Education Benefits

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Education Benefits

Federal and state veterans benefits can be found below.

To receive federal education benefits, you must file paperwork with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs online and the school must certify your registration.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

If you have not used your benefits before, you will complete a 22-5495 Application for VA Benefits. Students who have used benefits before will file the Change of Program or Place of Training, 22-1995. Be sure to send your VONAPP signature page directly to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) St. Louis Office, to avoid a delay in payment.

After filing your paperwork, please submit a copy of your DD-214 and a Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) to Student Central so we may certify your registration.

After your registration has been certified, the process may take up to three months before receiving your first check. We recommend registering early for all your courses each semester to speed the process along.

Please remember that any veterans education benefits you receive must be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you have specific questions, please contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, St. Louis Office toll-free at 1-888-442-4551 or go to their website.

Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the VA.

To verify enrollment, go to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or call 1-877-823-2378.

Chapter 30, 1607, and 1606 recipients: Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the VA at the end of each month before you will receive your payment.

There are a variety of federal education benefit programs available to veterans and active duty personnel.

Chapter 33 - The Post-9/11 GI Bill®

Chapter 30 - Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

Chapter 1606 - Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

Chapter 35 - Survivors’ and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

Educational Assistance Test Program (Section 901)

National Call to Service Program

The Military Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to students currently serving in the National Guard, reserves, or on active duty. TA is available for courses that are offered in the classroom or by distance learning and is part of an approved academic degree or certificate program.

Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process, and restrictions. For additional information, please contact your unit.

TA enrollment requests must be submitted and approved prior to the course start date.

Students can use the following documents when applying:

Degree Plan/Degree Audit Report: Upload letter on university letterhead with the list of required courses for your degree. The letter can be requested from the certifying official at Student Central.

Enrollment Verification/Class Schedule: Upload a PDF of your schedule located in the My Schedule section on the Student Portal.

Tuition Bill: Upload a PDF of your bill located in the My Bill section on the Student Portal.

Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire term for which the assistance is awarded.  When a student withdraws), the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds awarded.
 
To comply with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) policy, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will return any unearned TA funds on a prorated basis through the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided.  TA funds are considered unearned at the point the service member stops attending during the enrollment period.  TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. The unearned TA funds will be returned directly to the military, not to the student.
 
The return of TA funds may result in a balance due on the student account.  However, if a student stops attending due to a military service obligation, Saint Mary’s University will work with the student to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.  Students should contact Student Central to discuss these solutions.
 
TA eligibility will be recalculated for students who withdraw or are administratively withdrawn from the course prior to completing 60% of the instructional days of the enrollment period.   The amount of unearned TA that is returned is based on the date the withdrawal was requested or last date of attendance when administratively withdrawn from the course. After 60% of the enrollment has passed, TA will not be evaluated for a return.
 
Schedule for returning unearned TA: Bold type identifies the 60% complete point
8-Week Course Withdraw (56 Calendar Days)
Drop initiated before and through calendar day 12  -  100% return
Withdraw initiated on calendar day 13 to 20  -  75% return
Withdraw initiated on calendar day 21 to 28 - 50% return
Withdraw initiated on calendar day 29 to 34  - 40% return (60% of course completed)
Withdraw initiated after calendar day 34 - no return
 
16-Week Course Withdraw (112 Calendar Days)
Drop initiated before and through calendar day  23  - 100% return
Withdraw initiated on calendar day 24 to 40  -  75% return
Withdraw initiated on calendar day 41 to  56  -  50% return
Withdraw initiated on calendar day 57 to 68  -  40% return (60% of course completed)
Withdraw initiated after calendar day 68   -  0%  return
 
The calculation and return of the unearned funds will be processed within 30 days of determining that the student is no longer eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.
 
Example
Student enrolls in a three-credit, eight-week course for the spring semester. The full cost of the three-credit course is $1750.00. If the student initiates a withdrawal from the course on the 29th day or is administratively withdrawn by failing to attend or participate as of day 29, Saint Mary’s University is obligated to return 40% of the TA to the military.

State Education Programs

The Minnesota GI Bill® provides financial assistance to Minnesota veterans and service members who served on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible to receive up to $1000 per term, and part-time students can receive up to $500 per term.

Educational benefits are provided in the form of a maximum $750 one-time grant to veterans who have exhausted their federal benefits. Applications and requirements can be found on the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs website.

Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement is available to eligible soldiers and airmen in the Minnesota National Guard.