SNU Supports Military Students
By answering a few simple questions, you’ll get a clearer picture of your eligibility and the resources available to help fund your education. Ready to take the next step? Just hit “Take Quiz” and let’s get you on the path to success!
What Financial Benefits Do I Qualify For?
There are many options available to help finance your bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. You may be eligible for the following VA Education benefits, grants, tuition assistance, loans, and more to pay for your education. Learn how to use your military benefits, grants, tuition assistance, loans and more to pay for your education.
VA Education Benefits
For eligible veterans and military-affiliated students (Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard, veteran/military spouses and children, and legal dependents), there are VA benefits that SNU is approved for that eligible students can use while enrolled at the university. These VA benefits include: the Montgomery GI Bill ® benefit (Chapters 30 and 1606), the Post-9/11 GI Bill ® benefit and Yellow Ribbon program (Chapter 33), the Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance benefit (DEA, Chapter 35), and the Veterans Readiness & Employment benefit (VRE, Chapter 31).
GI Bill ® is a registered trademark of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official US government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
If a veteran and military-affiliated student plans to use a VA education benefit while enrolled at SNU, the student must apply for that VA benefit online through the VA website at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply.
Grants
Similar to scholarships, grants are a form of aid that does not require repayment. These are often need-based gifts that apply to your student account. Students may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and the Oklahoma OTAG Grant .
Types of Tuition Assistance Programs
-
- Civilian Employer Tuition Assistance- Many civilian employers offer their employees tuition assistance benefits to help pay for college-level courses. This type of TA program is offered tax-free up to $5,250. If interested in learning more about whether your employer offers civilian employee tuition assistance, the student needs to visit the employer HR department to get approved funding, and then the student must coordinate with the assigned SNU Financial Aid Coordinator for applying the TA funds to the student account once the university receives payment from the student’s civilian employer.
- DoW Military Tuition Assistance Program- If a student is a current active military service member (Active Duty, Reserves, National Guard) and the student wants to use Military Tuition Assistance to help pay for courses, the military service member must first contact his or her military installation education office and apply for the Military Tuition Assistance. The military installation’s education office will provide the military student with the necessary paperwork to obtain approved TA funds, status of available TA funding, and other information requirements respective to the military service branch of the student. Once the military student receives the approved Military TA Approval Letter, the military student must provide a copy to the SNU Business/Bursar Office, the SNU Financial Aid Office, and the SNU VETS Center for filing requirements and so the Military TA funds will be applied towards the student’s account. All Military TA requests from a student must be approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the military service member wishes to use Military TA funds towards the tuition costs. If the Military TA application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the military service member is at risk for not getting the Military TA approved.
- DoW Civilian Tuition Assistance Program (CTAP)- If a student is a current DoW civilian employee and the student wants to use CTAP to help pay for courses, the DoW civilian employee must first contact his or her DoW civilian employer education liaison and apply for using CTAP funds. The DoW civilian employer education liaison will provide the student with the necessary paperwork to obtain approved CTAP funds, status of available CTAP funding, and other information requirements respective to the DoW civilian employee’s occupational specialty branch. Once the DoW civilian employee receives the approved CTAP Approval Letter, the student must provide a copy to the SNU Business/Bursar Office, the SNU Financial Aid Office, and the SNU VETS Center for filing requirements and so the CTAP funds will be applied towards the student’s account. All CTAP requests from a student must be approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the DoW civilian employee wishes to use CTAP funds towards the tuition costs. If the CTAP application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the DoW civilian employee is at risk of not getting the CTAP approved.
Scholarships
Scholarships are provided by the university or other organizations, which are given as a gift in support of your education. These do not need to be repaid, but may come with stipulations such as major or GPA. To learn more about scholarships you may be eligible for, click here.
John and Tess Carter Military Scholarship Fund
This scholarship is for current full-time students who are active military service members as part of the Select Reserves in the Air or Army National Guard or the Armed Forces Reserves. Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA and be enrolled at SNU in their second term or greater. Please contact the VETS Center (405) 717-6299 for more information.
