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Veterans: Put Your GI Bill® Benefits to Work at SANS.edu
SANS.edu is proud to support those who have served with flexible, high-impact programs that help translate military experience into successful cybersecurity careers.
What is covered?
- All distance courses taken as a part of SANS Technology Institute's accredited programs (single courses not approved for GI Bill®)
- Live courses taken within Maryland
- All SANS.edu programs are eligible for GI Bill® education benefits except for the undergraduate certificate program in Cybersecurity Fundamentals and graduate certificate program in Software Supply Chain Security, which are not yet eligible. Alternative options for those programs are the undergraduate certificate program in Applied Cybersecurity and the graduate certificate program in Cloud Security.
How do benefits work?
- Students take courses one at a time
- Most graduate courses qualify for full housing allowance benefits
- Undergraduate courses with accelerated course terms qualify for some housing allowance benefits
- Housing allowance benefits span the entire course term, regardless of modality
How are VA payments made?
- Students can expect to receive payments from the VA at the beginning of each month, for the enrollment period of the previous month.
What should I know if I'm using Chapter 31, Veteran's Readiness and Employment (VR&E) at SANS.edu
Please review this document with your VR&E Counselor. Students using Ch 31 benefits are required to have an approved VR&E Authorization on record prior to starting New Student Orientation (NSO).
Review Document 
Ready to turn your VA Benefits into cyber training? Start here.
1) Before starting New Student Orientation, submit your Certificate of Eligibility from the US VA during your admissions process.
2) If you have never used GI Bill® before, visit www.vets.gov and follow the prompts to apply for the first time. Use the following address:
SANS Technology Institute
11200 Rockville Pike Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852
3) If you have used GI Bill® before, you will need to use these instructions for changing institutions.
To prevent registration delays, we strongly recommend you start this process immediately after submitting your application to the SANS Technology Institute as we cannot certify courses to the VA without your Certificate of Eligibility.
Veterans: Transform Your Skills into a Cyber Career
SANS.edu recognizes the discipline, leadership, and skills veterans bring to cybersecurity. Whether you're transitioning to civilian life or advancing your current role, our degrees and certificates are built to fit your mission.
100% online options are available for all programs.
Success Stories: Student Veterans
Through tailored support and practical hands-on training, SANS.edu helps veterans turn their service-driven skills into cybersecurity leadership.
Brian Davidson
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
For his master’s degree research project, U.S. Marine veteran Brian Davidson created a first-of-its-kind human interface device firewall — a firewall between a keyboard and the computer — that is patent pending. Learn why Brian chose SANS.edu and how his education made him an increasingly valued asset to his employer.
Read More 
Richard “Rick” Halsell Jr.
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Leadership
Richard “Rick“ Halsell Jr. defended the Army against network breaches and today is Principal Security Program Manager at Microsoft. Learn about his career journey and see why this master's degree holder chose to pursue 2 graduate certificates at SANS.edu.
Read More 
Christopher Haller
Graduate Certificate in Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
Christopher Haller beat out more than 6,000 competitors to earn the #1 individual player ranking in the Spring 2022 National Cyber League competition. See why he chose to pursue a graduate certificate at SANS.edu — and learn about his career path from the US Navy to his current role as Principal Security Consultant at Omada Technologies.
Read More 
Danil Karandin
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
Danil Karandin’s journey from Western Siberia to the U.S. Army and ultimately to his role as Lead Purple Team Engineer at Gartner, Inc., reflects his lifelong passion for technology, innovation, and cybersecurity. Discover how his pursuit of advanced degrees and certificates from the SANS Technology Institute significantly impacted his career trajectory and opportunities.
Read More 
Keegan Hamlin
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Keegan Hamlin’s career shift from aircraft maintenance to Cyber Warfare Operations for the U.S. Air Force exemplifies the power adaptability and continuous learning. Discover how earning a bachelor's degree from SANS.edu equipped him with advanced skills and confidence to excel in defending national interests.
Read More 
James Childers
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Graduate Certificate in Incident Response
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Defense Operations
U.S. Army veteran James Childers filled out an application to the SANS Technology Institute the day he discovered the GI Bill® would cover his SANS.edu tuition costs. Learn how the multiple certificates and GIAC certifications James earned at SANS.edu prepared him to become vice president of Cyber Detection and Response at City National Bank. “I am not exaggerating when I say SANS.edu changed my life.”
Read More 
Jordan Wolfe
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
After serving in the Marine Corps, Jordan Wolfe set his sights on a new mission — cybersecurity. Explore how the SANS.edu Applied Cybersecurity Certificate program gave him the skills and confidence to defend organizations and create a safer digital world.
Read More 
Tin Nguyen
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Tin Nguyen’s professional journey has taken him from the United States Marines to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the helm of a Vietnam-based cybersecurity company. Learn how this graduate of the Undergraduate Certificate program in Applied Cybersecurity led the response and recovery efforts for one of the greatest crypto hacks in history.
Read More 
Anthony Messina
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Anthony Messina completed the SANS.edu Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity after earning a bachelor’s in information technology. Learn about his journey from the Marine Corps to a career as a security analyst — and discover why he recommends the security analyst career path to anyone who wants to be on the front line of cybersecurity.
Read More 
For more information from the US VA:
- Visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill. Click on the "Contact Us" tab and then the "Ask a Question" tab.
- Or call the VA toll-free at 1-888- GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
For more information from SANS.edu:
- View the undergraduate course catalog or the graduate course catalog.
Additional Information for US Veterans
What info can SANS.edu provide? | What info can the VA provide? | What info can STUDENTS provide? |
Using GI Bill® at SANS.edu | Eligibility determination | Amount of remaining benefits |
Distance vs. live courses | Payment questions | Current address with the VA & SANS.edu |
Switching GI Bill® to SANS.edu | Amount of remaining benefits | |
Balancing GI Bill® with other funding sources | www.vets.gov |
Education and Training Benefits for Canadian Veterans
Thinking of going back to school after your career in the Canadian military? The Canadian Education and Training Benefit helps qualified Canadian Veterans finance their education — and all SANS.edu programs are eligible.
Get More Info
Discover how the SANS Technology Institute can help you launch or advance your cybersecurity career. Complete this form and we'll send you additional information, invitations to upcoming online info sessions, and updates.
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