How do I use my VA education benefits?

Step 1: Have you applied for your GI Bill® already?

• https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/
  • Post 9/11 GI Bill® - Chapter 33
  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (MGIB-AD) - Chapter 30
  • Survivors’ and Dependents’ Education Assistance (DEA) - Chapter 35
  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) - Chapter 1606
  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) - Chapter 31

Step 2: Certificate of Eligibility

• Once approved, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
  • Can take up to 30 days.
• Upload your COE to our office though the Secure Upload Portal on our website https://www.ohio.edu/veterans-center
  • OU email and password required for login.
• You may also email your COE to veteranscenter@ohio.edu, fax it to 740-593-4145, or drop it off in-person at the Veterans Center, located in Baker Center 350, Monday-Friday, from 8am-5pm.

Step 3: Ohio Residency Review (for out-of-state residents only)

• Go to https://www.ohio.edu/admissions/tuition/ohio-residency
• Download the Residency Questionnaire to determine if you qualify.
• Complete the Ohio Request for Residency Review Form (if qualified) and submit it with required documentation to Undergraduate Admissions or Graduate College.

Step 4: DD-214 or Proof of Service (for Veterans and currently serving only)

• If you are an incoming student who is a Veteran or is currently serving (i.e., Active-Duty, National Guard, or Reserves) please provide our office with a copy of your DD-214 using one of the options in Step 2.

Step 5: File Card

• Go to our main website, click on the File Card box, or click here Complete the veterans center educational assistance file card form, complete the required information, and submit.
  • OU email and password required for login.
  • Make sure you choose the correct academic year.
    • Each new academic year starts with the Fall semester.
    • A new File Card MUST be completed each academic year for us to be able to certify your VA benefits.

Additional Information & Tuition Assistance Opportunities

• We cannot certify VA benefits for classes that do not meet your degree requirements, so please make sure you are verifying your class selections with your DARS requirements.
• Ensure that you have sent copies of all official transcripts from prior accredited institutions and military courses (i.e., JST, CCAF, etc.) to Ohio University Admissions.
• Apply for Financial Aid at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid
• For Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) information, please use the following links:
  • For all branches of Armed Forces go here: https://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/tuition-assistance-ta-program-overview.html
  • For Army National Guard go here: https://www.armyignited.army.mil
• Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program
  • Apply here: https://ong.ohio.gov/members/ong/education
• Ohio War Orphan & Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship Program (WOS)
  • Apply by May 15^th here: https://highered.ohio.gov/educators/financial-aid/sgs/wos/wos