Veterans Educational Benefits
Military Tuition Benefits are awarded to a VA student or dependent/spouse, or an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces and/or reserves under the assumption that the student will attend school for the period in which the assistance is awarded. If the student withdraws or is administratively withdrawn, the student may not be eligible for the full amount of tuition benefits.
Students who were honorably discharged from the armed forces and are eligible per the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs may use their benefits to pay for their education towards an eligible undergraduate or graduate degree program.
Students using VA benefits are required to submit a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the Office of the Registrar before benefits can be implemented. The COE should be the most current and it can be requested from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs directly. Students may use Chapter 31, 33, 35, or MGIB-SE Chapter 1606 benefits towards their education. Dependents or Spouses using benefits must submit a COE showing that the servicemember has transferred their benefit eligibility.
Students may be asked to submit updated COEs throughout their enrollment. Please contact the Office of the Registrar for more information about utilizing VA benefits at Albertus Magnus College.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has mandated a uniform tuition assistance (TA) fiscal policy across the Services. Service TA Programs include Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy. The per semester hour cap is $250 and the fiscal year ceiling is $4,500. To ensure all service members participating in off-duty, postsecondary education programs are provided quality education programs, the Department of Defense established the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. Only individuals entitled to the maximum benefit rate (based on service requirements) may receive this funding.
The Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Act of 2008 program provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.
- Cost of tuition and fees, not to exceed the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher education (paid to school);
- Monthly housing allowance* equal to the basic allowance for housing payable to a military E-5 with dependents, in the same zip code as your school (paid to you);
- Yearly books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year (paid to you); and a onetime payment of $500 paid to certain individuals relocating from highly rural areas.
*Note: The housing allowance and books and supplies stipend are not payable to individuals on active duty. The housing allowance is not payable to those pursuing training at half time or less or to individuals enrolled in distance learning. Individuals are limited to a maximum of 48 months of entitlement when using benefits under two or more programs (i.e. 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 1606, and 1607). Veterans who have eligibility under these other GI Bill® programs should contact the Veterans Office before you apply for the new GI Bill®. In some cases it might be better to retain your old GI Bill®. Once you elect the new GI Bill® the decision is irrevocable.
Dependents' Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who have died while on active duty or as the result of a service connected disability or is 100% permanently and totally disabled for service-related reasons as the result of their military service. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35)
Vocational Rehabilitation is for disabled veterans. Veterans rated at 30% or more service connected disability go through a testing process to determine if they are eligible. If eligible the VA sends the school Certifying Official an Authorization. Full tuition, fees, books and supplies are paid by the VA to the school. The mission of is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs.
MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including 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. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments.
You may be entitled to receive up to 36 months of education benefits. Assistance may be used for college degree and certificate programs, co-op training, technical or vocational courses, flight training, apprenticeships or on-the-job training, high-tech training, licensing and certification tests, entrepreneurship training, certain entrance examinations, and correspondence courses.
The Department of Defense (DoD) has mandated a uniform tuition assistance (TA) fiscal policy across the Services. Service TA Programs include Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy. The per semester hour cap is $250 and the fiscal year ceiling is $4,500. To ensure all service members participating in off-duty, postsecondary education programs are provided quality education programs, the Department of Defense established the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Each branch of the military handles TA differently. If you are in the army, you will use GoArmyEd to register for classes and have TA applied. If you are in the Air Force, you will need to register for classes then apply for TA through the Air Force Virtual Education Center. If you are in the Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps and Reserve – apply in person with your ESO. Contact your branch for details on your eligibility and the branch’s process for submitting tuition assistance.
Each branch of the military has its own application process, forms, and Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits. Please consult your Education Services Officer (ESO) and visit Military.com for details and to start the application process.
Students wishing to use TA must contact their branch ESO and create an education plan with them. Once accepted at Albertus Magnus College, the service member will need to choose their term and classes in the portal. The College will upload their catalog into each portal as well as term information for selection. Once courses are chosen, an invoice will be generated and approved by the ESO. Once approved, it will be submitted to the College for processing. At the conclusion of each term, final grades will be submitted via the portal.
Active-duty service members seeking to use TA benefits must request approval from their commanding officer via the education portal provided by their military branch. Students who are eligible for Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Bill education benefits through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs may qualify for active-duty tuition assistance. A certificate of eligibility (COE) may be required by the School Certifying Official.