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HomeStudent Services + SupportVeterans ServicesUnderstanding Your GI Bill® and Educational Benefits

Understanding Your GI Bill® and Educational Benefits

Our Veteran Services team will work to assist you each step of the way in order to utilize your educational benefits at Contra Costa College. Check out our Steps to Success Checklist to get started!

To use your VA Educational Benefits, all Steps to Success, if applicable, MUST be completed before your enrollment can be certified with the VA for the semester.

Eligibility Requirements

Ch 30 Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty    All of these must be true: You were honorably discharged, andYou have a high school diploma, GED, or 12 hours of college credit, andYou have either a 6-year service obligation (you agreed to serve 6 years) in the Selected Service, orYou’re an officer in the Selected Reserve who agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation    
Ch 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment ProgramAll of these must be true:   You didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, andYou have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA  
Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI BillAt least one of these must be true:

Served at least 90 days on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service) on or after September 11, 2001, orReceived a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, orServed for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability, orServed for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break in service) on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability, orYou’re a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying Veteran or service member  
Ch 35 Survivors & Dependents Educational AssistanceYou may be eligible for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a service member and one of these must be true:   The service member died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001, orThe service member is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, orThe service member was detained (held) by force while in the line of duty by a foreign government or power, orThe service member is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability, and is likely to be discharged for that disability. A service-connected permanent and total disability is a disability resulting from your service that doesn’t go away.   You may be eligible for VA education benefits (Chapter 35 benefits) if you’re the child or spouse of a Veteran and One of these must be true:   The Veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, orThe Veteran died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability  
Ch 1606 Montgomery GI Bill – Selected ReserveOne of these must be true:

You have a 6-year service obligation (you agreed to serve 6 years) in the Selected Reserve, orYou’re an officer in the Selected Reserve and you agreed to serve 6 years in addition to your initial service obligation   And all of these must also be true: You complete your initial active duty for training (IADT), andYou get a high school diploma or certificate of equal value, like a High School Equivalency Diploma or GED, before finishing IADT (Note: You can’t use 12 hours toward a college degree to meet this requirement), andYou stay in good standing while serving in an active Selected Reserve unit  

VA Education Benefits Pay Rates
*** Individuals only enrolled in distance learning courses are eligible for an MHA equal to 50% of the national average of all BAH rates. 
*** MHA amounts are prorated based on a student’s benefit level and may be further reduced based on the rate of pursuit (RoP) rounded to nearest multiple of 10. Benefits are only payable when the RoP is more than 50%, and the student is not on active duty.
*** Calculations below are based on those eligible for 100% of benefits and are taking Full-Time Semester Credits (12 units) 

Tuition and FeesStudent is responsible for Tuition and Fees
Housing Allowance$2,210.00 /monthly
Book Stipend$0.00

Ch 31 Veterans Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E)

Tuition and FeesVR&E to pay net tuition & mandatory fees directly to the school
Housing Allowance$724.00 /monthly
Book Stipend$1,080.00 /yearly

Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill (Trademark)

Tuition and FeesVA to pay net tuition & mandatory fees directly to the school
Housing Allowance$3,117.00 /monthly
Book Stipend$1,000.00 /yearly

Ch 35 Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)

Tuition and FeesStudent is responsible for Tuition and Fees
Housing Allowance$1,298.00 /monthly
Book Stipend$0.00/yearly

Ch 1606 Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

Tuition and FeesStudent is responsible for Tuition and Fees
Housing Allowance$407.00 /monthly
Book Stipend$0.00 /yearly

Tuition, Fees, and Cost of Attendance Budget

Enrollment Fee*$46 per unit
Nonresident Fee*$358 total per unit

Non-U.S. Citizen Tuition (including International Students)*$358 total per unit

Health Insurance for International Students$140 per month

Parking PermitNo Charge as of 5/16/2023 (Students still must register car)
Student Activity Fee** $5.00 per semester
Student Representation Fee$2.00 per semester
Student I.D. CardNo Charge