Loans
Loans can be provided through the federal government or a private institution. This form of aid must be repaid over time. Depending on the type of loan received, you may or may not need to begin payments while you are in school. The type of loan also affects whether or not interest accrues while you are a student. Most students prefer subsidized loans to unsubsidized loans and federal loans to private loans due to interest rates and repayment options.
Assistantships
Assistantships offer a benefit to graduate students in return for work in certain areas. The time commitment and amount of aid provided vary depending on the assignment and available funding. SNU has a very limited number of assistantships available, mainly working in athletics. You also have the opportunity to apply for part-time employment at the SNU VETS Center through our VA student work study program and the SNU student work study program.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
If you are a veteran or service member with a service-connected disability and are interested in determining your eligibility for using the Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment (VRE) benefit while in school, you must apply for the benefit online through the VA website at https://www.va.gov/careers-employment/vocational-rehabilitation/how-to-apply. Once you apply, the VA will schedule a meeting for you with a VRE Counselor to find out if you are eligible for VRE benefits and services.
For information visit the following sites:
Chapter 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program
Chapter 33 Transfer of Eligibility for Dependents and Spouse
It is important that the military service members who wish to apply for DoW Military Tuition Assistance or DoW civilian employees who wish to apply for DoW civilian tuition assistance take these steps prior to enrolling to ensure there are DoW tuition assistance funds available and to get the application process moving forward to ensure DoW tuition assistance is approved prior to the start date of any class the military service member or the DoW civilian employee wishes to use DoW Military or Civilian TA towards. The DoW will not approve tuition assistance for any class that has already begun.
A. If you are a military service member and you wish to use DoW Military Tuition Assistance:
- Immediately talk with your Education Services Officer at your respective military installation education office. The installation education office will provide the necessary paperwork, status of funds, and information requirements respective to that military service branch for the service member to start the application process.
- The service member, including National Guard/Reserve service members, will then access his/her military service branch’s respective education portal to complete and submit his/her application for requesting DoW military tuition assistance and receiving DoW approval.
- US Army Service Member: AI portal for Army service members: AI Portal website: https://aiportal.army.mil (Edge and Firefox are the preferred browsers). If a user needs assistance, users may contact the BAM Helpdesk Email: army@bamtech.net or BAM Technical Issue Phone: 276-231-0938.
- US Air Force Service Member: Air Force Virtual Education Center at https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/public/welcome
- US Navy Service Member: Navy College Program at https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/sailors/tuition-assistance-ncpace.htm
- US Marine Corps Service Member: Marine Corps Voluntary Education Center at https://usmc-mccs.org/articles/how-do-i-apply-for-tuition-assistance
- US Coast Guard Service Member: Education and Training Quota Command Portal at https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/VOLUNTARY-EDUCATION/Tuition-Assistance
- US Space Force Service Member: Education Portal at https://www.spaceforce.com/education/enlisted
- When applying for DoW military tuition assistance through your military service branch education portal, make sure you are providing the correct course numbers (i.e., BIOL-3274, etc.), costs, and class dates for timely processing of the paperwork (for SNU professional and graduate studies students, class dates should be listed as per course/module and not by semester).
- Once the service member receives his/her DoW Military TA approval letter, provide a copy of this approval letter to the following departments at SNU for required filing and for proper processing towards the student’s SNU account:
- SNU Bursar’s Office (if a Professional Graduate Studies student) or SNU Business Office (if a Traditional Undergraduate student) so the DoW Military TA funds will be applied towards the student’s account.
- SNU Financial Aid Office at pgsfinaid@snu.edu for filing requirements with the student’s assigned Financial Aid Counselor.
- SNU VETS Center at veterans@mail.snu.edu for filing requirements with the VETS Center’s School Certification Official.
