Veteran and Active Duty Educational Benefits
VA Educational Benefits
If you are an active-duty Servicemember or Veteran, a member of the National Guard or Reserves, or a qualified survivor or dependent, you may be able to get help from VA to pay your tuition, pick out a school, choose a career, and more. For more information about eligibility for VA educational benefits, click here.
Applying for VA Educational Benefits
Applying for VA educational benefits is a two-part procedure.
First, you apply with the VA, generally through the VA's online portal here (there is a separate initial application process for the VR&E program, which can be found here). According to the VA's website, it usually takes around thirty (30) days to process applications.
Second, you will need to submit various types of documentation and information to the Veterans Affairs Coordinator at the University of Dallas so that we can certify you to receive your VA educational benefits.
Throughout the process, please feel free to email the UD Veterans Affairs Coordinator, Sandy Morgan (smorgan@udallas.edu).
Types of VA Educational Benefits
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
For approved programs, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits for Veterans and Servicemembers who have at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 10, 2001. The University of Dallas also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which makes additional funds available. If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and any other GI Bill program, you must make an irrevocable election of the Post-9/11 GI Bill before you can receive any benefits. You can find more information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill here. You can find more information about the Yellow Ribbon Program here and you can more information about UD's participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program here.
Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD/Chapter 30)
The MGIB-AD program provides education benefits to Veterans and Servicemembers who have at least two years of active duty. You can find more information about the MGIB-AD program here.
Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR/Chapter 1606)
MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments. You can find more information about the MGIB-SR program here.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E/Chapter 31)
If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program can help. Find out if you’re eligible and how to apply for VR&E benefits and services, like help exploring employment options and any required training needs. In some cases, your family members may also be eligible for certain VR&E benefits. You can find more information about the VR&E program here.
Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP/Chapter 32)
VEAP is available if you elected to make contributions from your military pay to participate in this education benefit program. The government matches your contributions on a 2-for-1 basis. In order to be eligible for VEAP, you must have entered service for the first time between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985. You can find more information about VEAP here.
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP/Chapter 1607)
REAP provides educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency declared by the president or Congress. You can find more information about the REAP here.
Dependents Educational Assistance Program (DEA/Chapter 35)
The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. You can find more information about the DEA program here.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a comparison chart highlighting the requirements and benefits for most of the VA educational benefits programs. The comparison chart can be found here. The University of Dallas' Veterans Affairs Policy can be found here.
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.