VA Educational Benefits

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We are proud to be a partner of the Yellow Ribbon Program and VA Educational Benefits!

Below are the required documents for processing your Chapter 33 or Chapter 35 benefits. These must be provided to your School Certifying Official (SCO) for the verification process. Please reach out to sfs@stlawu.edu or call 315-229-5581 to be connected to your SCO!

Section 103 - VA Pending Payment Compliance

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. This school will not:

  • Prevent nor delay the student’s enrollment;
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny the student access to any resources available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution, including but not limited to access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities.

To qualify for this provision, such students will be required to produce the Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class.

Required documents:

VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

The COE is requested by you from the Veterans Affairs (VA) website. It is mailed to you directly and you should provide this with the SCO as soon as you have it available. Without this form, we cannot certify your benefits. The COE will list the following information:

  • The number of months and days of benefits you are entitled to.
  • Specifically states what VA Chapter of benefit you are entitled to. (Examples include but not limited to Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® commonly known as Chapter 33, or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program also commonly known as DEA or Chapter 35.)
  • This form provides us with your contact information and all relevant benefit information including your signature, acknowledging you are requesting to use your benefits and that you will keep our office informed as to your academic progress and challenges.

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill®

  • You will need to send this form in to the VA every academic year, and the VA also requires that each student verify their enrollment on a monthly basis during the academic year. The below toolkit explains how the students should complete this process, including offering a monthly text message enrollment to complete this requirement.

  • Monthly Enrollment Verification Toolkit

Chapter 35 Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

  • VA Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) is an education benefit for eligible spouses and children of certain veterans. Eligible persons can receive up to 45 months of full-time or equivalent benefits for: College, Business, Technical or Vocational Courses.

All benefits are certified after the add/drop period concludes and awards will be placed as pending on your student bill until funds are received to prevent interest charges or holds. 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.