Central Maine Community College has been designated as a 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School by G.I. Jobs, the premier publication for military personnel transitioning into civilian life.

We are dedicated to your success and will support you as you transition from military to college life, from your first contact with Central Maine Community College. CMCC offers in-state tuition rates for veterans, active-duty military personnel, spouses, and children.

We are an approved institution for the training of veterans as well as the spouses and children of qualified veterans.  Applicants eligible for veteran education benefits are encouraged to contact John Bowie, school certifying official (SCO) for veteran benefits as soon as they apply for admission.  The SCO is located in the Office of Financial Aid and may be reached at jbowie@cmcc.edu or by calling (207) 755-5432.

Maine veterans and their families are strongly encouraged to also contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services to self-identify for purposes of applying for additional veteran education benefits offered through the State of Maine. We also encourage you to review the Maine Veteran’s Benefits and Resources Guide, which provides information on a broad range of benefits, services, and veterans-related organizations.

Central Maine Community College participates in the following programs:

• Post 9/11 GI Bill®
• Montgomery GI Bill®
• Dependents Education Assistance Program
• Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Training
• State of Maine Tuition Waiver and Fee Waiver Program
• Reserve Educational Assistance Program,
• Dependents Education Assistance Program
• Fry Scholarship
• Tuition Assistance for active-duty military personnel
• Maine Army National Guard Tuition Waiver program
• MyCAA program for spouses of active-duty military personnel

Steps for new students eligible for veteran education benefits

1. Apply for your benefits with the Veterans Administration. Once you have successfully submitted the application, please allow VA at least four weeks to process your information. When finished, VA will provide you with a Certificate of Eligibility. It is very important that you bring this Certificate of Eligibility to SCO in the CMCC Office of Financial Aid.
2. If you are the spouse or child of a veteran from Maine and are interested in applying for the State of Maine Tuition and Fee Waiver program, review the eligibility information and download an application at the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services Educational Benefits The completed application should be returned to the address listed on the top of the form.
3. Complete CMCC’s admissions application process. The CMCC admissions office will keep you informed of the status of your application and the next steps.
4. Request your military transcript(s), so CMCC can assess potential academic credit for your military schools and training. The SCO in the Office of Financial Aid can assist you with this process. In addition, please review other ways of earning credit for prior learning. You can also learn more about college transfer credit at CMCC.
   1. If you are a veteran of the Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard, use the Joint Services Transcript System to request your military transcripts. See the JST Military Crosswalk for CMCC course equivalences. If you do not see your course listed, contact CMCC’s associate academic dean at (207) 755-5286.
   2. If you are a veteran of the Air Force, request your military transcript from the Community College of the Air Force.
5. While not required, we encourage all students to complete the financial aid application process by filing the FAFSA. Many veterans and their families qualify for grants and scholarships in addition to their veteran education benefits. The staff in the Office of Financial Aid can assist you if you have questions.
6. Make time to stop to see the SCO in the Office of Financial Aid, when you come to your assigned New Student Orientation. If you have not already provided it, bring your Certificate of Eligibility with you. If you have not applied yet for benefits, it is still a good idea to meet with the SCO to get your questions answered.

Additional Resources

Veterans, active-duty service personnel, and their families have many free resources available to help them make the right choice about how to pay for college:

• The GI Bill® Comparison Tool is available to help veterans choose the right GI Bill® program that best fits their educational goals.
• The College Scorecard is a planning tool and resource to assist prospective students and their families.
• The College Navigator is a consumer tool that provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates, and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool.
• The Paying for College site can be used by prospective students to enter the names of up to three schools and receive detailed financial information on each one and enter actual financial aid award information.