Military Educational Benefits

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 Webs site at http://www.benefis.va.gov/gibill.

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below. 

• Using Military Educational Benefits at UVA
• Virginia Tuition Status
• Choice Act
• Transfer and Prior Credit
• Yellow Ribbon
• VA Delayed Payment Compliance
• Facility Compliance for Chapter 31
• Questions

The University of Virginia is proud to serve all military affiliated students including active duty, veterans, reservists, National Guard members and dependents in pursuing their academic and professional goals and maximizing the use of their educational benefits at the University. 

The Military Educational Benefits (MEB) team serves as the liaison between military-affiliated students and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), State Approving Agency (SAA), and other stakeholders. The MEB team facilitates the certification of state and federal educational benefits.

We strive to be a military-friendly university.

Using Military Educational Benefits at UVA

1. ​Submit a Military Educational Benefits Request (MEBR) form. A new MEBR form is due before each semester that you wish to use your benefits. Students should submit this once they        are enrolled in courses or approximately 8 weeks prior to the start of the term.

• ​​You can access the MEBR here: https://registrar.virginia.edu/forms#military 

2. Submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to show eligibility.

• If you haven’t received a COE from the VA, visit https://www.va.gov/education/ to apply for benefits or you can obtain this information from your VA.gov account. A copy of your Statement of Benefits may also be submitted in lieu of the COE. The document can be attached with the MEBR submission or emailed as a separate document. 

3. If you used benefits at another school, complete the VA Form 22-1995 or 22-5495 to notify the VA of the change. 

Only courses that apply to your degree or certificate plan will be certified.

Please note that we do not certify ineligible charges like books, meals, housing, health insurance, etc. Students are expected to use the housing allowance, book stipend, and/or outside funding to cover any charges we do not certify and any balance that remains on the account after VA payment.​ Components of Mandatory Fees can be found here: https://sfs.virginia.edu/tuition.

Please consult with the Military Educational Benefits (MEB) team at veteransbenefits@virginia.edu prior to withdrawing or making schedule changes to determine impacts to your military educational benefits.

Students are responsible for ensuring their enrollment has been certified correctly.

Contact Information:

UREG (Office of the University Registrar)
1001 North Emmet Street
PO Box 400203
Charlottesville, VA 22904
Phone: (434) 924-4122
Fax: (434) 924-4156
veteransbenefits@virginia.edu

Payments from the VA are expected, not guaranteed. Students are responsible for any balance that remains on their account. All decisions pertaining to benefit eligibility and payments are made by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Please direct all payment questions to the Department of Veterans Affairs at (888) 442-4551.

Please note: Your VA educational benefits will impact certain financial aid eligibility. The Military Educational Benefits will be included as a financial resource in your financial aid award package and may reduce state grants, University grants, federal loans and work study, and private loans. Each financial aid award type is different, so the Military Educational Benefits may affect each person’s award differently. Please contact Student Financial Services for questions about how your Military Educational Benefits may impact your financial aid at sfs@virginia.edu or 434.982.6000.

University students who are in the military reserves or the National Guard of the United States who are called to active duty after the beginning of a semester or summer session should consult the University’s policy on Active Duty in the Military.

Resources: Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines

Virginia Tuition Status

The Code of Virginia, Section 23-7.4 provides alternate paths to in-state privileges. One is based upon the establishment of Virginia domicile; the other on present, active duty in the military coupled with residence in Virginia. The latter allows honorably discharged military veterans to receive in-state tuition. If an applicant is not eligible based upon Virginia domicile, ask whether he or she may be entitled based upon a military parent, spouse or legal guardian’s active duty or service as a veteran.

Certain Veterans and active duty military personnel who live in Virginia may qualify for in-state tuition status. For more information, contact the Office of Virginia Status at 434-982-3391 or at vastatus@virginia.edu.

Choice Act

In accordance with Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act, the University establishes the following guidelines on in-state tuition for eligible veterans and dependents.

Eligibility for In-State Tuition for Veterans, Spouses, and Children Using Educational Benefits

You may be eligible for in-state tuition if you meet all the following requirements:

• You’re receiving benefits under one of the following programs:
• Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
• Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)
• Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)
• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35; effective August 1, 2022)
• You qualify as a “covered individual” (explained below for Veterans, spouses, and children).
• You live in the state where your school is located at the time of enrollment (regardless of your formal state of residence).

Eligibility Requirements for Veterans

To qualify as a “covered individual” as a Veteran, you must:

• Have served on active duty for at least 90 days since September 10, 2001.

*Note: Coverage under Section 702 of the Veterans Choice Act only applies after discharge. It does not cover active-duty members or those in the Active Guard Reserve (AGR).

Eligibility Requirements for Spouses and Children

To qualify as a “covered individual” as a spouse or child, one of the following must apply:

• You’re using education benefits transferred from an active-duty servicemember or Veteran.
• You’re using benefits under the Fry Scholarship, and the Veteran served on active duty for at least 90 days before their death.
• Starting August 1, 2022, if you’re using DEA benefits under Chapter 35, you’re also eligible for in-state tuition.

Keeping Your Covered Status

You will retain your “covered individual” status and in-state tuition eligibility as long as you remain continuously enrolled at the same institution, aside from standard breaks between courses, semesters, or terms. However, if you withdraw and re-enroll, your covered status may be impacted.

