Vander Cook Sign 1 1

Where the most Inspired Musicians
become the most Inspiring Music Teachers

VanderCook College of Music

Veterans Information

VanderCook College of Music, a private institution of higher education, proudly processes Department of Veteran Affairs benefits for admitted veteran students. Veterans admitted to VanderCook are eligible to process the VA benefits listed below. Please visit the listed benefits below to learn about each program, as well as eligibility for these programs.

VA Benefits Application Process

Veterans admitted to VanderCook may be eligible for VA benefits. Based on the student status, new or continuing, the steps to successfully process VA benefits are listed below.

First-Time Applicant (New Students)

  1. Apply to VanderCook College of Music and be accepted as a degree-seeking student.
  2. Apply for VA benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs and obtain your Certificate of Eligibility; for more information, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
  3. Obtain a copy of your DD214 letter

Renewal Benefits (Continuing Students)

Every semester, you need to submit an e-mail to the Financial Aid Office requesting to process your benefits. You should complete the following steps:

  • Contact the VA to determine benefit eligibility you have remaining. You can view your benefits here:
    https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/
  • If you have remaining eligibility, contact the Financial Aid Office to process your benefits, by sending an e-mail to [email protected] stating you want to use your benefits again. You will receive confirmation from the Financial Aid Office once this is received.

If you have any questions regarding this program or your eligibility, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 312.788.1137 directly.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/post-9-11/

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.Post-9/11 GI Bill®

Transfer of Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits to Dependents (TEB)

Service members enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill® program can transfer unused educational benefits to their spouse or children as of August 1, 2009. Eligibility requirements can be found in detail on the Department of Veteran Affairs website for Transfer of Post-9/11 Benefits to Dependents (TEB).

How to apply for TEB

First you must go to the Department of Defense transferability application web site to determine if your dependents are eligible to receive the transferred benefits. This web site is only available to military members.

Upon approval, family members may apply to use transferred benefits with VA by completing VA Form 22-1990e. VA Form 22-1990e should only be completed and submitted to VA by the family member after Department of Defense has approved the request for TEB. Do not use VA Form 22-1990e to apply for TEB.

Montgomery GI Bill Activity Duty
or Selected Reserve

Students eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, either active duty (Chapter 30) or selected reserve (Chapter 1606) are eligible to process Veteran’s Benefits at VanderCook. Students need to be accepted by VanderCook and cleared by the Department of Veterans Affairs before receiving benefits.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30. More information for this benefit can be found on the VA website.

Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 1606)

The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. You may use this education assistance program for degree programs, certificate or correspondence courses, cooperative training, independent study programs, apprenticeship/on-the-job training, and vocational flight training programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. VA makes the payments for this program. You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Your eligibility for the program normally ends on the day you leave the Selected Reserve. For more information on this benefit, please visit the VA website.

Reserve Educational Assistance
Program (REAP)

REAP was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2005. It is a Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.

For more information on this program, please visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website.

Survivors of Dependents Assistance (DEA)

Dependents’ Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

For more information on this program, please visit the Department of Veteran Affairs website.

Veterans Educational Assistance
Program (VEAP)

VEAP is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. Your contributions are matched on a $2 for $1 basis by the Government. You may use these benefits for degree, certificate, correspondence, apprenticeship/on-the-job training programs, and vocational flight training programs. In certain circumstances, remedial, deficiency, and refresher training may also be available.

Benefit entitlement is 1 to 36 months depending on the number of monthly contributions. You have 10 years from your release from active duty to use VEAP benefits. If there is entitlement not used after the 10-year period, your portion remaining in the fund will be automatically refunded.

For more information on the VEAP program, please visit the Department of Veterans Affairs website.

VA Benefits and Institutional
Scholarship Policy

Assistance, as determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), is available to any veteran who has been honorably discharged during a specified length of time after January 31, 1955. Applications are available at local DVA offices. For additional information about the GI Bill®, please visit https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/, or call 888.442.4551. 

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/.

A veteran student who qualifies for VA educational benefits will have all VA benefits applied to the student account in accordance with the rules established by the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Department of Education. The guidelines for award adjustments include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • All VA benefits when combined with institutional tuition scholarships may not exceed tuition and fee charges. Institutional scholarships may be reduced or canceled on the student account.
  • Student eligible for the IL Map Grant and 100% VA benefits will have the IL Map Grant canceled before VA benefits are processed.
  • Students receiving VA educational benefits for less than 100% institutional charges will have VA benefits, institutional scholarships, and IL Map Grant (if eligible) combined to total tuition and fees.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.

Slide

Every Gift Matters…

Gifts to VanderCook come in many forms and sizes and each one truly makes a difference. You may wonder how a small contribution can matter to the college – how it can “make a dent.” Combined with other donor gifts, even a relatively minor contribution can make a major impact.

Thank you for your generosity and support!

Logo 2022 Dark 1
3140 South Federal Street
Chicago, IL 60616-3731
(312) 225-6288

The mission of VanderCook College of Music is to enrich the lives of present and future generations by developing uniquely skilled music teachers who exhibit strong character, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.

© 2024 VanderCook College of Music. All Rights Reserved.
Scroll to Top