Los Angeles Harbor College Building

Vets Admission

Veterans Resource Center

American Flags Happy Veterans Day Labour Day Independence Day Stock Photo - Download Image Now - iStock

Steps to Follow for VA Benefits: A Guide to Accessing Your Education Benefits

  • Apply to Los Angeles Harbor College

  • Apply for VA Education Benefits Benefits

  • Certify Your Enrollment Each Semester Certification Form

  • Submit Required Documents:

    • Email the following documents to lahc-veterans@lahc.edu:
      • Copy of DD-214 (Member 4)
      • Certificate of Eligibility (provided by the VA after application approval)
      • Picture ID
      • Complete/upload Military Credit Petition
      • Tungsten Authorization (Chapter 31 only, submitted by the VR&E counselor)

Steps for Current Students to Access VA Benefits: A Guide to Continuing Your Education Support

  • Certify Your Enrollment Each SemesterCertification Form

  • Making Changes to Your Certification Request:

    • If you make changes to your schedule (drops, adds, section changes), submit another certification request form and select "adjustment" to the original request. Include all changes made to your schedule on the form. Note: Waitlisted courses cannot be certified. Submit the Online Veterans Certification Request whenever you modify your class schedule.

  • Enrollment Verification for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits:

    • Post-9/11 GI Bill students receiving Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments must verify enrollment monthly.
    • Verify enrollment securely via text message, email, or online at VA.gov to avoid payment withholding.

​Full time is considered the following:

Spring and Fall: 12 units
Winter (5 weeks): 4 units
Summer (5 weeks): 4 units
​Summer (8 weeks): 6 units

Verify School Enrollment for G.I. Bill Benefits 

Post-9/11 GI Bill® students who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments are required to verify their enrollment to continue receiving their payments. 
Enrollment Verification 
It is our priority to ensure all our Veteran Students receive on time payments from the V.A. office. If you encounter any issues with your payment, please email the Program Director (Jessica Cruz) at: @email We will do our best to assist you.

Official Transcripts

  • You must submit official transcripts if you attended college(s) outside the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). Transcripts must be mailed to Admissions and Records:
    • 1111 Figueroa Pl. Wilmington C.A. 90744
  • For more information, contact Admission and Records Office. 
    • Email: @email
    • Phone: (310) 233-4090
Admissions and records | LAHC

CalVet College Fee Waiver

​The College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. This program does not cover the expense of books, parking or room and board. Veterans must meet certain eligibility criteria, including having served in the military and meeting residency requirements in California. Dependents of service-connected disabled or deceased veterans may also qualify under certain conditions. For more information click the link below. 
CalVet Plans 
To apply download an application (PDF)​, then go to your local CalVet Veteran Services CVSO Locations. 

Tuition Assistance 

CAL-VET

The College Fee Waiver for Veteran (CAL-VET) Dependent benefit waives mandatory tuition and fees for eligible students. For information on Cal Vet fee waiver elgibility and application, visit the Cal Vet site. 

  • Cal Vet Fee Waiver Application
  • You must apply for this benefit with the County Veterans Service Office. If you are eligible for the Cal Vet fee waiver, you will receive a letter of eligibility.  Submit this letter to Financial Aid each academic year.  
  • Already have your letter? Click Here to submit your Cal Vet Letter to Financial Aid online.  

Note: A dependent cannot receive this benefit if they are already receiving VA Chapter 35 benefits. Cal Vet waiver does not cover the cost of books, parking, or living expenses.  Students must meet California residency requirements to qualify for the Cal Vet fee waiver. To ensure ongoing benefits, you are required to submit your letter each year to the Financial Aid Office. 

TA

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Each service has the ability to pay up to 100% of tuition expenses of its members. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility and application process and restrictions. 

Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance funds

In the event a course is dropped by the student and TA funds are received by the college, the unearned tuition assistance funds will be returned as follows:

16-Week Course

  • Before or during Weeks 1-2, 100% Return
  • During Weeks 3-4, 75% Return
  • During Weeks 5-8, 50% Return
  • During Week 9, 40% Return (60% of the course is completed week 9.6)
  • During Weeks 10-16, 0% Return

8-Week Course

  • Before or During Week 1, 100% Returned
  • During Week 2, 75% Returned
  • During Weeks 3-4, 50% Returned
  • During Week 5, 40% Returned (60% of the course is completed week 4.8)
  • During Weeks 6-8, 0% Returned

Navy- For Active Duty Navy, please visit the Navy College Program website at http://www.navycollege.navy.mil/ or by calling 877-838-1659. There you will be given information on the Navy Voluntary Education (VOLED) Process which includes the process for applying for tuition assistance. The steps to the VOLED Process can be found at the bottom of the page. Tuition Assistance / NCPACE (navy.mil)

Marine Corps- For Active Duty Marines, please visit or call the MCRD San Diego Education Center (Lifelong Learning Center): 4025 Tripoli Avenue, Bldg. 111, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA 92140-5293 or by calling 619-524-8158 / 619-524-1275; Monday-Friday 7:30AM-4:00PM. http://www.mccsmcrd.com/lifelong-learning-center   

Voluntary Education Program (marines.mil)

Army: Tuition Assistance (TA) | The Official Army Benefits Website

Air Force: www.my.af.mil/faf/FAF/fafHome.jsp 

Policies Regarding Service Members and Military Tuition Assistance

1. Prohibition on Incentive-Based Recruitment
Los Angeles Harbor College strictly prohibits the use of commissions, bonuses, or other incentive-based compensation for employees, contractors, or third parties based on securing enrollments of Service members. This practice is not permitted under any circumstances. The College will provide a formal written policy, training guide, or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that explicitly outlines and enforces this prohibition.

