Military and Veteran Resources

Yellow Ribbon Program

If you qualify for the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Yellow Ribbon Program, you may be able to attend SMWC free! SMWC participates in this program for the undergraduate and graduate levels. This is made possible by the passage of the post 9/11 GI Bill. Under this provision, eligible veterans will receive the cost of tuition and fees.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill will pay the veteran the maximum tuition and fee reimbursement for private colleges. SMWC will scholarship the remaining cost of tuition and fees — completely covering the cost of tuition and fees for the student.

Woods Online Military Tuition Discount Grant (available only to students in the WOL program)

Military students and spouses that are active military members or who have served in the military will receive the discount to offer a special tuition rate shown on the Tuition and Fees page. Students must enroll at least half-time, in a degree-seeking program and complete the WOL Military Tuition Discount application, provide DD 214 and marriage certificate (if applicable). Cannot be combined with other institutional awards or scholarships.

Woods Online Military Tuition Discount Rate

Military students and their spouses (if applicable) will receive a special tuition rate shown on the Tuition and Fees page.  To qualify for this rate, students must be enrolled at least half-time and in a degree-seeking program.  This rate cannot be combined with other institutional awards or scholarships.

To be eligible for the special rate, please provide the following:

• Military Tuition Discount Application
• DD 214
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)

Service members Opportunity Colleges (SOC)

SMWC is proud to be a part of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a consortium of national higher education associations working closely with the Department of Defense and all military branches to meet the educational needs of service personnel. The SOC was created in 1972 to provide educational opportunities to servicemembers who, because they frequently moved from place to place, had trouble completing college degrees. SOC functions in cooperation with 15 higher education associations, the Department of Defense, and Active and Reserve Components of the Military Services to expand and improve voluntary post-secondary education opportunities for servicemembers worldwide. SOC is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) through a contract with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The contract is managed for DoD by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). SMWC follows the SOC’s Military Student Bill of Rights.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College recognizes that many adults possess college-level knowledge, competencies and skills acquired through experience, on-the-job training, independent study, or course work completed at non-accredited institutions. The faculty of the college may award academic credit to students for such relevant and significant learning activities that resulted in college-level learning. Academic credit awarded on this basis is known as Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and may be used to meet part of the requirements for a degree (up to 30 semester hours toward the BA/BS degree).

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

For years, the nationally recognized College Level Examination Program (CLEP) has helped millions of students document their college-level learning through exams covering introductory college courses.. Saint Mary-of-the-WoodsCollegeLearning Resource Center offers College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) testing.

The non-refundable testing fee is $100 per exam (includes an $80 exam fee and $20 administrative fee). All eligible military examinees can take the CLEP exam for free! DANTES covers the CLEP exam fee for eligible military personnel and the SMWC $20 administrative fee. To get more information about CLEP testing, visit the CLEP website.

For an application form and list of test sites in your area, contact the Learning Resource Center or visit the College Board CLEP website. Be sure to designate Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (#1704) as the “score recipient” on the application form. Otherwise another test center may require an additional fee to send your test score to us.

Thank you for your interest in SMWC.  As a member of our military community, thank you for your service!

To maximize your veterans benefits you will need to contact your Educational Service Officer (ESO) or counselor within the Military Service prior to enrolling.

SMWC wants to ensure veterans receive their funds in a timely manner. In order to properly certify your educational benefits, we will need certain documentation from the student. 

SMWC does not require veterans to obtain financing such as federal or private loans or to file the FAFSA to cover educational costs while waiting for VA payments to arrive to the school.  However, please note if your VA educational benefits do not cover your costs it is the responsibility of the student to pay the charges accrued.

The following documents are required to certify benefits:

• DD214 or NOBE
• Certificate of Eligibility – you can obtain this from www.VA.gov
• VA Benefits Certification Form – please follow the link to request your benefit be certified for each term.
  • VA Benefits Certification Form

If the student has utilized VA educational benefits at another college, please go to: www.va.gov and complete one of the following:

• VA Form 22-1995 – service member is changing programs.
• VA Form 22-5495 – dependent of a service member is changing programs.

Our staff is trained and ready to assist you through the certification process.  Each School Certifying Official (SCO) is certified annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense.

For more information regarding the certification process or scholarship opportunities please contact one of our SCO’s:

Zach Reel, MS, FAAC®

Director of Financial Aid

812-535-5104 Zachary.Reel@smwc.edu