- All DoW military tuition assistance requests must be submitted and approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the service member wishes to use DoW military tuition assistance funds towards. If the application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the service member is at risk for not getting the military TA approved by the DoW.
B. If you are a DoW civilian employee and you wish to use DoW Civilian Military Tuition Assistance:
- Immediately talk with your DoW employer’s education liaison. The DoW employer education liaison will provide the necessary paperwork, status of funds, and information requirements respective to that DoW civilian employee’s occupational specialty branch for him or her to start the application process.
- The DoW civilian employee will then access his/her occupational specialty branch’s respective education portal to complete and submit his/her application for requesting DoW civilian tuition assistance and receiving DoW CTAP approval.
3. When applying for DoW civilian tuition assistance through your DoW civilian occupational specialty branch education portal, make sure you are providing the correct course numbers (i.e., BIOL-3274, etc.), costs, and class dates for timely processing of the paperwork (for SNU professional and graduate studies students, class dates should be listed as per course/module and not by semester).
4. Once the DoW civilian employee receives his/her DoW CTAP approval letter, provide a copy of this approval letter to the following departments at SNU for required filing and for proper processing towards the student’s SNU account:
- SNU Bursar’s Office (if a Professional Graduate Studies student) or SNU Business Office (if a Traditional Undergraduate student) so the DoW CTAP funds will be applied towards the student’s account.
- SNU Financial Aid Office at pgsfinaid@snu.edu for filing requirements with the student’s assigned Financial Aid Counselor.
- SNU VETS Center at veterans@mail.snu.edu for filing requirements with the VETS Center’s School Certification Official.
5. All DoW civilian tuition assistance requests must be submitted and approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the DoW civilian employee wishes to use DoW civilian tuition assistance funds towards. If the application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the DoW civilian employee is at risk for not getting the civilian TA approved by the DoW.
As soon as a military service member or DoW civilian employee decides he/she will want to take college level courses and use military tuition assistance or DoW civilian tuition assistance to help pay for the course costs, the individual should immediately: if a military service member, contact his/her military installation education office to begin the process for applying for Military TA funds; or if a DoW civilian employee, contact his/her DoW civilian employer education liaison to begin the process for applying for DoW CTAP funds.
Both Military Tuition Assistance and DoW Civilian Tuition Assistance requests must be submitted and approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the service member, or the DoW civilian employee, wishes to use the military tuition assistance or DoW civilian tuition assistance funds towards. If the application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the service member or the DoW civilian employee is at risk for not getting the Military TA or DoW Civilian TA approved by the DoW.
For a DoW civilian employee, he/she will submit the DoW CTAP application through the appropriate employee occupational specialty education portal. For a military service member, he/she will submit his/her Military TA application through the appropriate military service branch education portal at one of the following:
- US Army Service Member: AI portal for Army service members: AI Portal website: https://aiportal.army.mil (Edge and Firefox are the preferred browsers). If a user needs assistance, users may contact the BAM Helpdesk Email: army@bamtech.net or BAM Technical Issue Phone: 276-231-0938.
- US Air Force Service Member: Air Force Virtual Education Center at https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/public/welcome
- US Navy Service Member: Navy College Program at https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/sailors/tuition-assistance-ncpace.htm
- US Marine Corps Service Member: Marine Corps Voluntary Education Center at https://usmc-mccs.org/articles/how-do-i-apply-for-tuition-assistance
- US Coast Guard Service Member: Education and Training Quota Command Portal at https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/VOLUNTARY-EDUCATION/Tuition-Assistance
- US Space Force Service Member: Education Portal at https://www.spaceforce.com/education/enlisted
For undergraduate students follow these guidelines:
- Ideally, if you are an Oklahoma resident, you should complete your FAFSA by December 1st of the year before you plan to start school (academic years beginning July 1st). Some Oklahoma students qualify for the Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) and the state deadline falls around December 1st. If you read this shortly after December 1st, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible, because the state has extended deadlines in the past.
