Veterans

To receive benefits, eligible students must:

Apply to the Department of Veterans Affairs for educational benefits.

Be enrolled in an associate degree program, certificate program or in a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) program.

Submit a copy of DD 214 and DD-2384, if applicable.

Eligibility for Deferment of Payment of Tuition and Fees by Certain Eligible Students Receiving U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Other Government Funded Educational Assistance Benefits

Service members, veterans, and dependents of veterans who are eligible beneficiaries of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits or other government funded educational assistance, subject to the conditions and guidelines set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 49- 7-104 as amended, may elect, upon formal application, to defer payment of required tuition and fees until the final day of the term for which the deferment has been requested. Application for the deferment must be made no later than 14 days after the beginning of the term, and the amount of the deferment shall not exceed the total monetary benefits to be received for the term. Students who have been granted deferments are expected to make timely payments on their outstanding tuition and fees balance once education benefits are being delivered, and eligibility for such deferment shall terminate if the student fails to abide by any applicable rule or regulation, or to act in good faith in making timely payments. This notice is published pursuant to Public Chapter 279, Acts of 2003, effective July 1, 2003.

Qualifying Courses

A student receiving veteran benefits can only be paid for courses listed in the catalog as required for his/her designated major.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Programs

Students receiving veteran benefits who are enrolled in Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) programs are certified for clock-hour certificates. Credit may be given for previous education or training as determined by the instructor and approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs at initial enrollment.

Full-time Status

The Department of Veterans Affairs accepts, as full-time, students who meet either of the following criteria:

degree-seeking students taking 12 or more credit hours per-semester.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) students enrolled in clock hour programs meeting at least 30 hours per week.

Residency for Tuition Purposes as it pertains to veterans, service members and their dependents

Effective July 1, 2015, Chattanooga State Community College is in compliance with Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act. The Act is supported by TN Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7 part 13 which states:

“A veteran or any individual entitled to the veteran’s educational benefits, enrolled in any public institution of higher education in this state shall not be required to pay out-of-state tuition or any out-of-state fee.”

For more information and eligibility requirements, visit the Chattanooga State Office of Veteran Affairs.”

As part of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018

Covered individuals are permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning the date on which the individual provides to the institution a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to education assistance under chapter 31 or 33 obtained from the Department of Veteran Affairs and ending on the earlier of the following dates.

The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

The institution will not impose any penalty, including assessment of late fees (by no fault of their own), the denial of access to classes, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual due to the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution, due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under chapters 31 or 33.

Note: A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VRE), or chapter 33, Post/911 GI Bill students are required to verify their enrollment each month. “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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”

Qualifying Courses

A student receiving veteran benefits can only be paid for courses listed in the catalog as required for his/her designated major.

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Programs

Full-time Status

The Department of Veterans Affairs accepts, as full-time, students who meet either of the following criteria:

Degree-seeking students taking 12 or more credit hours per-semester.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) students enrolled in clock hour programs meeting at least 30 hours per week.

Academic Fresh Start

Veterans are not eligible for Academic Fresh Start.