VA Educational Benefits and Federal Tuition Assistance
Discover all the information you need about Clemson certification and benefits processes as a prospective or current veteran, service member or dependent student today.
Clemson University proudly honors its military heritage and commitment to service. We provide our best resources to help student veterans, service members and their dependents achieve their educational and career goals.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Federal Educational Benefits and Federal Tuition Assistance
Determining Your Eligibility
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for benefits, and Clemson University cannot make this determination. To apply for VA Benefits, visit www.gibill.va.gov. Once you’ve applied for federal VA educational benefits, if approved, you will receive a confirmation letter from the VA.
Depending on your chapter of benefits, this confirmation letter may be designated as one of the following: Certificate of Eligibility (COE), Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE), or Authorization Form.
Your Specific Benefit
Please visit the VA’s website to learn more about your benefit. It is your responsibility to know and understand what your specific benefit includes, as each veteran student is approved by the VA for a different benefit. Clemson University does not and cannot determine eligibility, only the VA can do that.
Our Certification Process
Our office uses the confirmation of benefits you receive from the VA (your COE), Clemson’s Benefits Request Form, and your term course registration to evaluate which credits we can submit to the VA for payment(s). The data we upload to the VA’s online system is called your term certification. Our office is allowed to submit to the VA only the credit hours that meet a specific degree requirement.
If you are taking courses outside of any declared degree requirement, then we very likely will not be able to submit those hours in your certification to the VA. We carefully review each course for each student to ensure accuracy.
We will confirm with you via your Clemson email when we have submitted the term’s certification to the VA. The confirmation email we send is very descriptive and informative, so be sure to read over that information carefully. Once we upload your data into the VA’s online system, the VA will then process and pay accordingly. Please know that this is not an instant process, and it does take time to process on our end and then time to process on the VA’s end.
Typically, we begin certifying students 30 days prior to the upcoming term. We cannot review you for certification unless we have your accurate COE on file, a Benefits Request Form, and you’ve completed course registration for the upcoming term.
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Forms
All forms in the menu below are required to process your benefits. Browse the next section by student-type to find the information you need to move forward.
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New Students
If this is your first time using benefits at Clemson University, you will need to submit the following items:
- Certificate of Eligibility
- The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is proof that you are eligible to receive benefits, unless you are using a different benefit type than you've used previously. If that is the case, then you will need to email a copy of the new benefit type's COE provided by the VA after your approval to vabenefits@clemson.edu. If you don't already have a COE, please review your specific chapter of benefit in the section below for instructions.
- Benefits Request Form
- You must complete the Benefits Request Form to receive benefits each term. Please email a copy of your COE to vabenefits@clemson.edu.
- Certificate of Eligibility
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Continuing Students
If you have previously used benefits at Clemson University, you will just need to submit your Benefits Request Form to receive benefits for the upcoming semester.
Once you complete your Benefits Request Form and register for term courses, then our office will have what we need to be able to review and certify your enrollment to the VA for payment.
Federal VA Educational Benefits by type
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Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Recipients are paid a monthly stipend while enrolled in education classes. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
Certificate of Eligibility
A COE is proof that the student is eligible for Chapter 30. Follow the steps below to receive a COE:
Applying for benefits for the first time:
- VA FORM 22-1990
- Proof of submission is required (i.e., submission confirmation number)
Used benefits previously at another school:
- VA FORM 22-1995 (Change of Program or Place of Training Form)
- Proof of submission is required (i.e., submission confirmation number)
Verify Enrollment
If you are in a degree program at a college or university, you will not receive payment until you have verified your attendance. Your enrollment can be verified starting on the last calendar day of the month by using our Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling our toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line at 1-877-823-2378.
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Chapter 31 Veterans Readiness & Employment
Chapter 31, the VR&E program may assist with your service-connected disabilities and employment handicap if you are eligible. As an eligible service member, it can also support your military to civilian employment process by helping you prepare for, find and keep a suitable job.
Certificate of Eligibility
A COE is proof that the student is eligible for Chapter 31. Follow the steps below to receive a COE:
If you have used CH 33 Post 9/11 previously:
Or, if you have never used Ch 33 Post 9/11 or Ch 31 previously:
VA FORM 28-1905 is your COE
- This form is sent to the School Certifying Official from your VR&E case manager.
Verify Enrollment
If you are in a degree program at a college or university, you will not receive payment until you have verified your attendance.
For all inquiries regarding how to verify your enrollment, please refer to the VA's website. -
Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is for 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. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Generally, benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. The portion or percentage of the program maximum amounts to be received is determined by the length of the aggregate service and/or disability status.
This program will pay eligible students:
- Tuition and fees paid directly to the school not to exceed the maximum in-state tuition and mandatory fees for Clemson University. (Refer to Chapter 33 Payment information for details)
- Monthly housing allowance (MHA can be determined by using the GI Bill® Comparison Tool)
- The MHA is paid on a monthly basis by direct deposit around the first of each month. The first check may be received approximately six to eight weeks after the first day of class.
- Annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 paid at $41.67 per credit hour
Certificate of Eligibility
A COE is proof that the student is eligible for Chapter 33. Follow the steps below to receive a COE:
Certificate of Eligibility for Chapter 33 Veteran Dependent Applying for benefits for the first time: - VA FORM 22-1990
- Save the confirmation number for proof of submission
Applying for benefits for the first time: - VA FORM 22-1990e
- Save the confirmation number for proof of submission
Used benefits previously at another school: - VA FORM 22-1995 (Change of Program Form)
- Save the confirmation number for proof of submission
Used benefits previously at another school: - VA FORM 22-5495 (Change of Program Form)
- Save the confirmation number for proof of submission
Tuition and Fee Payment Process
When you are initially certified using Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, our office certifies your enrolled term credit hours without a tuition and fees amount – meaning these certifications will be submitted with a $0 amount. After Census Day each term, our office will update certifications to include your actual tuition and fee charges.
