background
Since its founding, Christendom College has declined participation in federal student loan and grant programs (Title IV) in order to safeguard its freedom to teach the truth without compromise. This commitment remains unchanged.
At the same time, the College has always been proud to serve military families. Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits are not loans or institutional grants, but earned benefits provided to veterans and their families in recognition of military service.
Christendom College is approved to participate as an eligible institution for all Veterans Affairs education benefits. Under the current regulatory framework, these benefits are administered separately from Title IV and do not subject the College to the Title IV regulatory framework it has always deliberately avoided.
The College has also expanded the Military Service Scholarship to better serve military families. The scholarship works in conjunction with VA benefits to provide an unprecedented level of support for military families, making Christendom an ideal destination for veterans and their families.
VA Education Benefits
Christendom College has been approved to participate in VA education benefits programs, with approval granted by the State Approving Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Approved programs include the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program (Chapter 35), the Montgomery GI Bill for active duty and Selected Reserve (Chapters 30 and 1606), and Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31).
If you are eligible for VA education benefits, we invite you to apply through the VA. Information on the application process, rates, certification, and monthly verification is available in our VA Education Benefits Guide. Christendom’s facility code is 31001546.
Survivors and dependents of service members who died in the line of duty may be eligible for either the Fry Scholarship, which is administered under Chapter 33 and pays tuition and fees to the College along with a monthly housing allowance, or for Chapter 35. The election between the two is generally irrevocable. Families in this situation should contact the Financial Aid Office before applying.
Please note that VA education benefit rules, rates, and procedures are set by the VA and are subject to change. Students and families should verify all details with the appropriate VA officials before making decisions.
VA Education Call Center: 1-888-442-4551
VA website: www.va.gov/education
Ask VA (online inquiries): ask.va.gov
Military Service Scholarship
All students enrolled in or entering Christendom for the 2026-2027 academic year will receive financial aid as already promised to them; they should contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions. The program described below applies to students entering in the fall of 2027 and thereafter.
Because most VA education benefits programs do not cover the full cost of education at Christendom, the College offers a donor-funded Military Service Scholarship as a source of additional financial aid for eligible students.
Students receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays tuition and fees directly to the College, up to an annual maximum set by the VA for private institutions and in proportion to the student’s eligibility percentage. The Military Service Scholarship covers the remaining tuition and fees, including for students whose VA eligibility is below 100 percent. Students enrolled more than half-time also receive a monthly housing allowance paid directly to them, which in most cases covers the cost of room and board, along with a book stipend. Current costs are listed on our cost of attendance page.
Students receiving Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance
Chapter 35 benefits are paid directly to the student as a monthly stipend and may be applied to any educational expense. Because no tuition is paid to the College on the student’s behalf, eligible Chapter 35 students receive a Military Service Scholarship of at least $2,500, with additional institutional aid available toward tuition and fees. The student remains responsible for room and board.
Students whose family benefits are limited or exhausted
Additional Military Service Scholarship funds may be available to students whose family members have exhausted their transferable GI Bill benefits, or whose benefits are otherwise limited. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
Use of VA and state benefits
Students entering Christendom in the fall of 2027 and thereafter are required to apply for and use the VA education benefits for which they are eligible. The Military Service Scholarship supplements those benefits; it is not offered in place of them.
Virginia residents are required to apply for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, a state grant for Virginia domiciliaries attending private colleges in the Commonwealth. Certain dependents of service members qualify under the Code of Virginia even when the family maintains domicile in another state. For students receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, this grant may be applied toward room and board. The Financial Aid Office can determine whether you are eligible and provide the application.
The Military Service Scholarship is donor-funded with a goal of honoring the sacrifices of our military families by providing an unprecedented level of support to our military families. The college seeks to offer the maximum level of scholarship support possible. However, because scholarship funds are dependent on donor funding, awards are not guaranteed and are made at the discretion of the Scholarship Committee, subject to annual application and availability of funds.
Application process
Students should contact the Financial Aid Office to begin the process and determine eligibility under the Military Service Scholarship.
Depending on the student’s circumstances, documentation may include:
- A current Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Documentation of prior or exhausted benefits
- Military service documentation (such as a DD-214)
- Additional materials as requested by the Financial Aid Office
Documentation may be required annually in order to renew scholarship eligibility.
New awards are determined each year. Continuing students who hold an award renew it subject to the eligibility requirements below. Deadlines and requirements are communicated directly to applicants by the Financial Aid Office.
Eligibility requirements
Military Service Scholarship recipients must:
- Be enrolled full-time at Christendom College
- Remain in good academic standing
- Live on campus; students who wish to live off campus must request approval from the Financial Aid Office, and exceptions are made for veterans, married students, and certain programs
- Apply for the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant if eligible
Eligibility is open to a broad range of military-connected students, including:
- Veterans
- Dependents of veterans
- Students using Veterans Affairs education benefits
- Students whose family benefits are limited or have been exhausted
- Other military families
New Students
Prospective students interested in the Military Service Scholarship should:
- Apply for admission to Christendom College
- Submit a deposit once accepted
- Contact the Financial Aid Office to begin the scholarship review process
Because the scholarship depends on donor support, the College reserves the right to amend or discontinue the program at any time.
Contact
For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office:
Miss Sarah Scarchilli, Financial Aid Officer
sarah.scarchilli@christendom.edu / (540) 551-9126
Mr. Philip Ashton, Chief Financial Officer and School Certifying Official
philip.ashton@christendom.edu / (540) 551-9163
Federal Funding Disclaimer: Please note that the college reserves the right to withdraw at any time from participation in Veterans Benefits if government regulations require participation in Title IV or any federal mandates that will interfere with Christendom’s independence. Should the college do so, it will work with any student receiving federal funding to create a financial aid package that will assist them to the degree possible in continuing their education at Christendom.