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Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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Ph: (406) 771-4334
Location: Student Central

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FAFSA School Code: 009314

The Federal Student Aid Estimator provides an estimate of how much federal student aid you may be eligible to receive. These estimates are based on the Student Aid Index (SAI), an index number used to determine federal student aid eligibility.

Tips for filling out the FAFSA: Filling Out the FAFSA® Form | Federal Student Aid

FAFSA help – find answers to common questions: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out/help

Check out a variety of helpful videos on the FSA/FAFSA YouTube Channel: Federal Student Aid – YouTube

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VA Education Benefits

To use VA Education Benefits at Great Falls College students must:

  • Be enrolled in classes
  • Have an eligibility determination from the Veterans Administration (VA)
  • Be a degree-seeking student*

 

*Students must be degree-seeking in one of our credit-bearing programs. Programs offered through our Continuing Education & Training department are not credit-bearing and are not approved for VA Education Benefit use.

Applying for VA Education Benefits

If you have collected VA education benefits as a civilian and are continuing in the same benefit program, it is not necessary for you to reapply for benefits. Simply reach out to the Great Falls College Veterans Coordinator after registering for classes and request the Certification Request for VA Education Benefits form.

If it has been more than two years since you last used your benefit, please contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 and verify/update your contact information with them.

If you are a new VA education benefits applicant, you collected benefits only while on active duty, or you are applying for benefits under a program different from that which you used in the past, you must complete an Application for Education Benefits on the Department of Veterans Affairs website at va.gov.

If you have already completed an application and have received a Certification of Eligibility from VA, contact the Great Falls College Veterans Coordinator for next steps.

New Students

For forms/information, please contact the Great Falls College Veterans Coordinator at [email protected] or (406) 771-4431.

To receive monthly education benefits while enrolled in classes at Great Falls College, a student’s enrollment must be certified each term by the Great Falls College Veterans Coordinator. Students using benefits must request certification by the Veterans Coordinator each term they plan to attend classes by completing a Certification Request for VA Education Benefits form.

See below for additional VA Education Benefit Information.

Enrollment verification is required for Chapter 1606 & Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill®) and also Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®). Failure to verify attendance with VA may result in suspension of a student’s housing stipend.
 
Chapter 30 and 1606 students must verify their attendance with VA each month school is in session. Verification is done through the Web Automated Verification (WAVE) program or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) at 1-877-823-2378.
 
Verification is the action that triggers the Chapter 30 or 1606 benefit payment. Keep in mind that the payment is issued after the month is over. The earliest you can verify your enrollment is the last calendar day of each month or the last day of the term.
 
Chapter 33 students must verify enrollment each month with VA in one of the following ways:
 
By Text Message: Students that have opted in to text message enrollment verification will receive a text from VA at the end of each month requesting verification of enrollment. Student can then reply to text message to complete verification. Texts from VA will be sent from 44354.
 
(VA will never ask for your personal information, such as social security number or bank account information via text. VA strongly recommends text message verifications for verifying your enrollment)
 
By Email: If you opt out of text messages, can’t verify by text, or do not have a US mobile phone number, you will automatically be enrolled in email verification at the email address on file with VA. On the last day of each month, you will receive an email with the subject line, “Action Required: Verify Your Monthly Enrollment”. After selecting your verification response, you will be taken to a confirmation page thanking you for verifying your monthly enrollment.
 
If you don’t select a response within 14 days, the links in your email will expire and you will need to call the VA Education Call Center to verify your enrollment.
 
By Phone: If you are unable to verify via text or email, you will need to contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-442-4551 and ask a representative to verify your enrollment. If you’re not sure if VA has your mobile phone number and/or email on file, you can contact the VA Education Call Center to update your contact information and ensure you can verify via text or email.
 
For more information about Chapter 33 Enrollment Verification visit VA’s website.

Students receive payments only for the days class is in session. Benefits are pro-rated and paid in arrears.

Benefit amounts are determined by the student’s enrollment status for each block.

Current GI Bill® Pay Rates

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 www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

ALL CREDIT-BEARING PROGRAMS OF STUDY AT GREAT FALLS COLLEGE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE MONTANA STATE APPROVING AGENCY FOR ENROLLMENT OF THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE GI BILL® EDUCATION BENEFITS. ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FOLLOWING EDUCATION BENEFITS IS DETERMINED BY VA:

Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30)
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.

Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31)
Veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or greater and an honorable discharge may qualify for retraining under the Veteran Readiness & Employment Program. With the assistance of a VA Counselor the student develops a rehabilitation plan leading to successful employment.

Survivor and Dependent Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 36 months of education benefits.

Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

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 www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

The VA Work-Study program is an opportunity to “earn while you learn”. Students employed in the work-study program fill a number of positions at various VA facilities throughout the area. Employment opportunities are available to eligible students.

 

Eligible students include:

  • Students who receive GI Bill® Benefits or Dependent educational benefits AND
  • Must be enrolled at least 3/4 time.

 

Benefits of VA work-study employment:

  • Flexible schedule
  • Tax free income (Federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher).

 

Approved local work-study locations:

 

Great Falls Vet Center
615 2nd Avenue North
Great Falls, MT  59401
406-452-9048

Montana Veterans Affairs Service Office
600 Central Plaza Suite 300
Great Falls, MT  59401
406-452-2265

Great Falls VA Community Based Clinic
1417 9th Street South, Suite 200 & 300
Great Falls, MT  59405
406-791-3234

 

How to apply:

  1. Choose an approved work-study location and contact them for employment opportunities
  2. Complete VA Form 22-8691 Application for VA Work-Study Allowance
  3. Bring completed application to your prospective employer

Check out our VA Education Benefits Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

Financial Aid Department

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Call: (406) 771-4334

Email or Fax

Email: [email protected]

Fax: (406) 771-4410

Business Hours

Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

2100 16th Avenue South 
Great Falls, MT 59405

Call: (406) 771-4300 

Fax: (406) 771-4317

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