardless of length of service, are qualified for Post-9/11 benefits at the 100% level. Certain members of the reserves who lost education benefits when REAP was sunset in November 2015 may also be eligible to receive restored benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
For more information regarding VA educational benefits (class certifications) at SWC, please email Veterans Services at swcveterans@swccd.edu.
For information regarding Veteran Resources, please email the Veterans Resource Center at swcvrc@swccd.edu.