2. Ban on High-Pressure Recruitment Tactics
The College maintains a clear and enforceable policy that bans high-pressure recruitment tactics intended to influence the enrollment decisions of Service members. All recruitment practices must align with ethical standards and federal regulations. A written policy, training guide, or SOP detailing the prohibition of such practices will be provided to ensure compliance across all departments.

3. Required Approval from Military Education Counselors
In accordance with Department of Defense guidelines, eligible Service members must receive prior approval from an Educational Services Officer (ESO) or military counselor before enrolling at Los Angeles Harbor College. Institutional policies and procedures instruct College personnel to guide Service members to obtain the necessary authorization from their respective military branches. Additionally, this requirement is communicated through accessible links and resources on the College’s public-facing website.

4. Financial Aid Advisor Qualifications and Training
The College ensures that all financial aid advisors who interact with Service members are properly trained and qualified. Prior to advising, recommending, arranging, disbursing, or enrolling Service members in Federal or private loan programs, advisors must meet training standards. Documentation and evidence of such training and qualifications will be provided upon request.

5. Management Controls on Cohort Default Rate (CDR) Disclosures
Los Angeles Harbor College has policies in place to monitor and disclose cohort default rate (CDR) information. In the event the institution’s CDR exceeds the national average, appropriate disclosures will be made available. These management controls are documented in a formal written policy, training manual, or SOP.

6. Return of Unearned Tuition Assistance (TA) Funds
In compliance with DoD regulations, the College administers the return of unearned TA funds as follows:

  • If a student ceases attendance within the first 10% of the course, they will not be responsible for tuition and fees, and TA will not be billed.

  • If withdrawal occurs after 10% but before 60% of the course duration, the College will return the unearned portion of TA funds to the appropriate military service. The student will be responsible for reimbursing the College for the refunded amount.

  • If withdrawal is due to military service obligations, the student must submit appropriate documentation to Veterans Services to qualify for a full refund of tuition and fees, subject to administrative review.

  • Returning service members must complete a new application if they ae not returning within one year of their last date of attendance. They are eligible to enroll in the next scheduled classes of their original academic program unless they request a later reenrollment date or agree to switch programs due to unusual circumstances. If their Previous program no longer exists, the institution will place them in the most comparable program, unless they choose a different program.

  • Returning service members will retain their prior enrollment status unless they request or agree to a different status. They will also keep the completed credit hours, unless they are readmitted to a different program that does not accept those credit hours. Their academic standing, such as satisfactory academic progress status, will remain the same as it was when they last attended.

  • If the institution determines that a returning service member is not adequately prepared to resume with the same academic status or cannot complete the program, further actions will be taken.

    • For example, if a service member seeks readmission to the Registered Nursing Program, the head of the department and the Dean of Student Affairs will decide what courses are necessary to prepare the service member for readmission. If these efforts do no succeed or cause undue burden on the institution, the institution reserves the right not to readmit the service member to that program or may require them to submit a new application specifically for that program.

7. Financial Aid Support
Before offering, recommending, arranging, signing up, distributing, or enrolling service members in private student loans, we ensure that they have access to an institutional financial aid adviser. This adviser will provide essential loan counseling, which includes the following:

  • A clear and comprehensive explanation of available financial aid options, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
  • A description of the differences between private and federal student loans, covering aspects such as terms, conditions, repayment options, and forgiveness opportunities.
  • Disclosure of the institution's student loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR), including the percentage of students who borrow and how the institution's CDR compares to the national average. If the institution's CDR exceeds the national average, this information will be disclosed, along with loan repayment data.
  • An explanation that students have the option to refuse all loans or borrow less than the maximum amount allowed.

8. Academic Counseling
The Veteran Resource Center at Los Angeles Harbor College is staffed with Military Student Advocates and a Counselor Coordinator. Military Student Advocates provide support to servicemembers seeking information about the Tuition Assistance (TA) program, Title IV funding, and VA educational benefits. They are knowledgeable about institutional services for Service Members looking for academic counseling, financial aid counseling, and job search support. Additionally, they can provide information about various campus and community resources. The job responsibilities of the Los Angeles Harbor College Advocate include the following:

  • Assisting veterans, military members, and their families in transitioning to an academic environment.
  • Connecting students with the appropriate departments and resources.
  • Contributing to the development and improvement of college policies and procedures that are friendly to military and veteran students, their dependents, and survivors.
  • Aiding prospective and current students in the application, registration, and enrollment processes as they work towards their degrees.
  • Disabled student Programs and Services
    • Contact
      Email: dsps@lahc.edu 
      Phone: (310) 233 - 4629
      Facebook: @LAHCDSPS
      Instagram: @dsps_lahc

If you have any questions, please contact our office.