Veterans Affairs Banner
Home / Veterans Affairs / Educational Benefits

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

At BHSU, we will accept up to 30 credit hours of non-traditional course work and training. These can come from different sources such as DANTES and ACE Credits. We will be happy to work with you to access your current transcript and what can be used to match the requirements of the program you are interested in pursuing.

 


ACE Credits

The first step in claiming the credits you have earned is to request a transcript from your military service. Each service will provide unofficial personal copies and send BHSU an official copy of your transcript at no charge. Each service branch has its own system for recording military education and experience credits:

Army

  • The Army employs the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System (AARTS). AARTS automatically captures your academic credits from military training, and Standardized tests and provides a transcript in civilian language. The AARTS system is available for enlisted soldiers only. Visit the ArmyIgnited to learn more.

  • Army Officers must use the form DD 295 (Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service) to report their military training and experience.

  • If interested in applying for Federal Tuition Assistance please review the Tuition Assistance instruction page.

Navy and Marine Corp

  • The Navy and Marine Corps utilize the Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART) system. This system provides a description of your military schooling and work history, and standardized test scores. You do not have to be active duty to utilize the SMART system.

  • If interested in applying for Federal Tuition Assistance please review the Tuition Assistance instruction page, or go to Navy College Program

Air Force

  • The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) automatically captures your training, experience, and standardized test scores. This transcript is available for all current and former active duty, guard, and reserve Air Force members. Transcript information may be viewed at the CCAF website.

  • If interested in applying for Federal Tuition Assistance please review the Tuition Assistance instruction page, or go to Air University

Coast Guard

  • The Coast Guard Institute (CGI) requires each service member to submit documentation of all training (except correspondence course records), along with an enrollment form, to receive a transcript. Visit the Coast Guard Voluntary Education web page to learn more about the specific requirements.

  • If interested in applying for Federal Tuition Assistance please review the Tuition Assistance instruction page, or go to the USCG education website. 

Veterans

  • Under most circumstances, Veterans are eligible to use their former service branches’ transcript program. However, if you are not eligible for AARTS, SMART, CCAF, or CGI systems, you will need to fill out form DD-295 and provide your DD-214 Discharge Document to receive credit for your experience.

  • Visit Military.com for links to commonly used Military & VA Forms

Benefits

Black Hills State University is committed to helping veterans and their dependents make the best of their VA educational benefits. Contact BHSU VA Certifying Official, Greg Krajewski at 605.642.6415 with questions.

No matter what benefits you may be eligible for, please consider completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

To check your benefits call 1(888)442-4551 (24 hours a day) or go to eBenefits

GI Bill® Information

Education and Training

‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."

Check your benefits

1(888)442-4551

Chapter 33: The Post 9/11 GI Bill®

  • Apply for Benefits

    • Visit the GI Bill® website to apply. Click on the green button that says, "Find Your Education Benefits Form"

    • Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the BHSU VA Certifying Official (received 6-8 weeks after applying)

    • ‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."

Chapter 30: GI Bill® - Active Duty

  • Apply for Benefits

    • Visit the GI Bill® website to apply. Click on the green button that says, "Find Your Education Benefits Form"

    • DD 214 (provide to Registrar's Office as well)

    • Kicker paperwork (if applicable)

    • Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the VA Certifying Official (received 6-8 weeks after applying)

    • ‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."

Chapter 1606: GI Bill® - National Guard

  • Apply for Benefits

    • Visit the GI Bill® website to apply. Click on the green button that says, "Find Your Education Benefits Form"

    • Contact SGT Lucy Gerry (State GI Bill MGR) to ensure you are coded correctly in the system,

    • NOBE (Notice of Basic Eligibility - DD Form 2384-1)

    • Kicker paperwork (if applicable)

    • DD 214 (provide to Registrar's Office as well)

    • Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the VA Certifying Official (received 6-8 weeks after applying)

    •  
    • ‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."

