School Closure Resources

Next Steps and Resources for Student Veterans Experiencing a School Closure

The closure or loss of GI Bill eligibility at schools directly impacts tens of thousands of student veterans, many of whom find themselves in debt and with non-transferable credits.

Student Veterans of America (SVA) wants to ensure that displaced and affected students have the resources and support they need to complete their degrees and meet their career goals.

Anyone impacted can follow the steps below to identify new educational institutions to earn their degrees and fully utilize their education benefits.

(1) Make a list of potential transfer schools

It is important to find a regionally accredited university that offers a similar program to transfer earned credits. Each university has its own policies and procedures related to the acceptance of credit earned at another university.

You should use the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) GI Bill Comparison Tool to identify potential transfer schools that will accept your VA education benefits. This tool provides important information about accreditation, tuition policies, veteran-specific programs, and how much your benefits cover at a school. Students should also use the Department of Education’s College Scorecard to learn about schools’ fields of study, graduation rates, post-graduation earnings, diversity, and more.

Be sure transfer to a school that has an SVA Chapter so you can get connected to peer-network and be more likely to graduate.

(2) Familiarize yourself with the credit transfer process and identify residency requirements

After you have identified potential universities for transfer, research the schools’ admissions policies online to determine transfer eligibility and residency requirements. You may qualify for in-state tuition and fees regardless of where you live today or when you separated from the military.

Please note that transferring credits to a new school may impact your ability to pursue a closed school loan discharge through the Department of Education and restoration of benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about this relief is provided below.

(3) Contact the admissions office

Call the schools’ admissions offices to address the topics discussed here and other questions you have about your personal academic journey at these institutions.

You should explain your situation and be sure to get clear, definitive answers to your questions. Once you understand the credit transfer process, residency requirements, and degree requirements, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions about which universities to select.

(4) Get help with your GI Bill benefits and Federal Student Loans

You may experience a lapse in GI Bill payments including the Monthly Housing Allowance if your school closes or is disapproved to pay GI Bill benefits. The Forever GI Bill authorizes the VA to restore benefits and provide relief to student veterans affected by school closures or disapprovals between January 2015 and August 2017. More recent legislation extends protections to student veterans impacted by school closures between August 1, 2021 and September 30, 2023. Learn how to qualify here.

To learn more about your options with the GI Bill and to speak with a VA representative about your benefits, contact VA’s Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 (Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. CST).

If you have federal student loans you may be eligible to have them fully or partially discharged. Our partners at Veterans Education Success provide free help including legal representation to support you. Read here to learn more and contact them by emailing [email protected].

Additional Resources:

Federal Student Loan Discharge:

Students experiencing school closures may be eligible for a full discharge of their Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans. To determine your eligibility, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s webpage for closed school loan discharges.

Restoration of VA Education Benefits:

Students whose school closed between August 1, 2021 and September 30, 2023 may be eligible to have certain education benefits, including their Post-9/11 GI Bill, restored if they were unable to transfer at least 12 credits to a new school within 120 days their school’s closure. Please visit the VA’s website for restoration of benefits after school closure for additional information.

Financial Grants:

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) provides resources and programs that may also be helpful through their Emergency Grant Program which provides funding on a case-by-case basis to assist eligible student veterans. The VFW Unmet Needs Program offers up to $1,500 in financial assistance to student veterans experiencing unexpected financial difficulties. Click here for more details.

Homelessness:

If the loss of GI Bill benefits payments has left you in a situation where you may be facing homelessness, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is standing by to help. Connect with resources by clicking here, calling 1-800-VET-HELP, or sending an email to [email protected].

VA homeless programs are also a resource if you are at-risk of homelessness. They offer counseling support with access to housing solutions, healthcare, and community services. Visit here to learn more and call 1-877-4AIDVET (available 24/7) to speak with a representative.

SVA Support:

If you would like to speak with someone at SVA to help you through this process, please call (202) 223-4710 or message us here.