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This  provides up to 36 months of education benefits to Veterans and active-duty service members with at least two years of active-duty service. Eligibility depends on  outlined by the VA. Generally, benefits are available for 10 years following your release from active duty.

The benefit provides a monthly stipend based on:

• The type of education or training you are pursuing
• Your enrollment status (full-time or less)

You may receive a reduced amount if:

• You are enrolled less than full-time
• You are participating in on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program
• You have served fewer than three continuous years on active duty

The VA sends the monthly stipend directly to you on the first of each month for the prior month’s enrollment. Payments may be prorated if your term starts or ends mid-month.

You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees regardless of when the VA sends your stipend.

Yes. If you have a kicker (sometimes called a “college fund”) or participate in the $600 Buy-Up program, your monthly stipend will increase. The VA adds these amounts to your payment.

Yes. You must verify your enrollment by signing in an identity-verified account through one of the VA’s account providers. Learn more here.

You are eligible for the  if you're a service member or Veteran with a service-connected disability that limits or prevents you from working. Eligibility requirements include:

• Veterans: A disability rating of at least 10% and an honorable discharge.
• Active duty service members: A pre-discharge disability rating of 20% or higher (memorandum rating) and either will leave the military soon or are awaiting discharge due to a severe illness or injury sustained on active duty.

Severely injured active duty service members may receive VR&E benefits automatically before receiving a formal disability rating.

1. The VA schedules a meeting with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).
2. The counselor assesses whether your service-connected disability limits your ability to: Prepare for suitable employment or obtain and maintain a stable job that doesn’t worsen your disability and aligns with your skills and interests.
3. If you are entitled to VR&E benefits, you and your counselor will create a rehabilitation plan outlining the services VR&E will provide.

Payment and coverage vary based on your individual VRC’s recommendations. Typically, VR&E covers:

• Tuition and mandatory fees
• Books and supplies (in some cases)

These payments are sent directly to your school. You may also qualify for a , sent directly to you, based on your enrollment status (e.g., full-time or part-time).

Can I use VR&E with Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits?

Yes. If eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, you can choose to receive the GI Bill® monthly housing allowance instead of the VR&E subsistence allowance if:

• You have at least one day of entitlement remaining under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
• You are still within your GI Bill® eligibility period.

In most cases, the GI Bill® housing rate is higher. You must officially elect this option with your VRC.

You may be eligible if you meet the following criteria:

• Served at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or were discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days.
• Served 36 months on active duty to receive 100% of the benefit.
• Those with 90 days to 35 months of active duty service receive prorated benefits based on time served.
• Received an honorable discharge.

The Forever GI Bill® and the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 may your benefits. 

Yes. You can transfer unused benefits to your spouse or dependents. Eligibility is determined by the Department of Defense (DoD). Requirements include:

• The transfer must be completed while serving as an active member of the Armed Forces via milConnect.
• Once approved by the DoD, the new beneficiaries must apply to use the benefits through the VA.

Tuition and mandatory fees up to VA's private school tuition cap set per academic year (not split between semesters). If the tuition exceeds the cap, additional costs are your responsibility unless you qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program (more details on this program are at the bottom of the page).

You are responsible for any remaining balance, non-mandatory fees, and tuition for courses that do not fulfill degree requirements.

Mandatory fees may include:

• General Student Fee
• Orientation Fee
• Matriculation Fee
• Health Center Fee
• Distance Fee
• Lab/course fees

If your eligibility percentage is below 100%, the private school tuition cap will be prorated to match your percentage level.

The MHA is a  based on your enrollment status and whether you're taking classes in-person or online:

• Full-time enrollment: MHA is based on the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 with dependents in your school’s zip code.
• Online-only courses: Full-time MHA is half the national average for MHA. Enrollment in at least one in-person course may qualify you for the higher residence rate.

Eligibility Details:

• You must be enrolled more than half-time to receive MHA.
• Active-duty service members and their spouses are not eligible.

If your eligibility percentage is below 100%, your MHA will be prorated to your percentage level.

The VA pays $41.67 per credit hour, up to $1,000 per academic year, directly to you. The stipend is not split evenly between semesters. If your eligibility percentage is below 100%, your book stipend will be prorated.

Do I need to verify my enrollment to receive payments?

Yes. You must initially verify your enrollment through the the portal on  or by calling the VA toll-free at 1-877-823-2378 monthly to continue receiving your housing stipend or kicker payment, unless you are enrolled enrolled half-time or less or are an active-duty service member. You can then verify via text, email or . 

Payments will be withheld if you fail to verify enrollment for two consecutive months or report that you are no longer enrolled.

The Fry Scholarship  to children and surviving spouses of service members or members of the Selected Reserves who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001.

If you are eligible for both the Fry Scholarship and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA), you must make an irrevocable election between the two programs when applying.

