VA Educational Benefits (New)

This benefit provides UP TO 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans and veteran dependents. Veterans released from active duty after 1 January 2013 have no delimitating date to use their benefits. Those released prior to 1 January 2013 have 15 years to use their benefits. The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after 11 September 2001 and those with a service-connected disability.

• Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school.
• Covers in-state tuition, minus College Opportunity Fund (COF).
• Book stipend is paid directly to students - up to $1000 per year.
• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid directly to students.
  • Student must be full-time and enrolled in at least one in-residence/hybrid course to receive the full MHA rate.
  • MHA is paid by the enrollment period - check the start and end dates for each class.  Different start and end dates can mean different rates of pursuit for MHA.
  • If you enroll in online courses only, and you are full time, you will receive half the national average BAH.
  • The first and last month's MHA are pro-rated because each term begins and ends in the middle of the month.
  • MHA amounts are based on the DOD's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an "E-5 with dependents" for the zip code of the school.
  • If you drop courses at any time after the first day of the term, you may owe a portion of the MHA you receive to the VA, as well as tuition to the school.  Talk to VMA before dropping courses!
• Yellow Ribbon may be available to students who are 100% eligible for Chapter 33 benefits and are ineligible for in-state tuition.
  • Covers the difference between resident and non-resident tuition, up to $12,000 per academic year.
  • Residency is determined by the Office of the Registrar.
  • If you think you may be eligible for Yellow Ribbon, please contact Veteran and Military Affairs. This funding is limited and may not be available to every eligible student.

UCCS VMA Ch 33 Checklist here.

Application for Ch 33 here.

Change of Program or Place of Training here.

Learn more about your Chapter 33 benefits here.  

This education benefit provides UP TO 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty. If a student contributed at least $600 to the “Buy-Up” program, they are eligible for increased monthly benefits.

• Stipend is paid directly to student.
• Student is responsible for payment of tuition and fees, regardless of when VA payment is received.

UCCS VMA Ch 30 AD Checklist here.

Application for Ch 30 AD here.

Learn more about your Ch 30 AD benefits here.

This benefit may be available to students who are members of the Selected Reserve including: the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components. Students may be entitled to receive UP TO 36 months of education benefits.

• Instead of a Certificate of Eligibility, you will complete the Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) with your chain of command or unit education officer.
• Stipend is paid directly to the student.
• Student is responsible for payment of tuition and fees, regardless of when VA payment is received.
• This benefit cannot be used with Federal Tuition Assistance.

UCCS VMA Ch 30 SR Checklist here.

Application for Ch 30 SR here.

Learn more about your Ch 30 SR benefits Selected Reserve

This education benefit pays UP TO 36 months of benefits to a spouse or child of a veteran who is 100% permanently and totally disabled or has died either on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability on active duty. Students who have used DEA benefits prior to 1 August 2018 are eligible for 45 months of entitlement. A child must use the benefit between the ages of 18-26 and a spouse has 10 years to use the benefit from the date

• Stipend paid directly to student.
• Student is responsible for tuition and fees payment, regardless of when VA payment is received.

UCCS VMA Ch 35 Checklist here.

Application for Ch 35 here.

Learn more about your Chapter 35 benefits here.

Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31) assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities and an employment handicap to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment.

If you have a service-connected disability of 10% or more and have received or will receive an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge, please visit Eligibility For Veteran Readiness And Employment through the VA to discuss your eligibility and potential entitlement for services. Services vary depending on the Veterans’ needs and must be determined necessary to help a Veteran overcome their disabilities. 

• If you are eligible, you will be contacted by the VA to attend an orientation session.
• You will meet with your Veteran Readiness Counselor (VRC).
• Your VRC will send your eligibility document (authorization) to our office, in place of a Certificate of Eligibility.
• Schedule a New Student Intake with Veteran and Military Affairs.
• We cannot certify your enrollment until your Chapter 31 application process is complete and your eligibility document (authorization) has been received by Veteran and Military Affairs.

Please note that CH 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is NOT an education program.

The Purpose of VR&E is to provide guided opportunities for job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and other employment preparation services.

Pursuing your degree at UCCS falls into the job training portion of the program. Ultimately, your Veteran Readiness Counselor (VRC) must approve any changes to your degree plan, to include declaring a minor.

Only courses that apply to your degree plan can be certified for payment.

UCCS VMA Ch 31 Checklist here.

Application for Ch 31 here.

Learn more about your Chapter 31 benefits here.