New Applicants

Am I Eligible for Veteran’s Education Benefits?

Please complete the eligibility questionnaire to determine if you may be eligible for Veterans Education Benefits and under what chapter. 

It is possible to be eligible for more than one benefit, but a student may only receive one benefit at a time.  If that seems to be the case, please call the VA Western Regional Center (1-888-442-4551) for a review of your records to determine which program is more beneficial to you at this time. For detailed benefits information and current payment rates please go to www.gibill.va.gov.

How do I apply for Veteran’s Education Benefits?

To apply for Education Benefits, please complete the appropriate application as indicated below and mail it along with the supporting documents to the VA Western Regional Center listed in the application instructions.

Eligibility is determined by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs approximately eight to ten weeks after the date the Department of Veterans Affairs receives the completed application and supporting documents.  A Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is mailed directly to the applicant not the college.

Chapter 30, 30/34 Crossover, 33, 1606 or 1607

New applicant needs to submit the following:

• 22-1990 Application for VA Education Benefits
• DD-214 Member-4 (all terms)
• Contract for kicker or College Fund

Student previously approved under Chapter 30 who received a Certificate of Eligibility needs to submit:

• 22-1995 Request for Change of Program or Place of Training

Chapter 35

New applicant needs to submit the following:

• 22-5490 Application for Survivor's and Dependents' Educational Assistance
• Copy of the veteran's disability rating or death certificate
• Veteran's DD-214 Member-4 (all terms) Certificate of Release or Discharge for Active Duty
• Birth certificate of dependent student (NOT required for spouse)

Student previously approved under Chapter 35 who received a Certificate of Eligibility needs to submit:

• 22-5495 Request for Change of Program or Place of Training

Chapter 31

Please contact Northern Arizona VA Vocational Rehabilitation counselor George Stidham at george.stidham@va.gov

How do I apply for admission to Yavapai College?

You may apply for admission to Yavapai College before receiving notification of eligibility for Veteran’s Education Benefits.  There is no charge and applying for admission does not obligate you to attend.  Please go to www.yc.edu/Admissions to apply for admissions.

What about my other college credits?

The Department of Veterans Affairs requires students to provide official transcripts from their military service and every postsecondary institution the student has attended regardless of when the student attended or if the credits apply to the student’s program at Yavapai College.  Failure to do so by the second semester at Yavapai College will delay future processing of Veteran’s Education Benefits. 

Therefore, please immediately request official transcripts from each of your prior colleges.  An official transcript must be mailed directly from the previous college to Yavapai College in a sealed envelope addressed to:

Veteran’s Services Coordinator
Yavapai College
1100 East Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86031

In addition, Yavapai College must receive and evaluate your military transcripts for transferable credits.  Please complete the Request for Military Transcript.

How do I know what classes I can take?

To determine placement and reading level, the student must schedule a COMPASS assessment test on the Prescott campus by calling 928-776-2200 or on the Verde Valley campus by calling 928-634-6561; attend a student orientation SOAR (www.yc.edu/SOAR) or submit recent placement test scores from another college to Yavapai College Testing Center.  If you are not yet in the Prescott area, you may take the same test at any community college and have the results sent directly to the Yavapai College Testing Center, 1100 East Sheldon Street, Prescott, AZ 86301.

If the student can verify with a transcript the successful completion (grade of C or better) of at least twelve college level (100 or higher) academic credits from a regionally accredited college, Yavapai College will accept that as meeting the reading requirement only.

If the student has completed college level math and English from a regionally accredited college, Yavapai College will use that official transcript to determine placement.

Do I have to declare a degree or certificate program?

The Department of Veterans Affairs requires every student receiving Veterans Education Benefits to declare a degree or certificate upon their enrollment. (Go to the College Catalog.) With the assistance of an Academic Advisor, the student may select classes from that degree or certificate program only.  To schedule an Academic Advising appointment with the Veterans Services Coordinator, please call 928-776-2152.

Before certifying a student's enrollment at Yavapai College, the Veteran’s Services Coordinator must determine that the courses in which that student is enrolled are part of the declared degree or certificate program and that the student has not received credit for an equivalent course at another college that would be acceptable in transfer. This preserves the student’s benefits for new courses. For your first semester, unofficial transcripts may be used to certify your enrollment. However, no further certifications will be submitted by Yavapai College until receipt and evaluation of all official college and military transcripts.

The student may change their declaration once during their time at Yavapai College. Subsequent request to change program (form 22-1995 or 22-5495) are reviewed on an individual basis and reported to the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The Department of Veterans Affairs determines if a program change will be approved.

How do I register for classes?

1. Go to my.yc.edu
2. Enter your user name and password
3. Scroll to the correct semester
4. Select My Registration (Add/Drop) (Availability)

When is Tuition due? How can I pay for my textbooks?

Tuition and fees are payable in full by the Yavapai College tuition payment deadline printed at the bottom of your schedule, regardless of your status as receiving Veterans Education Benefits.  However a veteran student receiving Veterans Education Benefits has the option of using the interest-free Veteran Payment Plan to defer the cost of tuition, fees and textbooks if necessary. However, if you have been awarded enough other financial aid to cover the cost of your tuition, the payment plan is not needed.

To enroll in the Veterans Payment Plan

1. Go to my.yc.edu
2. Enter your username and password
3. Scroll to the correct semester
4. Select "My Bills and Payments"
5. Select "Enroll in a Payment Plan"
6. Select "Veterans Payment Plan"
7. Follow instructions to complete the plan.

For problems with the Veterans Payment Plan, please contact the Bursar's Office at 928-776-2138.

The cost of textbooks purchased at the Yavapai College Bookstore may be added to your payment plan. Please call 928-776-2152 for information.

What else do I need to do?

Register for a Veterans Education Benefits Orientation by calling 928-776-2152.  In this session you will learn how the Veterans Education Benefits Program works, what you must do to request benefits each semester, how to avoid having your benefits suspended, what to do if you have an overpayment from the Department of Veterans Affairs and what resources Yavapai College offers its students. 

Veterans please bring a copy of your DD-214 Member-4 to confirm your eligibility for benefits.  Dependents and Survivors. please bring the veteran's DD-214 Member-4, Certificate of Veterans Eligibility for Disability Benefits or Death Certificate and your birth certificate (not required for spouse).

Participation in this session is required before Yavapai College will request your education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.