- For students who miss the deadline, or are not from Oklahoma, completing the FAFSA about two to three months prior to your enrollment will best allow SNU to process your aid for the start of your program. SNU generally begins processing aid about one to two months before your classes begin. In months that have several programs starting, usually July, September, January, and March, we may start a little earlier for those whose FAFSA information is clean.
- The financial aid office cannot begin processing your aid until all of your admission requirements have been completed. Transcripts can be the most time consuming, and the least controllable portion of the admissions process, make sure and request them as soon as possible.
- Filing the FAFSA is only the first step in the process. You will need to monitor your SNU email address once you have received it for updates and document requests.
- Once your financial aid offer has been completed, you will receive notice via your SNU email with instructions on how to log into your my.snu.edu portal to view/accept/decline your awards.
- If you plan to use Federal Student Loans:
- If you have not borrowed in the last five years, you may need to complete a new Loan Agreement/Master Promissory Note. This can be done by logging into studentaid.gov with your FSA (FAFSA) ID, clicking on “Complete Award Process” in the top margin and clicking on Complete a Master Promissory Note.
- If you have never borrowed a Federal Student Loan, you will also need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling from the same page.
- All students who have borrowed previously will need to complete an Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (new in 2022-2023) from the same page.
For graduate students follow these guidelines:
- Graduate students should complete the FAFSA about two to three months before your enrollment begins to best allow SNU to process your aid in time for the start of your program. SNU generally begins processing aid about one to two months before your classes begin. In months that have several programs starting, usually July, September, January, and March, we may start a little earlier for those whose FAFSA information is clean.
- The financial aid office cannot begin processing your financial aid until all of your admission requirements have been completed. Since getting transcripts can be the most time consuming, and the least controllable portion of the admissions process, make sure and request them as soon as possible.
- The financial aid office cannot begin processing your aid until all of your admission requirements have been completed. Transcripts can be the most time consuming, and the least controllable portion of the admissions process, make sure and request them as soon as possible.
- Filing the FAFSA is only the first step in the process. You will need to monitor your SNU email address once you have received it for updates and document requests.
- Once your financial aid offer has been completed, you will receive notice via your SNU email with instructions on how to log into your my.snu.edu portal to view/accept/decline your awards.
- If you plan to use Federal Student Loans:
- If you have not borrowed in the last five years, you may need to complete a new Loan Agreement/Master Promissory Note. This can be done by logging into studentaid.gov with your FSA (FAFSA) ID, clicking on “Complete Award Process” in the top margin and clicking on Complete a Master Promissory Note.
- If you have never borrowed a Federal Student Loan, you will also need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling from the same page.
- All students who have borrowed previously will need to complete an Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement (new in 2022-2023) from the same page.
Our Ongoing Mission
The SNU VETS Center opened its doors in October 2015, and since then, over 2,700 veterans and military service members, along with their dependents, have walked through our doors for assistance and services. They go on to rise through the ranks, begin a fulfilling second career, or even open businesses of their own.
Our Vision and Purpose
SUPPORT | EMPOWER | CONNECT
Our Purpose - To serve you well. We support our veteran and military community by assisting with your growth, we empower you with information and knowledge that enables your success, and we connect you to resources and outreach opportunities that promote your well-being.
Who We Are
We’re a team of coaches, advisors, and mentors. We’ve walked in similar boots. We are fellow military veterans with combat experience. We get it.
We Can Help
Assist with DOD/VA educational benefits.Serve as a contact and liaison for involvement and integration with:
SNU student organizations and veteran organizations
Career transition support
Tutoring, resiliency, and special accommodations support
Help build a sense of belonging and camaraderie
Nurture partnerships that lead to positive outcomes for our veteran and military community
Military and Veteran Resource Center
Career Services for Veteran Students
Resume Review
Our team is available to consult with you and help you tailor your resume to the career you are seeking. Learn how to highlight your unique career and life experience and position yourself as a skilled, qualified candidate in your job search.
