Veteran and military-connected students: Good reasons to maximize your education benefits at CLC
Published February 11, 2026
College of Lake County (CLC) is a top choice for veterans and military-connected students.
Why?
- CLC is nearby. Naval Station Great Lakes is near CLC campuses in Waukegan, Grayslake and Vernon Hills, Illinois. The school is accessible to members of all service branches and their dependents. CLC also offers online courses.
- CLC is military friendly. CLC was named the #5 best overall Military Friendly® School in the U.S. in the Large Community College category for the 2024-2025 academic year. It also is recognized for being military spouse friendly.
- CLC provides comprehensive support. Our Veteran Student Services experts help you and your beneficiaries:
- Apply to college and enroll in classes
- Access federal, U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and state education benefits
- Transition to college and navigate campus
- Get transfer credit
- Use CLC resources for academic success
- Connect with other students through clubs, programs and our Veterans Lounge
- Navigate local and federal programs and resources
Using your benefits is easier when you have expert support
Knowing how to get and use your education benefits can be a challenge. And many students don’t fully understand what their benefits include,” says Genesis Silva. She is CLC’s financial aid coordinator for veteran services.
Take, for instance, Mariah Vargas-Lopez. Her father served in the military. As his dependent, she is a beneficiary. She learned about the benefits available to her while she was applying to CLC. Since then, she’s relied on guidance from Veteran Student Services to help her navigate the process.
“I’ve been receiving help my entire time at CLC,” she says. “The benefits can be difficult, but I have a lot of help figuring it all out.”
According to Silva, you can overcome common hurdles by doing the following:
Submit a Request for Certification each semester
“As soon as students enroll in their courses, they should immediately submit a Request for Certification,” says Silva. “The earlier you do this, the sooner I can certify your benefits. You’ll get your monthly stipend faster and tuition and fees paid quicker.”
If you have an outstanding balance due for a school term, it’s usually because the Request for Certification is missing, says Silva.
Maintain academic progress requirements
“Each benefit type, federal and state, has its own requirements for eligibility,” says Silva. You may need to maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) and successfully complete a certain number of courses each semester. Your benefits will be paused if you don’t meet the requirements.
CLC provides resources to help you succeed in school. These include free and low-cost tutoring, technology, childcare and support for personal well-being. Discover student resources at CLC.
Learn how stipends, tuition and fee payments work
“It's important to understand how your benefits and monthly stipends work. When you have a clear picture of how your tuition and fees are getting paid, you can worry less about school costs and focus entirely on being a student. A clear understanding of your financial aid empowers you to plan for the future and make the most of your benefits,” says Silva. CLC experts will help you learn what to expect and what your responsibilities are.
Apply for financial aid
“Veterans and military-connected students should apply for FAFSA and scholarships. They can use this type of financial aid in addition to their benefits,” says Silva.
She offered two more tips:
- Make sure your contact information with Veterans Affairs (VA) is accurate. This includes your banking information.
- If you must withdraw from courses, notify your instructor, Academic Success Advisor at CLC, and school certifying official (SCO). “Doing so can reduce the amount you may have to repay to the VA,” says Silva.
Learn from others like you
Join peers for fellowship and problem solving by getting involved in CLC clubs and programs. Hang out in our Veterans Lounge.
Daniel Gil is a student who served in the Army from 2018 to 2021. He appreciates the help he received each step of his journey at CLC, from figuring out finances to registering for classes. One highlight for him is the weekly veterans club gatherings.
“We meet up and just hang out,” Gil says. “We talk about our experiences or any benefits. If we have any questions, there’s always someone right there to help.”
Explore military and veteran benefits
Artificial intelligence was used to organize and summarize this article. Guidance, tips and quotes from CLC experts and students are expressly their own.