National University Veteran Center
Cecilia M., Class of 2012, Military Servicemember
Supporting Military, Veterans, and Their Families
As a Veteran-founded Military Friendly® School, National University is committed to educating military-affiliated students.
Through our dedicated Veteran Center, we can help you:
- Earn a degree while serving in the military
- Support your transition from military to civilian life
- Find ways to maximize your tuition benefits
- Assist with your job search
- Help you make connections with our Active duty, Veteran, Reserve, Military Spouses, and the dependent student community.
Through Whole Human Education™, our holistic approach to your success and well-being, we can provide the academic, financial, career, family, and emotional support you need to excel professionally, personally, and academically. Whether you’re transitioning out of the military or looking to advance your education while serving, we are ready to help you maximize your tuition benefits and achieve the education you deserve.
The Veteran Center is also a comfortable space where military-affiliated family members can find answers to questions by a caring and responsive team member. The Veteran Center can assist military and Veteran families by offering guidance, information about on and off-campus resources, emotional support, and peer support. We work as liaisons between the students and the different departments within the University. We are not advisors, but we can also help provide information about how to maximize benefits.
“Finding a program that supports this lifestyle is the most important thing you can do to prepare for taking the next step.”
Tania Bogart, Military Spouse
Class of 2022
“Chase after your goals and dreams no matter what. If your goal is to obtain higher education, then face it head on — and when faced with adversity, push harder. Visualize yourself at the destination and enjoy the journey.”
Gustavo M. Class of 2023
Military Veteran
NU Veteran Center Services
Whether you’re at home, on-base, or abroad, the NU Veteran Center can provide military-affiliate students with support that goes beyond academics. Our dedicated staff can help you find resources to maximize funding for your education by assisting you with your VA education benefits, scholarships, reduced tuition rates, and more.
NU Veteran Center at Spectrum Campus
In San Diego, the Veteran Center at Spectrum Campus offers additional services, including networking opportunities, peer mentoring, and career resources. We are available to answer any questions, provide resources or offer a coffee or snack on the go.
Our Spectrum location staff is available for walk-ins and appointments.
858-541-7780
Veterancenter@nu.edu
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Friday – by appointment only.
Visit our Virtual Veteran Center
Learn about military and Veteran events and opportunities, get NU news and announcements, and create lifelong connections with other military students and staff, who will encourage you from your first class to graduation and beyond.
Every military-affiliated student at NU has access to our online community via Brightspace. Please login at https://nu-edu-preprod.go-vip.co/login/ . If you have trouble finding the link, email us at Veterancenter@nu.edu for more information.
Most students have questions about how they will pay for college. Military-affiliated students are no different, except you may have additional funding options available. Most funding is dependent on your current military status and specifics of your service, and the following guides will help you get started. NOTE: Veteran Center staff and peer mentors are not VA certifying officials and do not have access to your certification status. If you have questions specifically related to a current or upcoming VA course certification, please contact the National University Veterans Affairs office.
| Active Military | Veteran (separated from service) | |
|---|---|---|
| Military Funding | Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606) Tuition Assistance Post 9/11* | Post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill VA Vocational Rehabilitation |
| National University Grants & Scholarships | Military Tuition Scholarship Military Spouse Scholarship | Veterans Victory Scholarship |
| Other Grants & Scholarships | Federal Financial Aid Check local bases & other military affiliated organizations | Federal Financial Aid Check local bases & other military affiliated organizations |
- Tuition Assistance – Active duty service members can apply for Tuition Assistance (TA) by contacting their command Education Officer and completing their WebTA course (this may be different depending on branch of service). For next steps, see a military enrollment advisor. You can also visit National University’s Tuition Assistance webpage for more information.
- Tuition Assistance Top Up – Active duty students can use Top Up benefits concurrently with TA. Top-up is limited to 36 months of payments. For example, if you are paid Top-up for a three-month course, you use three of the 36 months.
- Post 9/11 – To be eligible for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, an applicant must have served for at least 90 days and still be on active duty or been honorably discharged or discharged for a disability related to serving. For more information or to apply click here.
IMPORTANT: Post 9/11 can be used while on active duty but there are a couple of things to remember:
- Active Duty or spouses of active duty members will NOT receive a monthly housing stipend while enrolled and active duty.
- Any portion of the 36 months entitlement will be automatically deducted from the number of months of Post 9/11 benefits used while active duty. For example: If a student uses 2 months of benefits while on active duty, when they become a Veteran, they will have 34 months of benefits remaining.
- Post 9/11 GI Bill STEM – As of August 1, 2019, VA will begin extending educational benefits to students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs who have or are about to exhaust their entitlement.
Montgomery GI BIll 1606 – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606) is an education program. It provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Reserves.
Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31) – Students that have received a VA rating can apply for these benefits. Vocational Rehabilitation also abbreviated VR or Voc Rehab, is a process which enables persons with functional, psychological, developmental, cognitive, and emotional disabilities or impairments or health disabilities to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining, or returning to employment or other useful occupation. To apply, click here, log in, or create an account.