Career Fairs
Our team is in regular contact with workforce placement groups throughout the state, including the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. We regularly attend job fairs throughout the Oklahoma City area and are in search of great positions for graduating students.
Career Search
In addition to open access job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, or Monster, you can use a career search specifically for SNU students and graduates called Handshake. This tool links to employers and job postings, as well as offering resources to improve your job search and make you more appealing as a candidate.
Mentoring
The staff and faculty at the VETS Center and all of SNU often serve as mentors to military students. With a unique range of life experiences, roles, and responsibilities represented, we can help you find the person who you will relate to most.
Admission Steps
Once you apply to SNU and begin the university’s admissions and enrollment processes, and finalize your course schedule, there are parallel steps the VETS Center needs you to take with our office so we can properly receive and integrate you into our system as a veteran/military affiliated student. Taking these steps will ensure any requests for using a VA education benefit or DoW military tuition assistance or DoW Civilian Tuition Assistance Program (CTAP) will be properly processed by the university and federal government.
It is important that your VA or DoW education benefits are approved prior to you starting classes, so any eligible payments to you and/or the university are not delayed, or to prevent incurring any unecessary debt due to not submitting the required documents to our office. If you have any questions, call our VETS Center at 405-717-6299 or email us at veterans@mail.snu.edu.
Step 1: Download SNU VETS Center Welcome Packet.
This document provides you with helpful information on various SNU resources and VA/DOD resources as you get ready to start your education journey at SNU.
Step 2: Fill out and submit the VETS Center Intake Assessment Form
This form ensures the VETS Center staff is aware of your upcoming enrollment and attendance at SNU. This form helps us track your enrollment status, benefit status, and basic education/veteran/military service-related information so we can better serve you.
Step 3: Apply for VA Education Benefits
- Apply for the VA Education Benefits
- If you have questions or issues with applying for your VA education benefits through the VA website, call the VA Education Benefits Hotline at 1-888-442-4551 to speak with a VA education specialist.
- Once the VA approves your eligibility and you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail, scan and submit your COE document to our office at veterans@mail.snu.edu or drop it off in person at our VETS Center on campus.
- Once the VETS Center receives a copy of your COE, a VETS Center staff member will email you a link to submit a Request For Certification (RFC) online form to our office. The RFC form is a university requirement for students to submit, directing the VETS Center to start certifying the student’s enrollment and benefit type with the VA.
Step 4: APPLY FOR MILITARY TUITION ASSISTANCE OR DoW CIVILIAN Tuition Assistance
If you are a current and active military service member and want to use Military Tuition Assistance to help pay for tuition costs, you must:
- Contact your military installation education office to apply for the benefit and to ensure Military TA funds are available.
- If you are a member in the Army/Air Force/Coast Guard and plan to use Military TA funds, contact our SNU VETS Center as soon as possible at 405-717-6299 or veterans@mail.snu.edu to speak with one of our Certification Officials. There are steps the VETS Center must take in the AI Portal before you can obtain a Military TA Approval letter through your installation education office. Once you call our office, we’ll send you a Request For Certification (RFC) online form for you to fill out and submit in order to begin the next step in the approval process with Military TA.
- All Military tuition assistance requests must be submitted and approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the military service member wishes to use Military TA funds towards. If the application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the service member is at risk for not getting the TA approved by the DoW at their military installation.
- The military service member will then access his/her military service branch’s respective education online portal to complete and submit his/her application for requesting military tuition assistance and receiving DoW approval.
- Once you receive your Military TA approval letter, provide a copy of this approval letter to the following SNU staff departments – SNU Bursar’s Office, SNU Financial Aid Office at pgsfinaid@snu.edu, and the SNU VETS Center at veterans@mail.snu.edu.
- Contact your DoW civilian employer to apply for the benefit and to ensure DoW Civilian TA funds are available.
