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Veterans

Blue Mountain Community College welcomes and supports Veterans and active Military Service members, as well as their family members

Did You Know?

  • You may use your VA Education Benefits along with federal and state financial aid? Complete the FAFSA to apply for the Pell grant, Oregon Opportunity grant, the Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance program, and student loans.
  • VA Work Study positions are available at BMCC. Click here for the work study application.
  • There are other options available for paying for college. For more information about Paying For College click here.
Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one?

Did you know that VA offers same day services in Primary Care and Mental Health at 172 VA Medical Centers across the country? Make the Connection Resource Locator Contact the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 and press 1) text 838255, or chat.

Options for Paying for College

BMCC offers resources and benefits to Veterans, Military/Service Members, and their spouses or dependents

Provides funding for Army National Guard members; Visit ArmyIgnitED (used to be GoArmyEd) website to apply

Please read the attached PDF and contact the Financial Aid office at FinancialAid@bluecc.edu to apply

 VA School Certifying Official – Camille Edwards Thompson |  Email us at veterans@bluecc.edu | Call us at 541-278-5779

Military/Service Members and Dependents Tuition Waivers

BMCC offers resources and benefits to Veterans, Military/Service Members, and their spouses or dependents

Oregon Veteran
Any Oregon resident (as defined by Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (Choice Act) Section 702)  who is a member of the United States Armed Services and is currently on active duty; or is an Oregon resident who has been honorably discharged within the last 18 months.

Dependent of Fallen or 100% Disabled Veterans
Any Oregon resident who is a spouse or unmarried child (age 23 and under, including adoptive and step-children) of members of all branches of the United States Armed Forces or United States Coast Guard who:

  • Died while on active duty, or
  • Died as a result of a military service-connected disability, or
  • Is 100% permanently disabled as a result of a military service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Immediate Family Members of Deployed Service Member
Any Oregon resident who is a spouse, unmarried child/foster child under the age of 24, or others under the age of 24 whose guardianship is held by the Service Member and/or spouse.

Deployed service member:  Members of the U.S. Armed Forces currently on active duty service status. Does not cover periods of active service for basic training purposes.

Oregon Veteran

If not on active duty, the veteran must request a waiver within 18 months of being honorably discharged.

The tuition waiver is for up to 50% of the cost of tuition during the veteran’s first year of a certificate or degree program at BMCC.  The veteran’s year will begin with the first term in which they commence degree course work and will end after four consecutive terms (not including summer terms.)  If the veteran chooses to attend fewer than the four consecutive terms, their eligibility will be exhausted after the fourth consecutive term.

This waiver shall be applied as “last dollar” (after other forms of aid) and shall be granted in coordination with other student financial assistance (excluding VA benefits) for which the recipient may be eligible in order to provide a total benefit not to exceed the total estimated cost of attendance

If the veteran is recalled to active duty, they will have the choice of continuing course work via distance education or re-entering the program upon return.  Returning veterans who were enrolled in a limited-entry program will be allowed re-entry if the program allows and if the curriculum has not undergone significant changes. 

Dependents of Fallen or 100% Disabled Veterans

The spouse of the fallen service member must initiate the request for a waiver within ten years of the determination of death or 100% disability. Eligibility will be lost upon remarriage.  Dependent children must be 23 years of age or younger at the time of waiver application.

This tuition waiver covers 100% of tuition and it is limited to 135 college credits or the completion of an associate’s degree, whichever comes first.

This waiver shall be applied as “last dollar” (after other forms of aid) and shall be granted in coordination with other student financial assistance (excluding Veteran’s benefits) for which the recipient may be eligible in order to provide a total benefit not to exceed the total estimated cost of attendance. 

 

Immediate Family Members of Deployed Service Members

The tuition waiver covers up to 50% of the cost of tuition as long as their service member is deployed and it covers up to a maximum number of credits required for an associate’s degree. Only the first 12 credits of each term qualify for this waiver.

This waiver shall be applied as “last dollar” (after other forms of aid) and shall be granted in coordination with other student financial assistance (excluding VA benefits) for which the recipient may be eligible in order to provide a total benefit not to exceed the total estimated cost of attendance

Applicable to all of the Veteran and Dependent tuition waivers above:

Continuation of any of these tuition waiver benefits is contingent upon the student meeting institutional academic progress requirements.

The tuition waivers are available to students admitted to a certificate or degree program only, and students must use credits towards the stated certificate or degree program at BMCC.

The waivers do NOT include required fees or AFEES (educational expense fee for non-credit courses) and may not be applied to community education programs. If the student is co-enrolled with BMCC and another college, this tuition waiver applies to BMCC courses only.

For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office via email at FinancialAid@bluecc.edu or by calling 541-278-5759.

VA Education Benefits

BMCC offers resources and benefits to Veterans, Military/Service Members, and their spouses or dependents

  • Mail:          BMCC Service Center, P.O. Box 100, Pendleton, OR 97801
  • In person:  At nearest BMCC Campus or Center
  • Email:       veterans@bluecc.edu
  • Fax:           541-278-5889

Camille Edwards Thompson | veterans@bluecc.edu | 541-278-5779 (Financial Aid)

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