graphic of American flag with silhouetted service members saluting

Military Benefits Checklists

Next Steps

New Military and Veteran Students Checklist

After submitting your application, expect to receive an electronic acceptance letter, typically within one week, via the personal email address you provided on the application.
Set up your OwlNet and OwlMail accounts using the information provided in your acceptance email. From now on, this is where you will receive all information from the College: registration, email, financial aid, etc.
Request your high school and college transcripts to be sent to Harford Community College. Click here forinformation on transcripts.

NOTE: Students with qualifying scores on SAT, ACT, PARCC, Accuplacer, GED, AP or IB tests OR have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) may be considered College and Career Ready, and are therefore exempt from placement testing. You must request that your scores be sent to Harford Community College for review.

If you are or were an active member of the military, remember to order your Joint Services Transcripts (JST) – https://jst.doded.mil/official.html

Once you confirm that transcripts and test scores (if applicable) have been sent, allow 5 business days for processing and review and then email admissions@harford.edu with your name and H-number (found in your acceptance letter). An admissions specialist will contact you to discuss whether placement testing is required as well as next steps.

Complete placement testing – If you need to take the Accuplacer® placement test, contact the Test Center to schedule a time.
Attend a My Academic Plan (MAP) Session and Register for Classes – Once all of the above are complete, an admissions specialist will verify everything has been received and provide you with a link to schedule a MY ACADEMIC PLAN (MAP) Session. This is where you will meet one-on-one with an academic advisor to review and register for your classes.
If you are using Military Tuition Assistance (TA) please contact vetsmilitary@harford.edu. If you are using Veteran’s Benefits (VA) to pay for your classes, you must turn in the forms below as soon as possible after you have registered for classes.

We require a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility Letter from the VA, a completed Request for Certification Form, and a copy of your DD214 if you are not a dependent. These items can be emailed to vetsmilitary@harford.edu or turned in at the Financial Aid Office in the Student Center (top floor) or at our APG Office location in the Soldier Support Center on Post.

Students utilizing Chapter 33 and 31 do not need to make payment arrangements. Your funds go directly to the college. Students using Chapters 35, 30, 1606, and 1607 must make payment arrangements through the OWLNET portal on the All About Me tab or at the Cashier’s Office, https://www.harford.edu/admissions-and-costs/tuition-and-fees/how-to-pay/index.php.
Attend your Orientation Session

VA Benefits

VA step-by-step process is provided in this content.

The first step in using VA Benefits at Harford Community College is to apply for your Certificate of Eligibility letter. The VA takes, on average, 30 days to make a decision on your benefits. Please apply early so you can get your eligibility letter to us at least two weeks before the semester begins. 
  • You can apply at https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. 
  • If you print out or screenshot the confirmation page when you apply for benefits, we can utilize this for your first semester at Harford Community College.
  • Our Military and Veterans Office is not part of the VA. We can give general information, however, specifics of your account, which chapter benefits you have, the percentage covered, and how many months of benefits you have left must be directed to the VA. Contact the GI Bill Hotline at 1-888-442-4551.
  • Have questions about the housing allowance you are eligible for? Use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool at https://www.va.gov/gi-bill-comparison-tool. 

The second step in using VA Benefits at Harford Community College is to complete a copy of the Request for Certification form. This form can be found in four locations.

The third step in using VA Benefits at Harford Community College is to provide us with your DD214, Member 4. If you are a dependent utilizing Chapter 35 or Chapter 33 benefits that were transferred to you feel free to skip this step. 

