CHAPTER 30 Montgomery GI Bill® for Active Duty
The Montgomery GI Bill® program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship or on-the-job training and correspondence courses but must be pre-approved by the Veterans Administration. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.
Chapter 30 (MGIB-AD) is a stipend-based program only. Therefore, no tuition and fees are covered.
CHAPTER 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment
A veteran of World War II or thereafter may be eligible for Chapter 31 benefits if they have a service-connected disability (20 percent or higher) that entitles them to VA disability compensation, and if they are in need of vocational rehabilitation because their disability creates an employment handicap. Vocational rehabilitation may be provided for up to 48 months, and an eligible veteran now generally has 12 years from discharge or release from active duty to use these benefits. Disabled veterans are encouraged to contact the regional VA office in their area to obtain detailed information and to request VA form #28-1900, Disabled Veteran’s Application for Vocational Rehabilitation.
CHAPTER 32 VEAP (Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program)
VEAP is available to veterans who first entered active duty between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, and elected to make contributions from their military pay to participate in this education benefit program. These contributions were matched on a $2-for-$1 basis by the government. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship or on-the-job training, and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Chapter 32 (VEAP) is a stipend-based program only. Therefore, no tuition and fees are covered.
CHAPTER 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You need to have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The benefit is capped annually at private institutions such as USC.
CHAPTER 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program
The children and/or spouse of a veteran may be eligible for educational assistance if the veteran died while on active duty; died after release or discharge from active duty for a service-connected disability (80-100 percent); became permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-connected disability; died while a service-connected disability was rated permanent and total; or has been listed as missing in action, captured, detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power for more than 90 days. Eligible persons are entitled to 45 months of educational assistance and are paid benefits on the same basis as a veteran with no dependents.
Chapter 35 (DEA) is a stipend-based program only. Therefore, no tuition and fees are covered.
CHAPTER 1606 or 1607 Montgomery GI Bill® for Selected Reserve
Basic eligibility exists for a person who (after June 30, 1985) enlists, reenlists or extends an enlistment in the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. An eligible reservist is entitled to a maximum of educational assistance available, based on full-time training (or the equivalent based on three-quarter or half-time training.)
Chapter 1606 and 1607 (MGIB-SR) are stipend-based programs only. Therefore, no tuition and fees are covered.
CHAPTER 1607 Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) 160
REAP was established as part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation), as declared by the president or Congress. This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, either eligible for education benefits or increased benefits.
Benefits NOT Covered
Recommended courses: The VA will NOT pay for recommended courses—only required ones.
Withdrawals: Course withdrawals may result in your being required to repay the VA (VA debt). Please visit the VA website to review related details.
Repeated courses: The VA will pay for repeated courses if you received any of the following grades: “F,” “NP,” “NC,” “W,” “UW,” or “IX” on your original attempt. University course repetition limits apply. The VA will NOT pay for repeated courses that are Incomplete (IN) or In-Progress (IP).
Repeated courses that were successfully completed will not be re-certified. However, if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular course, you may repeat it and have it certified. (The requirement must be listed in the school catalogue.)
Example 1: If a nursing program requires a “B” or better in Biology, you may repeat the course if you did not earn a “B” or better.
Example 2: If a course is required for graduation, you may repeat the course until it is successfully completed so long as your program of study allows it.
Example 3: If you choose to repeat a course that you previously completed simply in order to improve your GPA, that course cannot be re-certified.
Non-mandatory fees: The VA will NOT pay for non-mandatory fees such as commitment deposits (usually refunded by your program of study upon attending USC), meal plans, USC housing, parking permit, tuition refund insurance, fraternity/sorority dues, athletic events, etc. Parking permits are only covered for Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation recipients. Ch. 31 does not cover USC health insurance.
Travel costs: The VA will NOT pay for travel or lodging fees if you choose to register in elective courses or study abroad programs that require travel. The VA will only pay for travel and lodging fees if your degree or certificate program requires it to graduate, e.g., for an MBA, MBA.PM, etc.
Please note: Study abroad is not approved for VA funding. Email us to request VA approval for study abroad. VA approval is not guaranteed. More details are available in FAQ 28.
Rounding out: The VA will pay for a limited number of non-required courses that will elevate your final semester’s standing to full-time—for example, if you only need 4 units to graduate but require 8 units to be considered full-time. This is what the VA calls “rounding out” and can only be done once, during your final semester. You must notify the VA Certifying Official that you plan to round out.