Coastline is approved by California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education – CSAAVE, to offer programs to veterans and eligible persons seeking benefits under Federal Public Laws and the California Veterans Educational Laws. Coastline follows the guidelines issued by the Council for Private and Post-Secondary and Vocational Education, which apply to all institutions enrolling veterans and other eligible persons for veterans benefits. 

Veterans Resource Centers

Coastline’s Veterans Resource Centers (VRC), located at the Student Services Center at Fountain Valley, Garden Grove Campus, and Newport Beach Campus, are community-based service centers that engage enrolled veterans, veteran-serving organizations, and community veterans who wish to support their peers.

The VRCs provide a comfortable and positive environment where Veterans will find access to academic resources, community referrals, networking opportunities, counseling and advisement services, computer access with Wi-Fi, a place to study, and workshops of value to veterans. Coastline also provides the resource information available in the VRCs to students worldwide through a Virtual VRC.

Our goal is to honor our veterans for their service, and to fully assist them with an effective transition and reintegration into civilian life.

Veterans Resource Center Locations:

Student Services Center VRC
11460 Warner Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Garden Grove VRC
12901 Euclid Street
Garden Grove, CA  92840

Newport Beach VRC
1515 Monrovia Avenue
Newport Beach, CA 92663

For more information regarding the VRC, email vet2vet@coastline.edu, call (714) 241-6126, or visit the Coastline Veterans Resource Centers webpage.

Eligibility for Veterans Benefits 

For questions regarding veterans benefits, contact the School Certifying Official in the Admissions Office at (714) 241-6325, or email VeteranServices@coastline.edu.

The School Certifying Official will assist veterans and dependents using the following VA educational benefits:

• Post 9/11 GI Bill® ( Chapter 33)
• Montgomery GI Bill® ( Chapter 30)
• Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR Chapter 1606)
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Program (VR&E Chapter 31)
• Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)

CAL-VET : Students who qualify for CAL-VET benefits should contact Coastline’s Financial Aid Office. For more information visit the CALVET Education Services webpage.

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The number of units veterans and dependents must take to qualify for benefits varies according to the educational benefit used. 

Contact the VA's Western Regional Processing Office toll free at (888) 442-4551 for information about compensation and periods of eligibility.

Veterans receive  36 months of full-time GI Bill benefits and have no time limit on when they need to use them by. If they left the military before Jan. 1, 2013, benefits expire 15 years from discharge date (if using the Post-9/11 GI Bill ®). If you are using the Montgomery GI Bill ®you have 10 years to use your benefits.

Provided the discharge or release was other than dishonorable, he/she served at least one hundred and eighty-one (181) continuous days, or was discharged or released because of a service-connected disability. Veterans who entered active duty beginning July 1, 1985, may be eligible under Chapter 30 of the Montgomery GI bill provided they:

• Served at least two years with honorable discharge and
• Had $100 per month deducted from their military pay for educational benefits during the first 12 months of active duty.

Selected Reserve participants may be eligible under Chapter 1606.

Requirements for Receiving Veterans Education Benefits

To qualify for benefits, veterans and eligible dependents must be working toward an approved educational objective. A list of approved programs for VA benefits can be found on the United States Department of Veterans Affairs WEAMS Institutional Search tool.

Veteran and dependents must submit official sealed transcripts from all colleges attended previously to Coastline College within four weeks of being admitted, or future certifications for benefits may be delayed.

Students must have a counselor approved education plan.  Only courses that are applicable toward their educational goal will be certified for educational benefits.

Students must notify the School Certifying Official to request a Certification Request form and/or VA paperwork immediately after registering for courses to avoid a delay in benefits and/or being dropped for non payment. After initial certification is  complete, veterans and dependents are required to report any changes in enrollment to the School Certifying Official at the time they are made.

Students must maintain satisfactory standard of progress.  Students who are on academic or progress disqualification may not be eligible for benefits.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), Coastline College will not impose penalty, including assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual's inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33.  Students may be required to submit a Certificate of Eligibility or additional information needed to properly certify enrollment, as outlined in other institutional policies.

It will be the responsibility of the veteran or eligible dependent to adhere to the regulations of the Veterans Administration and Coastline policies. If there are any questions regarding the veteran benefits, check with the School Certifying Official at (714) 241-6325 or VeteranServices@coastline.edu.

VACA Act

Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (VACA)

Effective July 1, 2015, California Education Code (68075.S(c)c) allows California Community Colleges to grant full exemption from the nonresident fee for all students verified to be “covered individuals” per the below criteria and that qualify to use Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty or Post-9/11 GI Bill® education benefits (Chapters 30 and 33, respectively, of Title 38, U.S. Code) while living in California.

Covered Individuals:

1. A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
2. A spouse or child entitled to transferred education benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
3. A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty) who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
4. After expiration of the three year period following discharge or death as described in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c), a student who initially qualifies under the applicable requirements above will maintain “covered individual” status as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters or terms) at the institution, even if they enroll in multiple programs and shall continue to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition and other fees as described in the updated fee policy described below.

How do I Obtain the VACA Act Tuition Fee Waiver?

The VACA Act Tuition Fee Waiver form is available on the Coastline Student Forms webpage, in the  Students-Military folder.

Registration Priority for Veterans

All veteran students are subject to the provisions under SBI 1456.  Under the provisions of California Education Code 66025.8. Coastline College will grant priority registration to eligible members or former members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Proof of current military status (military ID or DD214 Member4) must be submitted to the School Certifying Official. For eligibility information, please contact the School Certifying Official.

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. Department of Veterans Affairs website.