Chapter 35:  GI Bill® - Survivors & Dependents Education Assistance

Apply for Benefits

  • Visit the GI Bill® website to apply. Click on the green button that says, "Find Your Education Benefits Form"

  • ‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."

Chapter 31: GI Bill® - Vocational Rehabilitation

Apply for Benefits

Meet with Voc Rehab counselor to complete paperwork:

VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment

2050 West Main St. Suite 8

Rapid City, SD 57702

Phone: (605)341-8165

Notify BHSU VA Certifying Official when registered for classes

‘‘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 http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."

Air/Army National Guard Federal Tuition Assistance

Go to the Tuition Assistance webpage for information and application procedures.

Air/Army National Guard State Tuition Assistance

  • Army Guard: Go to the State TA website to apply and or contact your Education Service Officer, CW2 Ryan Williamson at (605)737-6087.

  • Air Guard: Contact your Education Service Officer, SMSgt Langloss at (605)988-5461.


For questions about benefits, please use the following resources:

GI Bill Website

The GI Bill website should be the first stop for student questions. It contains information, online application for benefits, change program/school forms, etc. 

VA Education Call Center

(888)442-4551

This is where students can verify benefits, follow up on payments, and ask general questions. 

eBenefits

Here students can check their benefits status as well as the number of benefits remaining. 

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program provides an opportunity for students to receive college credit for learning acquired outside the traditional college classroom. BHSU administers the DSST exams year-round in the Office for Academic Success

The following is a list of DSST tests along with the minimum scores acceptable for granting college credit within the South Dakota Public University System.

 

Required Score

45 Credit Hours

BHSU Prefix & Number

Course Title

Prin. Financial Accounting

49

3

ACCT 210

Principles of Accounting I

Anthropology, General

47

3

ANTH 210

Cultural Anthropology

Art of the Western World

48

 

 

Decision pending

Finance, Principles of

46

3

BADM 310

Business Finance

Business Law II

52

3

BADM 351

Business Law

Organizational Behavior

48

 

 

Decision pending

Principles of Supervision

46

3

BADM

Electives

Business, Introduction to

46

3

BADM

Electives

Personal Finance

46

3

BADM

Electives

Criminal Justice

49

3

CJUS 201

Introduction to Criminal Justice

Intro. Law Enforcement

45

3

CJUS

Electives

Money and Banking

48

3

ECON 330

Money and Banking

Education, Foundations of

46

1-2

EDFN 338

Foundations/American Education

Writing, Technical

46

3

ENGL 379

Technical Communication

Geography, Human/Cultural

48

3

GEOG 101

Intro to Geography

Geology, Physical

46

3

GEOL 201

Physical Geology

Western Europe 1945

48

3

HIST

Electives

Intro Modern Middle East

44

3

HIST 313

History of the Middle East

Civil War & Reconstruction

47

3

HIST 455

American Civil War & Reconstruction

A History/Vietnam War

49

3

HIST 459

Vietnam War, 1945-1975

Human Resource Mgmt.

46

3

BADM 417

Human Resource Management

Intro World Religions

49

3

REL 250

World Religion

Environment & Humanity: Race to Save Planet

46

3

SCI

Electives

Fund. of College Algebra

47

3

MATH 102

College Algebra

Statistics, Principles of

48

3

MATH 281

Introduction to Statistics

Computing, Introduction to

47

3

MIS 105

Introduction to Computers

Management Info. Systems

46

3

MIS 325

Management Information Systems

Public Speaking, Principles of

47

3

SPCM 101

Fundamentals of Speech

Ethics in America

46

3

PHIL 220

Introduction to Ethics

Prin. Physical Science I,

47

3

PHSI

Electives

Astronomy

48

2-3

PHYS 185

Introduction to Astronomy

PSYC Lifespan Developmental

46

3

PSYC 221

Lifespan Develop. Psychology

Fundamentals Counseling

45

3

PSYC

Electives

Here’s to Your Health

48

 

WEL 100

Wellness for Life