Once we have the documentation above, we can certify your classes for payment by the VA. Quick reminders…

  • You must be in a degree ending program, no Nursing Prep or Undecided majors are allowed.
  • We cannot certify you until you are registered for classes.
  • The VA considers 7+ credits part time, 9+ credits three-quarters time, and 12+ credits full time. These credit must be for the entire semester to count for the housing allowance. You cannot be in 4 credits for the first half of the semester and 7 credits for the second half. If you did this, you would not receive housing allowance for the first half and only half housing allowance for the second half. Specific scheduling questions should be discussed with your advisor at the time of scheduling.
  • You have your first semester at Harford Community College to order your Joint Services Transcripts (JST) and transcripts from any previous colleges you have attended. We must have official transcripts only. Questions about transcripts can be sent to transcripts@harford.edu.
  • Should you withdraw or not attend your classes after the 100% refund date, you will the VA for any housing allowance overpayments. You will also owe the college for the tuition and fees for any classes you have withdrawn from or not attended.
  • To receive housing allowance, you must take a minimum of 1 class in person each semester. 

Tuition Assistance Benefits

Information on MDNG Service Member benefits is available at https://military.maryland.gov/NG/Pages/tuition-assistance.aspx.

  • Member if the National Guard qualify for a State Tuition Waiver (STW) which discounts tuition charges by 50%. TA Waivers may be sent to vetsmilitary@harford.edu or taken directly to the Cashier’s Office for processing.
  • National Guard Service Members may qualify for the State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (STAR).
  • Guard members may also qualify for Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA).

Army Soldiers may be able to utilize ArmyIgnitED, https://www.armyignited.com/app/ to cover the tuition cost of their education at Harford Community College.

  • It is advised that soldiers wishing to utilize these benefits contact the APG Education Office at usarmy.apg.imcom.mbx.apg-education-center@army.mil  or 410.306.2037 .
  • We advise you to begin this process early (45 days before the beginning of the semester) as TA must be approved before classes begin.
  • TA will cover tuition but not fees.

Air Force soldiers should utilize the https://www.afpc.af.mil/benefits-and-entitlements/military-tuition-assistance-program/ website to apply for Tuition Assistance (TA).

  • Once TA is approved please email your TA Authorization Letter to vetsmilitary@harford.edu.
  • We advise you to begin this process early (45 days before the beginning of the semester) as TA must be approved before classes begin.
  • TA will cover tuition but not fees.

Military spouses who wish to utilize the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program (My CAA) to cover the cost of tuition at Harford Community College must first apply https://mycaa.militaryonesource.mil/mycaa/.

  • You may also speak to a career coach at 1-800-342-9647.
  • Once you are approved to use the scholarship, email vetsmilitary@harford.edu for an Education and Training Plan. You must allow 30 days for this plan to be created.
  • Once TA is approved please email your TA Authorization Letter to vetsmilitary@harford.edu.

Soldiers utilizing Military Tuition Assistance (TA) under the Coast Guard must request TA to be authorized at https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ETQC/VOLUNTARY-EDUCATION/Tuition-Assistance/.

  • Once TA is approved please email your TA Authorization Letter to vetsmilitary@harford.edu.
  • We advise you to begin this process early (45 days before the beginning of the semester) as TA must be approved before classes begin.

Soldiers utilizing Military Tuition Assistance (TA) under the Marines must request TA to be authorized at https://usmc-mccs.org/taguide/.

We advise you to begin this process early (45 days before the beginning of the semester) as TA must be approved before classes begin.

Soldiers utilizing Military Tuition Assistance (TA) under the Navy must request TA to be authorized at https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/.

  • Once TA is approved please email your TA Authorization Letter to vetsmilitary@harford.edu.
  • We advise you to begin this process early (45 days before the beginning of the semester) as TA must be approved before classes begin.

USE YOUR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR NONCREDIT PROGRAMS

Students who are military, veterans, or their families who are applying for a noncredit program that is approved for VA Educational benefits should complete the following:

  • Register for the approved noncredit program.
  • Complete and submit the following forms to the Military & Veteran Services Office:
    Harford’s VA Certification Request Form
    Copy of your VA Certificate/Letter of Eligibility


Students who wish to utilize VA Benefits for the approved non-credit classes must begin by supplying their Certificate of Eligibility letter to vetsmilitary@harford.edu and must state which program they wish to use benefits for in that email.