Student Cost of Attendance Budget


Half-Time Enrollment or More | CA Resident or In-State Residency Exemption

Enrolled in 6 or more unitsLiving w/ Parent(s)Living Off-Campus
 1 month/2 semester1 month/2 semester
Fees$1,104$1,104
Books & Supplies *$1,152$1,152
Food & Housing **$1,160/$10,440$2,372/$21,348
Transportation **$332/$2,988$332/$2,988
Personal Expenses **$422/$3,798$422/$3,798
Total$19,482$30,390

Less Than Half-Time Enrollment | CA Resident or In-State Residency Exemption

Enrolled in 6 or more unitsLiving w/Parent(s)Living Off-Campus
 1 month/2 semester1 month/2 semester
Fees*$460*$460*
Books & Supplies **$1,152$1,152
Transportation ^$332/$2,988$332/$2,988
Total$4,600$4,600

Half-Time Enrollment or More | Non-resident

Enrolled in 6 or more unitsLiving w/ Parent(s)Living Off-Campus
 1 month/2 semester1 month/2 semester
Fees$6,920$6,920
Books & Supplies *$1,152$1,152
Food & Housing **$1,160/$10,440$2,372/$21,348
Transportation **$332/$2,988$332/$2,988
Personal Expenses **$422/$3,798$422/$3,798
Total$25,298$36,206

Less Than Half-Time Enrollment | Non-resident

Enrolled in 6 or more unitsLiving w/Parent(s)Living Off-Campus
 1 month/2 semester1 month/2 semester
Fees*$3,460$3,460
Books & Supplies **$1,152$1,152
Transportation ^$332/$2,988$332/$2,988
Total$7,600$7,600

Steps to Success Checklist

Contact us to get started!
veterans@contracosta.edu |510.215.4866|Student + Administration Building (SAB) 109

This application is done at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

  1. Go to the “Education & Training” tab
  2. Click “For Students”
  3. Click “Get Started”

Apply Now »

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
CCC school code: 001190
If you are determined ineligible due to a Estimate Family Contribution (EFC) letter inquire with the Office of Financial Assistance about the “Reduction in Income” process.

Apply For Aid »

Provide CCC with official transcripts from any colleges you attended before, during or after your military service.

Please note – All official transcripts must be evaluated before a student can be certified for a second semester and beyond.

Orientation is offered online through self-paced modules where you will learn a wealth of information about programs, classes, support services, and campus policies.

This step is required to receive priority (early) registration.

Complete the Orientation »

Placement is one of the most important steps in the enrollment process. At Contra Costa College, we want to help you succeed and part of your success as a college student depends on enrolling in courses that match your abilities and skills.

Get into the math, English, English as a Second Language (ESL) or Spanish classes that are right for you!

To find out your math and/or English course placement(s), you have two options: self-reported or guided self-placement.

This step is required to receive priority (early) registration.

Complete Placement »

If you plan to use VA Educational Benefits Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, or 1606, you must submit the following documents before your classes can be certified.

Please be aware that any delays in document submission can result in processing delays.

  • DD-214 Member 4 copy
    • Reservists using Chapter 1606 will need to submit the Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)
  • Certificate of Eligibility – Obtained from the VA after applying for education benefits online or by mail.
  • VA Student Statement of Responsibility – New or Returning students must submit online via InSite Portal under CCC Student Forms.
  • Educational Plan (Ed Plan) – Schedule an appointment to meet with a CCC veterans counselor to complete a comprehensive educational plan by calling 510.215.3935.
    1. Only courses that are listed on your Ed Plan and are required for your educational goal will be certified.
  • VA Request for Benefit Certification – After you register for your courses, you will need to complete a VA Education Benefits Certification Request every semester that you wish to have your courses certified with the VA; benefits do not automatically roll over to the next semester. You are RESPONSIBLE to notify the Veterans Office within 30 days of any changes to your enrollment.


Call the Department of Veterans Affairs at 888.442.4551 for questions regarding your education benefits.

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 Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.