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Education Benefit Programs

Summary of eligibility and coverage for federal and state veteran, military, and dependent education benefit programs. For complete benefit and program details, see the VA and CalVet websites.

Applying for Benefits

Students must apply for federal benefits online or by mail through the Veterans Administration (VA); or for CalVet benefits at a local servicing office (CVSO). UCLA does not submit or process VA or state applications for students. Eligibility is determined by the VA or CVSO.

Students must submit their VA-issued Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the school certifying official through a benefit certification request. VR&E recipients must submit their counselor contact information; CalVet recipients must submit their waiver.

All documents must be submitted to UCLA using the secure benefit certification request. VA documents should not be sent through e-mail, as they contain partial social security numbers and e-mail is not a secure platform.

Post 9/11 GI Bill (chapter 33)

Who is Eligible

Veterans and dependents

VETERAN

  • Who served at least 90 days of active duty since September 10, 2001
  • Who received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001 and was honorably discharged after any amount of service
  • Who served at least 30 continuous days (without breaks) on or after September 11, 2001, and was discharged with a service-connected disability

DEPENDENT (Spouse or Child)

  • Dependent of a qualifying veteran or service member, using transferred benefits from that veteran
  • Dependent using Fry Scholarship benefits, and veteran served on active duty for at least 90 days before death

VETERAN and DEPENDENT

If claiming a VACAA UCLA-specific nonresident waiver, also

  • Lives in California
  • Is continuously enrolled at UCLA
  • Uses Chapter 33 benefits for at least one term

What it Covers

  • California resident (in-state) tuition and fees equal to GI Bill eligibility percentage
  • Nonresident tuition (VACAA nonresident waiver applied), as long as benefits are certified and used at least one term at UCLA
  • Monthly housing allowance (MHA), variable up to $3,171
    • MHA amount is determined by the VA, but is generally the same as the military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 (sergeant) with dependents
    • Rate is variable and depends on on factors such as school location, rate of pursuit, and student enrollment status (full-time or part-time standing)
  • Book stipend of $1,000 per academic year
  • Priority enrollment and housing (veterans only)
  • May be used by dependents in conjunction with a CalVet College Fee Waiver

See the VA Post-9/11 web page for application and program details.

Montgomery GI Bill (veterans and reservists)

Who is Eligible – Active Duty (MGIB-AD) (chapter 30)

There arefour eligibility categories, but most students qualify under Category I. These students

  • Obtained a high school diploma, GED, or have 12 hours of college credit
  • Entered active duty after June 30, 1985
  • Had their military pay reduced by $100 per month for the first 12 months of service
  • Served without a break for
    • At least three years
    • Two years as outlined on enlisted agreement
    • Four years if they entered the selected reserve within one year of leaving active duty

What it Covers

  • Monthly stipend up to $2,210 at full-time status
  • Priority enrollment and housing

See the VA MGIB-AD web page for application and program details.

Who is Eligible – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) (chapter 1606)

Benefits apply to reservists who

  • Have a six-year service obligation
  • Completed initial active duty for training (IADT)
  • Obtained a high-school diploma or GED before completing IADT
  • Are in good standing while serving in an active reserve unit

What it Covers

  • Monthly stipend of $439 at full-time status

See the VA MGIB-SR web page for application and program details.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (chapter 31)

Who is Eligible

Veterans and service members soon to be discharged

  • Veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge
  • Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10 percent
  • Service members on active duty with a 20 percent or higher pre-discharge disability rating and will soon leave the military
  • Service members on active duty waiting for discharge due to service-related severe illness or injury

What it Covers

  • Tuition and fees, not including UCSHIP health insurance
  • Monthly housing allowance (MHA), variable from $723.56 to $3,061
  • Books, supplies, and parking if authorized by vocational rehabilitation counselor
  • Priority enrollment and housing

See the VA VR&E web page for application and program details.

Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) (chapter 35)

Who is Eligible

A survivor or dependent of a veteran or service member who

  • Is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability. The disability must be associated to active service or armed forces
  • Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability
  • Is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force
  • Was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity
  • Is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability

What it Covers

  • Monthly stipend up to $1,401 at full-time status
  • May be used in conjunction with a CalVet College Fee Waiver if granted under Plan B, C, or D

See the VA DEA web page for application and program details.

California Veterans (CalVet) College Fee Waiver

Who is Eligible

A survivor or dependent of a veteran or service member who

  • Has a 100 percent service-connected disability rating
  • Is deceased and whose death is officially service-connected
  • Is declared missing in action, or was captured or forcibly detained in the line of duty
  • Is a California National Guard member killed or disabled while on duty in active service

And the survivor or dependent is (one or more)

  • Enrolled in a state-supported academic program
  • A California resident for tuition purposes
  • Unmarried (Plan A)
  • Between 14 and 27 years old (Plans A and D)
  • A child of a veteran who meets income requirements (Plan B)
  • An undergraduate Medal of Honor recipient or child of a recipient (Plan D)

What it Covers

  • Tuition and Student Services Fee (UC systemwide fees) only, no unit minimum
  • Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition (PDST) when applicable
  • May be used in conjunction with DEA benefits if granted under Plan B, C, or D

The CalVet waiver does not cover any other costs or charges, such as campus-based student fees, UCSHIP health insurance, books, housing, meals, etc.

The CalVet waiver must be applied for annually (preferably in late April) for the coming academic year. See the CalVet web page for application and program details.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website.