You served us, now let Penn State York serve you.
Attention Military-Connected Students!
Recent state legislation now requires public institutions of higher learning, State-related institutions, State-owned institutions, and private institutions in Pennsylvania to charge resident tuition rates to veterans, their spouses, and dependent children who do not currently reside in Pennsylvania. Resident tuition rates will also be extended to guard/reservists/active-duty members, their spouses, and dependent children regardless of residency, as well as any civilian personnel, their spouses, and dependent children employed at a Department of Defense facility who are transferred to Pennsylvania by the Department of Defense and who reside in Pennsylvania.
Please note, under this legislation, “Veteran” is defined as “an individual who served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or the National Guard and who was discharged or released from service under conditions other than dishonorable. The term includes an individual described in 38 U.S.C. § 3319(b) (relating to authority to transfer unused education benefits to family members).
Please see the full act here:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2023&sessInd=0&act=14
In order to receive the in-state tuition, veteran and/or dependent status must be verified. For more information about the process to request in-state tuition based on this legislation, please go to the Office of Veterans Programs website, https://equity.psu.edu/offices/veterans-programs/qualifying-for-in-state-tuition.
*Please note, those students using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits automatically receive in-state tuition and do not need to complete this process.
Penn State York understands that Veterans’ dynamics are different to that of civilian dynamics; hence, a support network is necessary towards the academic success of student veterans transitioning into higher education. Penn State York offers a variety of degrees and majors.
Honorably discharged veterans have been granted priority registration by Penn State’s Faculty Senate. In this case, priority registration really means early registration. Veterans may schedule classes ahead of students without priority registration based on the timeline set by each campus, but once general registration begins you will compete for class spaces along with all other students allowed to register at that time.
Attention VA Educational Benefit Recipients: Penn State has transitioned to an e-form Certification Request effective March 2022. All Penn State campuses have converted to the e-form that is available via LionPath, the University’s student information system. Please see below for instructions on how to access the e-form Certification Request.
- In LionPath, go to your Student Home Base.
- Next, select the “My Information” icon and then “VA Enrollment Cert Request” from the menu.
- NOTE: If you do not see the form, you will need to complete the Military-Affiliated Student Questionnaire that has been assigned to you. If the questionnaire has not been assigned to you, please contact Christina Lee at 717-718-6704 or [email protected].
Post-9/11 Verification of Enrollment Requirement: Beginning with terms starting on or after December 17, 2021, if you are using your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefit at an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) facility, you are required to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to receive your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. We want to help you meet this new requirement so you can continue your education without any interruption in benefits. By verifying that you are still enrolled in the same courses or training every month, you help avoid overpayments caused by changes to your training schedule and safeguard your GI Bill® entitlement by preventing entitlement charges for training you did not attend.
How to Verify Your Enrollment: We encourage students to opt into text messaging, which is a simple, quick option for verifying monthly enrollment and ensuring you receive your MHA/kicker payments uninterrupted. All impacted students with a United States mobile phone number on file should receive an opt-in text message after being certified by the university. You must respond to that text within 14 days. After opting in, you can simply reply to a VA text message each month to verify your enrollment.
If you opt out of text message verification or do not respond to the opt-in text, you will be automatically enrolled in email verification with the email address on file with VA.
Learn what vets have to say about Penn State York
Education benefits procedures
For New Students
- Contact/visit the Veterans office at the campus you will be attending.
- Pay your acceptance fee to the University.
- Process your bill.
- Be sure your basic training credits and credits from any other school are evaluated by the university. Stop in the Admissions office for assistance.
For Returning Students
- Process your bill each semester.
- Meet with your academic adviser before scheduling your classes.
- Notify the University and the VA of any change in address or phone number.
- Notify the Veterans Coordinator of any change to enrollment status, including change of major, dropping or adding of courses, attending full- versus part-time, etc. If called to active duty, follow Penn State’s Military Withdrawal process.
- Notify the Financial Aid office (717-771-4196) of any major change in income.
Know your points of contact
Veterans Coordinator and VA Certifying Official
Christina Lee
Office:717-718-6704
Email: [email protected]
Co-Advisers, Student Veterans of America (SVA), York Chapter
Joe Royer
Office: 717-771-4181
Email: [email protected]
Christina Lee
Office: 717-718-6704
Email: [email protected]
Know your lines of support
Get help with assignments
If you’re struggling with course work in English and math, get connected with Penn State York’s Nittany Success Center today for assistance. Make the call; don’t wait until it’s too late!
Nittany Success Center
Office: 717-771-4026
Cope with the transition into campus life
On-campus counseling services
Sarah Bender, Counselor
Phone: 717-771-4088
Email: [email protected]
Changing your enrollment status
Notify the veterans coordinator of any change to enrollment status, including change of major, dropping or adding of courses, attending full- versus part-time, etc. If called to active duty, contact Penn State York’s VA Certifying Official and Veterans Coordinator
Veterans Coordinator and VA Certifying Official
Christina Lee
Office: 717-718-6704
Email: [email protected]
Additional VA forms
Find a VA form here
Information on all education chapters
If you are a veteran, active-duty service member, or dependent of either, you may be eligible for education benefits offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Below is a list of several chapters of educational benefits with a brief description of each.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty: active duty and veterans; not transferrable to dependents. Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty
Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) (formally Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment): veterans who have at least a 10 percent disability rating are eligible to apply; however, approval is not guaranteed; up to 48 months of entitlement possible. Eligibility for Veteran Readiness and Employment information
Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill®: active duty and veterans may be eligible for up to 36 months of benefit. This benefit may be transferred to qualifying dependents, with restrictions. Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Transfer your Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits. Click here to learn how Transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits
Chapter 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program: For spouses and children of 100 percent services-connected disabled veterans or of veterans who died in service; up to 45 months of entitlement are allowed. VA Education Benefits for Survivors and Dependents
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve: National Guard and Reserves who have completed the initial Active Duty for training and 180 days of service in the Selected Reserves; may be eligible for up to 36 months of benefit. GI Bill® Programs information
Tuition Assistance: If you are currently serving in the military, you may be eligible for funding offered through the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program (also known as Federal Tuition Assistance - FTA). Check with your local Educational Assistance office for eligibility and enrollment requirements. Tuition Assistance Top-Up
Transferring your GI Bill® to a dependent
Visit the website to find out how.
Schedule of payment rates
Please review the information provided below about the education benefit options available to members of the armed services. A Comparison Chart/Payment Rates is available through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Know your VA representatives
OEF/OIF/OND Returning Veterans
The Lebanon VA Medical Center is geared toward serving veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Their focus is to connect veterans to health care, as well as to a myriad of other benefits. Get Connected.
Free mentorship program
American Corporate Partners “A Nationwide Mentoring Program”
Have you served on active duty since 2001? Are you interested in a free mentorship program that can assist you with advancing your civilian careers? If so, check out the link below. Based on your preferences, American Corporate Partners will connect you with a mentor, “a business leader from one of thirty-six major corporations,” to work one-on-one with you during your transition into higher education, and civilian life.
Veteran specific volunteer opportunities that look great on your résumé
The Mission Continues “It’s not a Charity. It’s a Challenge”
You are an asset; don’t put your military leadership skills behind you! Utilize your military skills and leadership towards building a stronger community. Also, this is a veteran-only opportunity. Visit the link below for more information and to get started, or email Mission Continues.
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.A. government website.