SUNY Cortland is proud to support the educational goals of our students and families who have served their country. The Student Accounts Office provides information and assistance with certification paperwork for Veterans Affairs educational benefits. All students eligible for VA Education Benefits must file application forms with the VA Certifying Official according to their specific situations.
Additional education benefits are available for eligible service members, veterans and their families. SUNY Cortland participates in the following programs:
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. Department of Veteran Affairs website.
Please visit va.gov for information and application process. For the application process, please follow the instructions for VONAPP:
Each military service branch and component has its own criteria for Tuition Assistance eligibility, military service obligation, application process and restrictions. It is recommended that you speak with your chain of command and your certifying office for further guidance to request TA benefits.
Steps to apply for Tuition Assistance
Please visit the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) website for service specific TA policies and procedures.
For information related to NYS Programs, please visit the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) Military Corner.
For assistance with general federal and NYS financial aid eligibility, please contact the Financial Aid Office. For assistance with federal and state VA educational programs, please contact the VA Certifying Official in the Student Accounts Office.
VA Certifying Official: Matthew McKinney
Email: veteran.benefits@cortland.edu
What to send to SUNY Cortland’s VA Certifying Official:
Students who had been receiving veterans benefits at another college must complete a Change Program/Place of Training form to receive benefits at SUNY Cortland.
Continuing Students are asked to contact the VA certifying official immediately when they have registered for classes, not only for fall and spring semesters, but also if they are planning on taking any Winter Session or Summer Session I or II classes as well.
The Certifying Official will send certification of enrollment to the VA each semester.
If you are chapter 30, 35, 1606 or 1607 you must complete enrollment certification with the VA each month that you qualify for benefits. This should be completed the last day of each month online at Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.) or by phone at 877-823-2378. Once enrollment certification is submitted the status of your payment can be checked by calling the New York state regional office at 888-442-4551.
There are many resources available for students with veterans benefits. The following websites will assist you in locating these resources.
The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 requires educational institutions to make certain disclosures to students using federal military and/or VA educational benefits. To view and print a copy of an estimated personalized cost of attendance you can visit the SUNY Net Price Cost Calculator and select Cortland from the dropdown. Additional financial information can be found at the NCES College Navigator site.
The SUNY Financial Aid Plan (FAP) will provide a more in-depth analysis and accurate picture of student cost once the student has filed their FAFSA, completed a SUNY application, and has been accepted by a campus.