Getting Started

The Ventura College Veterans Resource Center is here to assist you in reaching your educational goals. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Prospective active duty seeking to use TA should speak with their ESO or Counselor within their military service prior to enrolling. Once completed, they may apply.

Steps to Taking Courses at Ventura College

  1. Apply for Admission. This is a two-step process. You will be guided to create a username and password for the California Community College District. Complete information there and this will lead to a secondary application to Ventura College.
  2. Check your email: You will receive an email from Ventura College which can take up to 48 hours to receive. This email provides your student identification 900# and further instructions for you to follow.
  3. Set up student portal: The email from Ventura College has a link to a wizard that will help you to set up your student portal. Make sure to write down your username which will be assigned to you by the district. You will create your own password.
  4. Attend online orientation: This is to be accessed through your My Success tab in your student portal. Click on the Orientation link. The orientation process(typically takes ten minutes or less.
  5. Obtain transcripts: Pull your Joint Services Transcripts to validate your military occupational experience. If you attended any other colleges, please have your official transcripts sent to the Admissions & Records office one to two weeks prior to your counseling appointment.
  6. Schedule Educational Plan Appointment: Steps 1-5 need to be completed before scheduling an appointment. Please call (805) 289-6060 to meet with an academic counselor.

Residency

If you applied and received an email stating you are not a California resident but you are here on orders, please do the following:

  1. Please contact your School Certifying Official to see if residency classification is possible.
  2. Obtain an electronic copy of your orders which specify that you are stationed in California.
  3. To review residency forms for tuition purposes, please click on Forms and scroll down to the bar titled “Residency & AB540”.

Paying for College

Guidelines to help you cover the cost of attending Ventura College:

  • Apply for free money to pay for tuition as well as offset the cost of books through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Tuition Assistance (TA): Speak with your command to determine whether you are eligible for TA. You may also use TA Decide to make an informed decision regarding colleges. (see additional information below)
  • If you are eligible for TA also speak with your Education Service Officer (ESO) for further guidance.
  • Net Price Calculator: The net price calculator is a tool for students and parents to use to get an estimate of what it may cost to attend Ventura College each year. The “net price” (cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships) is the amount students and/or their families will have to cover with work, savings, and/or loans.

For further assistance with Financial Aid please contact (805) 289-6369.

About Tuition Assistance 

Link to VA Website:  Military Tuition Assistance (TA).

Link to Military.com Website: Military.Com TA Overview

 The VA does not administer TA.  TA rules vary by branch of service and can even vary between components within the branches depending on whether the Service member is Active duty, Reserve, or National Guard. If a student receives education benefits from the VA and receives TA benefits from the military, duplication of benefits may be an issue. The issue might involve VA regulations, DoD regulations, military branch specific regulations or all three since VA, DoD, and the military branches all have regulations about receiving VA benefits and TA at the same time. It is the student’s responsibility to speak with their case manager, and/or the VA, as necessary, to resolve such matters.

Current Tuition Assistance rules for each branch:

Deployment

You can apply for a Military Withdrawal Petition.

  • Contact your Counselor as soon as you receive your orders to determine how this will impact your Ed Plan moving forward and educational goals.
  • Students requesting military withdrawal must be prepared to present a written request for withdrawal and military orders verifying the dates and location of military assignment compelling withdrawal from classes to Admissions & Records. Without this, petition cannot be approved.
  • Military withdrawal may be requested at any time upon your return to college.
  • Military withdrawals will not be counted as one of the three enrollment attempts allowed to achieve a passing grade, or in the calculation of academic progress for the determination of academic standing.

Books

To find books required for your classes, please have your class schedule and visit our campus bookstore's course materials finder. You can also use the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) for the textbooks required for your classes to search elsewhere online. You will find the ISBN on our bookstore site for the books your instructor requires.