Military and Veteran Scholarships
NOTE: All National University scholarships and grants are administered through the Financial Aid Office. The information here is provided for convenience only and is subject to change without notice in line with Financial Aid policies and applicable state and federal law.
- Military Tuition Scholarship– Scholarship of up to $2,500 award is available to military personnel, including active duty, reservists, national guardsmen/ women, their spouses, and their dependents. The scholarship is intended to benefit educationally and economically disadvantaged personnel and their family members who have demonstrated financial need.
- Veterans’ Victory Scholarship– Scholarship of up to $5,000 is awarded to Veterans based on academic or community achievement and financial need. This award is considered a “last money” scholarship and is designed to supplement military GI Bill® Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 educational benefits when those benefits are exhausted during the current National University degree program. Scholarship will only fund the last 2-4 classes left to complete degree.
- The Veteran Center has compiled a list of military-affiliated scholarships from external resources.
- Eligibility Confirmation and How to Apply:
Interested student applicants should contact the Veteran Center Manager Jennifer Santis or the Veteran Center Coordinator Wendy Cervantes, in order to confirm eligibility and receive the most current scholarship application at Veterancenter@nu.edu. Applications received without prior eligibility confirmation will not be considered for this scholarship
The National University Veteran Center offers guidance and support for servicemembers transitioning from the military to academic and civilian life. Our dedicated staff can help you make the most of your benefits and will provide support and assistance from the day you begin your studies at NU until you graduate.
Veteran Student Life
The National University Student Veteran Organization (NUSVO) was founded in 2017 with the aim to positively contribute to the academic environment, serve as representatives of the University at various venues and to promote community engagement initiatives. In addition, the NUSVO actively engages to support and advocate for student Veterans and promote the wellbeing of the local Veteran Community.
The NUSVO is a student run organization founded by Veterans for military, Veterans and their families enrolled at NU. They help connect faculty, staff, and fellow students by collaborating with departments within the university. Also, they provide community outreach opportunities for students to participate in.
The SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society was founded in 2009 at Colorado State University, and is the only organization recognizing the academic achievements of Active Duty, National Guard, Reservist and Veteran students. SALUTE membership provides formal recognition of a student’s academic achievements and service to our country. Visit their website to learn more about SALUTE. Contact the Veteran Center at Veterancenter@nu.edu if you are interested in joining.
Academic Support for Veterans
NU Student Academic Success Center
National University’s Student Academic Success team provides a variety of services to support students’ academic, professional, and personal development.
National University offers a variety of placement and credit by exam testing services to meet the needs of current and prospective students. Many exams are free or reimbursed for military-affiliated students and can greatly reduce the time to a degree and depletion of educational benefits.
Student Accessibility Services
Student Accessibility Services promotes disability as an integral part of human experience and is dedicated to creating a fully integrated and inclusive learning community. If you or a fellow student would like to apply for disability accommodations here at NU, please visit their website.
Online tutoring and homework help for U.S. military and their families provided 24/7 at no cost by the U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
Veteran Finances and Housing Support
211 is the most comprehensive source of local human and social services information in the US and most of Canada. Here you can find your local helpline and get support today.
VA Housing Assistance for Veterans
To speak with a VA Homeless Coordinator (even if not homeless yet), you can dial 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) or chat online. You can also visit your local VA Medical Center and ask to speak to the Homeless Coordinator.
Veteran Health and Wellness Support
With VA health care, you’re covered for regular checkups with your primary care provider and appointments with specialists. To find the nearest VA hospital or medical clinic visit the VA Locator web app.Or dial 988 or text 838255.
The Veterans Crisis Line connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as their family members and friends, with qualified, caring VA responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text-messaging service.
At National University, we believe holistic wellness is integral to student learning and success. Wellness is a practice that’s cultivated over time. Our Student Wellness staff can help you on campus or online with a variety of issues such as, food and/or financial support, mental health services and more. Contact Student Wellness: studentwellness@nu.edu
Other helpful organizations:
To enrich the lives of America’s Veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity.
DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for Veterans of all generations and their families, helping more than 1 million Veterans in positive, life-changing ways each year.
There are many reasons why students attend National University, whether personal growth, career advancement, or developing a new skillset. While your military training and experience is largely an asset in professional settings, many students benefit from meeting with our Career Center teams to discuss the translation of military, civil, and other experience into a marketable resume and professional narrative.
National University’s Career Services
Our Career Services team offers quality career resources to help students and alumni identify and fulfill their career goals. We will help you define your unique potential for success and foster lifelong professional and career development skills.
Leading job portal platform, Handshake™, provides direct access to employers, job and internship opportunities, and career-related events.
Veterans Career Transition Program, is a free, comprehensive career skills program that provides civilian career training, professional certifications and job placement support to transitioning service members, members of the selected reserves, Veterans, and military spouses.
Foundation for Women Warriors is a unique support organization created exclusively for the women Veteran community of Southern California. We provide essential programs to empower the resiliency and professional development of Women Warriors. Every step is dedicated to supporting these outstanding women to navigate obstacles and realize their maximum potential after their service career.
Founded in 2009 by military spouses with you in mind, we empower military families to thrive by connecting them with their civilian neighbors – both people and organizations – to create strong communities of support.