The Fry Scholarship provides up to 36 months of entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at the 100% benefit rate, including:

• Tuition and mandatory fees up to the VA’s private school tuition cap
• Monthly housing allowance based on enrollment and location
• Book stipend

If your program participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, you may also be eligible.

The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship allows eligible Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or dependents using the Fry Scholarship to get added benefits to  in high-demand STEM fields.

Students must have six months or less of Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement remaining. There are two ways to qualify for eligibility at SMU:

1. You're currently enrolled in an undergraduate STEM program and have completed at least 60 semester credit hours in a program that requires at least 120 semester credit hours to graduate.
2. You've earned an undergraduate STEM degree and have enrolled in a teaching program.

The scholarship cannot be used for graduate programs. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee the scholarship. The VA prioritizes applicants who are at the 100% benefit level for the Post-9/11 GI Bill and require the most credit hours compared to other applicants. All decisions are made by the VA; school officials do not influence the decision.

The scholarship provides up to nine additional months or a maximum of $30,000, whichever comes first. Tuition and mandatory fees are paid to the school first (up to the VA’s annual private school tuition cap).

Remaining funds can potentially cover books and supplies, and then possibly housing (paid directly to you).

The Yellow Ribbon Program is not part of the STEM scholarship program, so additional funding under Yellow Ribbon is not available.

After , VA typically takes 30 days to make a decision, awarding scholarships monthly. The VA will then verify your eligibility with the school. If approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by mail. If denied, you will receive a denial letter explaining the decision.

You must begin using the scholarship within six months of approval, or you will need to reapply.

This program offers  to dependents and spouses of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, who is captured or missing, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

If you qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and DEA benefits, you must choose one program. Once you make your choice, you cannot switch to the other.

The benefit provides a monthly stipend based on:

• The type of education or training you are pursuing
• Your enrollment status (full-time, part-time, etc.)

You may receive a reduced stipend if:

• You are enrolled less than full-time
• You are participating in on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program

The monthly stipend is sent directly to you from the VA and is typically received on the first of the month for the prior month’s enrollment. Stipends may be prorated for terms that start or end mid-month.

You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees regardless of when the VA sends your stipend.

You may be eligible if you are a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard or Air National Guard.

To be , you must complete all initial entry training.

You may qualify if you have a six-year service obligation in the Selected Reserve or you’re a Selected Reserve officer with a six-year obligation beyond your initial service.

The MGIB-SR provides a monthly stipend based on:

• The type of education or training you are pursuing
• Your enrollment status (full-time, part-time, etc.)

You may receive less than the full amount if:

• You are enrolled less than full-time
• You are participating in on-the-job training or an apprenticeship program

Payments are sent directly to you from the VA, typically on the first of the month for the prior month’s enrollment. Stipends may be prorated for terms that start or end mid-month.

You are responsible for paying your tuition and fees, regardless of when VA sends your payment. If you have a kicker, it will be added to your monthly stipend, potentially increasing your payment.

Yes. You must verify your enrollment each month through the portal on  or calling the VA toll-free at 1-877-823-2378. Benefits will not be released until verification is complete.

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is part of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. It allows U.S. institutions to partner with the VA to cover tuition expenses that exceed the annual private school tuition cap.

• Institutions may contribute up to 50% of the additional tuition costs, and the VA matches that amount.
• Scholarships, grants, or other aid (excluding loans and Title IV funds) are deducted from the tuition/fees before submitting the remaining amount to the VA for certification.

Am I eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program?

To qualify, you must:

• Be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at the 100% benefit level.
• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program that participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program (certificate programs are not eligible).
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress, conduct, and attendance.

If you do not attend ҹɫ����for two consecutive regular terms (fall, spring), you will lose your Yellow Ribbon eligibility. To re-enroll and use VA benefits, you must submit an application for reinstatement or reactivation and contact VABenefits@smu.edu.

What does the Yellow Ribbon Program pay?

ҹɫ����is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2024-2025 academic year. Participation is limited in some academic schools and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The order is determined by the date all required paperwork is submitted to the ҹɫ����Veterans Services Office.

Any tuition costs exceeding the VA cap and Yellow Ribbon contributions are the student’s responsibility.

Those listed in the following table.

Not at the graduate level. Instead, the school offers a significant tuition reduction for:

• Active duty service members
• Veterans of the Armed Forces
• Employees of the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DoE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Yes. ҹɫ����offers Yellow Ribbon Scholarships as part of its funded aid for undergraduate students. However, scholarships that are tuition- and fee-specific will be reduced if ҹɫ����aid exceeds the cost of tuition and fees for a term.

The GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Each term, you must inform the VA Certifying Official that you wish to be certified. Continuing students can do so via . New students can do so here.

If you choose to save your benefits for future semesters or another degree, certification is not automatic so you must submit your request form to be certified.

If you’re receiving Chapter 33 benefits, you must also provide an updated  showing your remaining entitlement to VABbenefits@smu.edu.

You can contact them online at  or by phone at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551).