- If you are a DoW civilian employee that works for the Department of Army/Air Force/Coast Guard and plan to use DoW Civilian TA funds, contact our SNU VETS Center as soon as possible at 405-717-6299 or veterans@mail.snu.edu to speak with one of our Certification Officials. There are steps the VETS Center must take in the AI Portal before you can obtain a DoW Civilian TA Approval letter through your DoW Civilian Employer. Once you call our office, we’ll send you a Request For Certification (RFC) online form for you to fill out and submit in order to begin the next step in the approval process with the DoW.
- All DoW civilian tuition assistance requests must be submitted and approved 7 days prior to the start of any class the DoW civilian employee wishes to use DoW Civilian TA funds towards. If the application is not received and approved 7 days prior to a class start date, the DoW civilian employee is at risk for not getting the TA approved by the DoW. DoW civilian employee will then access his/her respective civilian occupational specialty education online portal to complete and submit his/her application for requesting DoW civilian tuition assistance and receiving DoW approval.
- Once you receive your DoW Civilian TA approval letter, provide a copy of this approval letter to the following SNU staff departments – SNU Bursar’s Office, SNU Financial Aid Office at pgsfinaid@snu.edu, and the SNU VETS Center at veterans@mail.snu.edu.
Recognition for the SNU VETS Center
Yellow Ribbon
The Yellow Ribbon program helps military members cover the additional cost of tuition incurred when attending an out-of-state university, private school, or graduate program that is not covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®. SNU is proud to participate in this program and offer this benefit to our military students.
You can learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program here.
Principles of Excellence Program
The Principles of Excellence Program requires participating universities to follow certain guidelines in order to receive funding from programs such as the GI Bill® . Some of these guidelines include providing military students with an educational timeline to fulfill graduation requirements, offering accredited programs, allowing for long and short term leave due to service obligations and more.
You can learn more about the Principles of Excellence Program here.
Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
SNU's participation in this program ensures our military students and DoW civilians are provided with adequate educational opportunities to support professional development and career growth It also requires that our university remain accredited.
You can learn more about the DOD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) https://www.dodmou.mil/tadecide. The DOD MOU site also provides service members and DoW civilians with its TA DECIDE tool. TA DECIDE helps service members and DoW civilians make an informative decision on education costs and compare educational institutions of higher learning. The TA DECIDE tool can be accessed at https://www.dodmou.mil/tadecide.
Accolades & Awards
Colleges of Distinction for Military Support 23-24
SNU earned the Military Support College of Distinction designation. This accolade is awarded to schools that serve our nation’s active component service-members and veterans as they pursue advanced degrees. As the number of veterans pursuing higher education increases, so does the demand for their personal and academic needs to be met. Veterans can be some of the most dedicated, hard-working, and capable students on a college campus. To receive this designation, institutions must demonstrate a commitment to initiatives and programs that nurture, support, and inspire Military students in and out of the classroom. Learn more about this important accolade.
Oklahoma Veteran Employer Champion 21-22
SNU earned the Veterans Employer Champion from the Tulsa Community Service Council. This is an annual award that the City of Tulsa awards to organizations across the state of Oklahoma that support the veteran community. To become recognized as a Veteran Employer Champion, organizations must meet six benchmarks that include: veteran hiring and recruiting; veteran resource groups, onboarding, and/or buddy programs; veteran programs and community support; veteran employee resources and/or support; veteran executive sponsors leading veteran strategies; and National Guard and Reserves employee support. Learn more about this important recognition.
Certificate of Appreciation for Recruiting Services Air Force - 2019
Certificate of Appreciation for Recruiting Services OKC Recruiting Battalion 2019
Supporter Recognition of Appreciation NAVPA 2019
Pinnacle Award Force50 2019
Certificate of Appreciation Interim Healthcare 2019
Grant for Veterans and Families Program Boeing Foundation 2018
Military Friendly® School Military Friendly® 2016-2019
Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success Grant Department of Education 2015-2019
-1.png "Screen Shot 2022-11-20 at 12 (1)-1")