Veteran Education Benefits (VA)
As part of our commitment to advance education opportunities for military members and their families, Azusa Pacific University staff are equipped to assist you in utilizing your VA education benefits as provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Each benefit chapter has its own criteria for eligibility, application process, and restrictions.
VA Benefits Application Process
- Apply for VA Education Benefits to receive documentation showing that you have been awarded education benefits by the VA.
- If you applied for Vocational Rehabilitation, your assigned Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor will send an authorization to us directly.
- Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for all other VA education benefits, including Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill®
- Submit the MVEB Application, which explains the regulations and procedures students must follow while using benefits.
- After you have enrolled in classes, complete a VA Certification Request Form, which authorizes APU to request benefits on your behalf. Please note that you can submit this form only after you have enrolled in classes. You must also submit a VA Certification Request Form prior to every semester for which you want to receive VA education benefits.
- After the add/drop deadline, APU will certify your enrollment so you can receive the funding you are entitled to.
Please note: Per VA regulations, only classes that are part of your degree program can be certified for benefits. Undergraduate students should work with an academic advisor to ensure you are enrolling only in classes that are part of your degree program. Graduate and professional students should consult their academic department for required courses. Any classes outside your degree program cannot be certified, and VA education benefits will not be applied toward these classes.
VA Benefit Types
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of education benefits. Explore the benefit types below to find out more about the various veterans benefit programs available. Remember, only the Department of Veterans Affairs can determine your benefits eligibility.
Chapter 1606—Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve
This program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve. Under this entitlement, the VA sends funds directly to the student. Learn more about Chapter 1606 and eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Chapter 30—Montgomery GI Bill®
Active duty servicemembers and veterans may be eligible to receive Chapter 30 education benefits. Under this entitlement, the VA sends funds directly to the student. Learn more about Chapter 30 and eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Chapter 31—Vocational Rehabilitation
Individuals who qualify for Chapter 31 benefits work with a vocational rehabilitation counselor to develop an educational plan. Under this entitlement, the VA sends funds for mandatory tuition and fees directly to the university. Learn more about Chapter 31 and eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Chapter 35—Dependents’ Educational Assistance
Chapter 35 provides educational assistance to dependents of veterans who meet specific criteria. Under this entitlement, the VA will send funds directly to the student. Learn more about Chapter 35 and eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Fry Scholarship
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to some surviving spouses and children of servicemembers. Learn more about the Fry Scholarship and eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Chapter 33—Post-9/11 GI Bill®
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is available to eligible servicemembers as well as to servicemembers’ dependents, when applicable. Eligible servicemembers may transfer their Chapter 33 entitlements to a qualifying dependent if he or she meets specific requirements set forth by the VA. Chapter 33 assists students with mandatory tuition and fees based on the student’s benefit level, which is determined by the VA. Learn more about Chapter 33 and eligibility requirements on the VA website.
Under this entitlement, the VA will send funds for mandatory tuition and fees directly to the university up to an annual maximum cap based on your eligibility percentage. To find out more, use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool
The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship helps students who qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and need a little more funding to earn a STEM degree or teaching credential. Find out more about the VA’s STEM scholarship program.
The Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® program also includes additional benefits that you may be eligible for:
Yellow Ribbon Program
The Yellow Ribbon Program assists students at the 100% benefit eligibility level of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® in paying tuition and fees when tuition and mandatory fees exceed the annual cap for the academic year. It is a matching program that allows APU to contribute up to an additional $14,000 per year, which the VA will match. Note that active duty servicemembers and spouses of active duty servicemembers using transferred benefits are not eligible for Yellow Ribbon.
Yellow Ribbon schools like Azusa Pacific offer additional funding to help eligible veteran students pay the balance that is left after their annual contribution from the VA has been maxed out. Read more about the Yellow Ribbon program and military education benefits at APU.
Basic Housing Allowance
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® may also provide a monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for students who attend school at a rate above half-time. The amount of BAH a student receives depends on the student’s eligibility rating, as determined by the VA, as well as on course load. BAH also varies based on the location of the campus where you attend the majority of units. To find out more, use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool. Note that when a student enrolls in only online courses during a term, the VA will pay out a lower BAH rate. In order to qualify for the regular BAH rate, the student must enroll in at least one face-to-face class each term. Note that active duty servicemembers and spouses of active duty servicemembers using transferred benefits are not eligible for BAH. The VA sends BAH funds directly to the student.
