Veterans Benefits
NWIC offers degree programs approved by the Washington State Approving Agency for the enrollment of those students eligible under Veteran Administration Education Benefit programs. Veterans or eligible dependents of Veterans wanting to attend NWIC should contact the local Veterans Affairs (VA) Office to apply for education benefits or online at www.gibill.va.gov. There is also the ability to compare benefits online at www.gibill.va.gov to help determine which of the programs is best for each individual. Verification of eligibility for VA educational benefits must be determined prior to admittance and enrollment. Eligible veterans and dependents of veterans must complete the FAFSA online www.fafsa.ed.gov and apply for admission to NWIC. An admissions application can be found at www.nwic.edu or at any NWIC designated site or one can be mailed to you. Documentation verifying educational benefits must be submitted to the Veteran’s Certifying Official in the Center for Student Success prior to enrollment. Veterans must also contact the Veteran’s advisor when enrolling to determine appropriate program of study and enrollment options.
All veteran’s benefits recipients are required to report program changes, quarterly credit changes, and changes to marital and family status to the Veteran’s Certifying Official. In addition, recipients are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the college’s policy in order to maintain student status at NWIC. The Veterans Programs policy at NWIC aligns with the Satisfactory Progress Requirements for Financial Aid Recipients found in this catalog. Students may follow the appeal process to be considered for reinstatement according to the federal financial aid guidelines found here in the handbook. Failure to comply with VA regulations may result in termination of VA benefits.
These tasks need to be completed prior to certification of enrollment:
- Submit Application for Educational Benefits to VA – CH 33 Certificate of Eligibility
- Complete and submit NWIC Veterans Form
- Complete Admissions Application
- Complete FAFSA and maintain a complete financial aid file at NWIC
- CH 1606 students – Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE), DD Form 2384
- CH 33, 30, 32 and 1607 – a copy of their DD 214 that shows characterization of discharge
The NWIC VA Officer will only certify enrollment in classes that are required to obtain a degree in your specific program of study. For example, if you enroll in 12 credits, but only 9 of those credits go towards your programs of study, you will only be certified for those 9 credits. This will result in a reduction in your monthly education benefit payments.
Contact the Center for Student Success to make an appointment with the Veteran’s Certifying Official at 360.676-2772, ext. 4215 or email enrollmentservices@nwic.edu. Other important numbers include: Admissions at ext. 4269, Financial Aid at ext. 4206. The local Veterans Affairs office for the main campus is at 1333 Lincoln Street, Bellingham WA 98229, phone number (360) 733-9226.