VA Educational Benefits and Federal Tuition Assistance

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.

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:

• VA FORM 28-1900

Or, if you have never used Ch 33 Post 9/11 or Ch 31 previously:

• VA FORM 28-1900

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.

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:

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.

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 :

• Change your GI Bill school or program

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 SCDVA website.

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.

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
• 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).