DEMONSTRATING ELIGIBILITY:

To demonstrate eligibility for in-state tuition rate, a student must:

1. Indicate intent to use the Choice Act when submitting a Military Educational Benefits Request Form (MEBR).
2. Submit one of the required documents listed below:
   1. DD Form 214 discharge document which must indicate: at least 90 days of Net Active Service; and honorable discharge.
   2. DD Form 1300 Report of Casualty document, if student is using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.
   3. Copy of active military orders, if student is using transferred benefits and transferor is on active duty.
3. Provide proof of Commonwealth of Virginia address.

*Student is responsible for demonstrating eligibility for in-state tuition under the Choice Act.

Questions

Active duty servicemembers should work with the Office of Virginia Status for in-state privileges. More information on establishing Virginia domicile for military-affiliated students can be found on the Office of Virginia Status website: Active Duty, Retired and Discharged Military Members | Office of Virginia Status.

Please note: 

Your VA educational benefits will impact certain financial aid eligibility. Veterans benefits will be included as a financial resource in your financial aid award package and may reduce state grants, University grants, federal loans and work study, and private loans. Each financial aid award type is different, so the VA benefit may affect each person’s award differently. Please contact Student Financial Services for questions about how your Veterans benefits may impact your financial aid at sfs@virginia.edu or 434.982.6000.

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.

Transfer and Prior Credit

The institution maintains a written record of the previous education and training of the veteran or eligible person. Each program indicates when appropriate credit has been given for previous education and training, the training period will be shortened proportionately and the eligible person and VA so notified.

Yellow Ribbon

The Yellow Ribbon Program can help you pay for higher out-of-state, private school, or graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill^® doesn’t cover. The Post-9/11 GI Bill^® pays up to all public in-state tuition and fees. However, additional funds may be available to the student through the Yellow Ribbon program. Institutions that voluntarily enter into a Yellow Ribbon Program Agreement with VA choose the amount of tuition and feeds to contribute. VA will match that amount and directly pay the institution up to 50% of the difference.

Applications will be accepted beginning August 1st for the upcoming academic year. Funds are granted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Yellow Ribbon funds can pay up to 50% of the difference of what the student owes.

Who Is Eligible?

Individuals below who are entitled to the maximum benefit level, based on service requirements, may receive this funding.

• Those who served at least 36 months of active duty after Sept 10, 2001
• Purple Heart recipients with an honorable discharge and any amount of service
• Service members who were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 days in a row after Sept 10, 2001
• A dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill^®
• Fry Scholarship recipients using benefits on or after August 1, 2018

Starting August 1, 2022, you may become eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program if you’re currently an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level (you already served on active duty for at least 36 months) or if you’re a spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who meets these qualifications.

Please note: Your VA educational benefits will impact certain financial aid eligibility. Veterans benefits will be included as a financial resource in your financial aid award package and may reduce state grants, University grants, federal loans and work study, and private loans. Each financial aid award type is different, so the VA benefit may affect each person’s award differently. Please contact Student Financial Services for questions about how your Veterans benefits may impact your financial aid at sfs@virginia.edu or 434-982-6000.

Yellow Ribbon Contacts:

Undergraduate:
Kerstin Lopez
veteransbenefits@virginia.edu

Darden:
Jennifer Hulvey
hulveyj@darden.virginia.edu

Law:
Matt Wakeman
mwakeman@law.virginia.edu

Batten:
Amanda Crombie
ajcrombie@virginia.edu

Commerce Graduate:
Cathy Fox
cjf3d@virginia.edu

Data Science Graduate:
Degi Betcher
rqz3tq@virginia.edu

VA Delayed Payment Compliance

A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Veteran Readiness and Employment, Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill^® benefits, or Chapter 35, Dependent’s Educational Assistance (DEA).

Covered individuals shall be permitted to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to the educational institution a certificate of eligibility (COE) for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.

Covered individuals are also required to:

1. Submit a Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of the University Registrar no later than the first day of classes.
2. Submit a Military Educational Benefits Request (MEBR) form.
3. Submit a VA Form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training, if the student has used their educational benefits at another institution.

The University of Virginia will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33 of this title.

Facility Compliance for Chapter 31

A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment. 

1. Covered individuals are permitted to attend or participate in the course(s) of education during the period beginning on the date the covered individual provides to the facility a valid VA authorization, such as a VAF 28-1905 form for Chapter 31 VR&E beneficiaries, and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
   1. The date on which tuition/fees (T&F) payment from the VA is made to the facility.
   2. 90 days after the date the facility submits a valid T&F invoice to the VA following receipt of the VA authorization.
2. UVA will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees; the denial of access to classes, libraries or other institutional facilities; or require any covered individual to borrow additional funds due to delayed T&F payment from the VA under Chapter 31 VR&E.

Questions

If you are an active-duty service member or a veteran who was honorably discharged, please contact the Office of Virginia Status for questions on in-state eligibility.

All oither documents and questions can be sent to veteransbenefits@virginia.edu.

The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA) is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. The SAA, VA and our office investigates complaints of GI Bill^® beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact the SAA office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.

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 Webs site at http://www.benefis.va.gov/gibill.