Step 1: Have you applied for your GI Bill® already?
- https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
- Post 9/11 GI Bill® - Chapter 33
- Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) - Chapter 30
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA) - Chapter 35
- Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) - Chapter 1606
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) - Chapter 31
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 https://www.va.gov/education/eligibility .
Step 2: Certificate of Eligibility
- Once approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
- Can take up to 30 days.
- Upload your COE to our office though the Secure Upload Portal on our website https://www.ohio.edu/veterans-center
- OU email and password required for login.
- You may also email your COE to veteranscenter@ohio.edu , fax it to 740-593-4145, or drop it off in-person at the Veterans Center, located in Baker Center 350, Monday-Friday, from 8am-5pm.
Step 3: Ohio Residency Review (for out-of-state residents only)
- Go to https://www.ohio.edu/admissions/tuition/ohio-residency
- Download the Residency Questionnaire to determine if you qualify.
- Complete the Ohio Request for Residency Review Form(if qualified) and submit it with required documentation to Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate College.
Step 4: DD-214 or Proof of Service (for Veterans and currently serving only)
- If you are an incoming student who is a Veteran or is currently serving (i.e., Active-Duty, National Guard, or Reserves) please provide our office with a copy of your DD-214 using one of the options in Step 2.
Step 5: File Card
- Go to our main website, click on the File Card box, or click here Complete the veterans center educational assistance file card form
, complete the required information, and submit.
- OU email and password required for login.
- Make sure you choose the correct academic year.
- Each new academic year starts with the Fall semester.
- A new File Card MUST be completed each academic year for us to be able to certify your VA benefits.
Additional Information & Tuition Assistance Opportunities
- We cannot certify VA benefits for classes that do not meet your degree requirements, so please make sure you are verifying your class selections with your DARS requirements.
- Ensure that you have sent copies of all official transcripts from prior accredited institutions and military courses (i.e., JST, CCAF, etc.) to Ohio University Admissions.
- Apply for Financial Aid at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid
- For Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) information, please use the following links:
- For all branches of Armed Forces go here: https://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/tuition-assistance-ta-program-overview.html
- For Army National Guard go here: https://www.armyignited.army.mil
- Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program
- Apply here: https://ong.ohio.gov/members/ong/education
- Ohio War Orphan & Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship Program (WOS)
- Apply by May 15 th here: https://highered.ohio.gov/educators/financial-aid/sgs/wos/wos
VA Education Benefit Payments FAQ's
- When will I receive my Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) housing allowance (MHA) payment?
- Housing allowance payments are dispersed at the end of each month.
- Your monthly rate is based on a 30-day period. The rate for a month that has 31 days (like October) is the same as the rate for a month with 30 days (like September).
- If your enrollment starts after the first of the month or ends before the last day of the month, we’ll pay you a prorated housing payment for the part of the month you’re enrolled in classes. Classes often begin and end somewhere in the middle of a month, instead of on the first and last day of a month. So we’ll base your payment only on the part of the month you attend classes. For example, if your monthly rate is $800, and your classes start on August 19, we’ll pay you $320 for August 19 to 31.
- When do I receive my book stipend (Post 9/11 GI Bill only)?
- You should receive your book stipend prior to the first week of classes, if your enrollment verification was submitted to the VA prior to the start of the semester.
- If I am using Chapter 1606 GI Bill Selected Reserve, when should I see my monthly payments?
- Payments are made at the end of each month.
- You will receive funds based on your enrollment status for each term.
- The VA prorates payments for partial months of school.
- You are required to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to receive payment. See link below for more information.
- If I am using Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA), when should I see my monthly payments?
- Payments are made at the end of each month.
- You will receive funds based on your enrollment status for each term.
- The VA prorates payments for partial months of school.
- Verifying your enrollment each month...
- If you’re using Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill (Active-Duty or Selected Reserve) benefits, you are required to verify your enrollment at the end of each month.
- You can visit https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment/ for more information.
- New Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) beneficiaries may need to verify their enrollment at the end of each month to release their payment. Check your award letter to find out if you need to verify.
IMPORTANT: If you have NOT submitted a File Card for the current academic year, there could be a delay in your tuition & fees, housing and book stipend payments if you are using Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits OR your monthly stipend if using Chapter 1606 (GI Bill Selected Reserve) or Chapter 35. Schedule changes may also impact your entitlement amount, creating a VA debt you will be responsible to repay.