You may initially receive a letter from the VA that your enrollment has been certified at $0. We process this way as a courtesy to you so that, while we wait to send tuition/fees, you can still receive your Monthly Housing Allowance and/or books/supplies stipend.
Again, this process will not prevent you from receiving housing and/or book stipends for which you are eligible. Payment from the VA will arrive after Census Day when certifications are updated to include tuition and fees. This typically takes two to four weeks after Census Day. You may continue to see a balance due on your account while we wait for the VA to send tuition and fee payments.
If you are using Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and have turned in a COE, we will place a protection on your account that prevents you from being dropped from classes during that waiting period and from incurring any payment late fees. This will also allow you to use various payment plan options.
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Chapter 35 Dependents Assistance
This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. Recipients in this program receive a monthly stipend. Monthly stipends can be determined by using the GI Bill® Comparison Tool.
Certificate of Eligibility
A COE is proof that the student is eligible for Chapter 35. Follow the steps below to receive a COE:
Applying for benefits for the first time:
- Apply for benefits through the VA
- Proof of submission is required (i.e., submission confirmation number)
Used benefits previously at another school :
Additional Information
Along with the FEDERAL portion of the Chapter 35 Dependents Assistance benefit, it’s possible a student may qualify for a state benefit that is separate from the federal benefit. The state benefit is separate from your federal benefit and requires a separate application to the SCDVA. Clemson cannot and does not determine eligibility for the state benefit. Students can apply for and find information on the state benefit on the SC Department of Veterans Affairs website. If approved for this state benefit, a letter will be mailed to the student and to Clemson as verification. For all inquiries related to the state portion of this benefit, please visit the SC Department of Veterans Affairs website.
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Chapter 1606 Select Reserve
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserves, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligible recipients in this program receive a monthly stipend. Monthly stipends can be determined by using the GI Bill® Comparison Tool.
Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE)
If you are currently a drilling National Guard or Reservist Service Member, you will have a NOBE instead of a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
- This form is provided to you by your respective unit.
Verify Enrollment
If you are in a degree program at a college or university, you will not receive payment until you have verified your attendance. To verify your enrollment, please use the Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or call our toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) telephone line at 1-877-823-2378 starting on the last calendar day of the month.
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Federal Tuition Assistance
The Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to Service members for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning and are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU). Clemson University is one of the signatories to that MOU.
Prior to enrolling, Service members should speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or their counselor within their Military Service. Prospective (service member) students must receive approval from the ESO military counselor, or service prior to enrollment. Service members needing assistance is finding contact information for their ESO should contact Clemson University’s Registrar’s Office for assistance. Email vabenefits@clemson.edu.
How it works:
- All tuition assistance applications and approvals are completed with the service members unit or education center.
- Funds apply to course tuition only; may not be used to pay for books, materials, institutional fees or retaking a course previously taken.
- To find the amount covered and who is eligible for each branch, please see the Military Tuition Overview
- Our office recommends that all tuition assistance requests and approvals be completed at least 10 days prior to the start of the term.
- Approved tuition authorizations must be submitted by the student each term. This paperwork can be submitted to thirdpartycontract@clemson.edu.
General Program and Coursework Guidelines:
- Coursework can be classroom-based or distance learning
- Student must be officially registered and earn a grade or credit for the course (No auditing)
- Course must be part of an approved academic degree program
- Not authorized for programs of study beyond a master’s degree
Things to Remember (Army ONLY):
- Soldiers must submit their FTA requests no later than 8 calendar days before the course start date
- FTA pays up to $250 per semester hour (SH), up to 16 SHs per fiscal year
- One degree allowed at each level up to Master’s degree (no lower/lateral degrees/no prof degrees)
- Maintain Army ignited 2.0 GPA (undergraduate degree), 3.0 GPA (graduate degree) or better
- Recoupment of FTA funds will occur if an undergraduate student receives a “D” or “F” in a class or a graduate student receives a “C”, ”D” or “F” in a class or a “W” for either level
- Lifetime limit of 130 undergraduate semester hours and 39 graduate semester hours
- FTA may be used with Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserves-Chapter 1606 AND CAP (State TA)
- TA funds will not be authorized for Soldiers who have completed two (2) classes in their current degree program and do not have an approved Evaluated Degree Plan.
- To have your student bill temporarily credited while we (Clemson) wait for invoicing, please provide a copy of your authorization (this is the last step after being approved for FTA) to thirdpartycontract@clemson.edu
Additional resources for service members using Federal Tuition Assistance:
- Clemson University Student Financial Aid: www.clemson.edu/financial-aid
- Clemson University Refund policies are in the Financial section of the Undergraduate Catalog and at Student Financial Services
Federal Tuition Assistance can be used in conjunction with all other federal VA educational benefits. ONLY students who are currently serving or have served are eligible; dependents of veterans are NOT eligible for Federal Tuition Assistance. If you are also using another federal benefit (for example, Ch. 33 Post-9/11 or Ch. 1606 MGIB-SR), please ALSO complete the Benefits Request Form under the required forms (at the top of the webpage).
