Veteran Benefits

Cleveland State University was voted one of the best colleges in America for veterans by both the Military Times and the Victory Press. Currently, the university certifies over 400 veterans whom are using VA benefits, while another 200 are using the National Guard Scholarship or other personal programs. While the VetSuccess office, 216-875-9996, will help you with your transition from military to college and other needs, the financial aid office will help you with the certification process to ensure that you get the benefits that you deserve.

To receive assistance with determining which benefits you may be eligible for or which to utilize, please refer to either military.com , www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/ (1-888-GIBILL1); or you may contact our VA campus counselor George Ackerman at 216-875-9942 / George.ackerman@va.gov.

After you know which chapter (30, 31, 33, 35, or 1606) is best for you, please follow these steps to ensure that your benefits are being processed properly. This procedure is the same whether you are a new benefit user or a transfer student that has used benefits at another institute. **Never assume that just because you have used your benefits elsewhere, that the CSU certifying representatives know that you are using them at CSU, ensure your own success and follow the below instructions.

Step 1 ¨C Visit or call the VetSuccess office at 2254 Euclid Avenue Trinity Commons / 216-875-9996 and apply to the university. This can be done on your own or online at the CSU website, however better information about veteran¡¯s benefits, as well as the opportunity to waive the application fee, are found at the VetSuccess office.

Step 2 ¨C Apply for your benefits at https://www.vets.gov/education/apply/

Step 3 ¨C Print out the confirmation page and wait for your Letter of Eligibility (LOE) to arrive in the mail.

Step 4 ¨C Gather up your confirmation page (or LOE if it has arrived) and DD-214 (member 4, bottom right hand corner), then email vabenefits@csuohio.edu, to speak to a certifying official in order to make an appointment to start your educational benefits.

• Due to personal information policies, in regards to your DD-214, the CSU VA officials will not accept them through email.
• There are other important informational details that will be given to the veteran during this meeting as well including benefit details, timelines, amounts, and procedures.

National Guard Scholarship Recipients

All inquiries on majors, applications, joint service transcripts, military credit, transitioning, etc. please contact the VetSuccess Office at 216-875-9996.

**Veterans may consider applying for grants and aid by filling out a FAFSA, see Loans.