Cal State University has seen a 17% rise in military-affiliated students since 2019, outpacing its overall enrollment growth of 2.9%. This group includes 7,369 veterans or active service members and roughly twice as many dependents, according to CSU officials.
The increase is driven by a 22% jump in veterans’ spouses and children, who are eligible for federal aid. Officials attribute this to the children of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans reaching college age. Dependents of veterans who have died or been permanently disabled due to their service are also eligible for benefits for up to 36 months.
A Smooth Transition from Military to Campus
Over 80% of student veterans transfer to Cal State from community colleges, a statistic that shows the importance of seamless transitions. Veterans Resource Centers (VRCs) on all 22 CSU campuses play a key role in this process, offering academic support, financial guidance, and a sense of community. These centers help students work through the complexities of higher education, ensuring they can access the benefits they’ve earned through their service.
Marshall Thomas, CSU’s director of Veteran Affairs, emphasizes the collaborative effort behind this success. “We play a really active role in that transition,” he said. “It’s a partnership, certainly, between the community colleges and us,” Thomas said. This partnership has been instrumental in creating “warm handoffs” between systems, ensuring veterans and their dependents receive consistent support as they move from community colleges to four-year programs.
The VRCs help students work through the complex world of financial aid, which can be overwhelming for those transitioning from military to civilian life. Benefits like the Post 9/11 GI Bill and the CalVet Fee Waiver cover tuition, fees, housing, and books for eligible veterans and their dependents. These programs not only ease the financial burden but also provide a foundation for academic success, allowing students to focus on their studies rather than financial stress.
Building a Community for Veterans
Alex Ortega, who leads the VRC at Cal State Fullerton, notes that many veterans struggle with feeling behind their peers. Despite this, veteran students in his program maintain an average GPA of 3.15, a sign of their resilience and the support they receive. Ortega’s team works to bridge the gap between military and academic life, supporting a sense of belonging that is key for student success.
Many veterans are first-generation college students, starting their four-year programs in their mid-20s, often after years of service. Erica Campos, a Navy veteran, is one such student. After leaving the military, she was unsure of her benefits. With help from Ortega and his team, she worked through the financial aid process and is now pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Her journey exemplifies the transformative impact of the VRCs, which not only provide resources but also empower students to pay it forward.
Campos now works with female veterans at the VRC, aiming to create a community for women who served. “I’m grateful for the Veterans Resource Center because it gave me a community, it gave me people, it gave me resources,” she said. Her work highlights the unique challenges faced by female veterans, who often have fewer opportunities to connect with peers who share their experiences. Through her efforts, Campos is helping to build a supportive network that addresses these gaps.
Looking Ahead
Thomas, CSU’s Veteran Affairs director, said one of the core missions of VRCs is to create clear pathways for this unique student population to access higher education. “The United States has been creating veterans for 251 years now. We’re not going to stop,” he said. “We need to be prepared to work with them and their dependents as they come to us, and they will.”
