Veterans Services

Graduation commencement at ECC.

ECC is veteran-friendly.

On Tuesday, April 28, 2020, President Trump signed H.R.6322 into law. This addresses the following:

  • Education programs and assistance for veterans during the covered period from March 1-December 21, 2020.
  • Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue paying work-study allowances during emergency periods.
  • VA is also authorized to continue paying educational assistance and subsistence allowances for a specified amount of time for programs of education that are suspended due to an emergency situation.
  • An educational assistance payment shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to educational assistance if an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the temporary closure of an educational institution or the temporary termination of a program by reason of an emergency situation.
  • Extends the time limitation for using educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill when institutions are closed due to an emergency situation or executive order.
  • Also extends the time limitation for participation in a vocational rehabilitation program when such participation is prevented due to an emergency situation or executive order.
  • The bill authorizes the VA to pay a subsistence allowance for two additional months to a veteran following a program of employment services during the covered period for full-time training for the type of program the veteran was pursuing.

See the full bill at www.congress.gov

Thank you for your military service! Whether you are starting college for the first time or re-entering college, ECC welcomes veterans home to a great college experience. Expect personalized attention to help you select a program of study which incorporates the skills you learned in the military with work in a field you enjoy.

Why should veterans choose ECC?

Elgin Community College has been named a 2020 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY. ECC provides quality education with flexible scheduling and course delivery options that fit your lifestyle. ECC focuses our educational programs on courses of study and majors which are in-demand in the workforce. This is key to your success in transitioning from a military career to a college student to a candidate that employers are looking to hire.

  • Affordable tuition, a fraction of the cost charged by public universities, private colleges, and technical institutes. Compare tuition costs.
  • Veterans Resource Center; and an established veterans support team dedicated to students, including a support specialist, academic advisor, and financial aid/VA certifying official.
  • Close to home, less travel time means more time for family and/or a job, studying or taking more courses. View our campus locations.
  • First-rate instruction in transfer and career-technical education to fit your educational goals.
  • In-district tuition at almost 30 other community colleges if ECC doesn’t have the program of study you seek.
  • Flexible learning options to study and attend classes when it’s convenient for you.
  • A safe campus and secure learning environment.
  • Small classes and attentive teachers whose priority is teaching, not publishing, not researching.

Did you know? 

2020 is the eighth time that ECC has received the Military Friendly Schools designation. The list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families to find the right school to match their needs and preferences. Resources available to ECC student veterans include the Textbooks for Veterans Program, allowing veterans to purchase their books in time for classes to start, instead of waiting weeks for funds through the GI Bill. 

ECC offers veterans resources

FAQ

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).