Military Service Education Benefits
Each branch of the U.S. military has education programs to help members pay for college. To participate in these programs you must meet certain eligibility criteria. Generally, benefits are based on the type and/or length of service.
For help to identify POTENTIAL veteran education benefits or incentives that you may be entitled to receive please visit the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Higher Education Veterans Programs.
Minnesota public college or universities must treat veterans as residents for purposes of determining the undergraduate and graduate school tuition rates if the veteran:
- was a Minnesota resident on entering military service and
- starts attending the state college or university graduate program within two years of completing military service.
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System (which represents Minnesota public community and technical colleges and state universities) must recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits. (Minnesota Statute 197.775 Higher Education Fairness, Subdivision. 2. Recognition of courses, Part (a))
University of Minnesota and Private Institutions: The University of Minnesota and private Minnesota colleges and universities have been encouraged by the state to recognize courses and award educational credits for courses that were part of a veteran's military training or service if the courses meet the standards of the American Council on Education or equivalent standards for awarding academic credits. (Minnesota Statute 197.775 Higher Education Fairness, Subdivision. 2. Recognition of courses, Part (b))
A veteran enrolled in a public Minnesota university or college who is eligible to receive federal educational assistance for veterans, and who has applied for that assistance but not yet received it may not be assessed late fees or other late charges. Public institutions may not prevent these students from registering for subsequent courses because of outstanding tuition charges that arise from delayed federal payments.
Campuses of the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system may request, without delay, the amount of tuition expected from federal tuition assistance and may require payment of the full amount of tuition owed by the veteran within 30 days of receipt of the federal educational assistance. (Minnesota Statute 197.775 Higher Education Fairness, Subdivision. 4 Delayed payment of tuition)
As a veteran residing in Minnesota, you may be entitled to educational benefits from the federal Pell Grant and Minnesota State Grant Programs. Your eligibility for state and federal aid is determined when you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This application can be completed online at fafsa.ed.gov. The paper FAFSA becomes available in early winter, and may be obtained from high school counselors, financial aid offices at postsecondary institutions, public libraries and from the Office of Higher Education. You may request a copy by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 433-3243. The FAFSA may be completed beginning January 1 for the fall term.
Generally, if you are a veteran, a member of a reserve force or of the National Guard returning from a tour of active duty of 181 or more consecutive days for purposes other than training, you are able file your FAFSA as an independent student.
Under the Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 2006, individuals who are currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training have been added to the list of individuals who are considered to be independent students.
"Active duty" for the purposes of determining eligibility for federal financial aid does not include a call into active duty for state purposes. For example, if a student is a member of the National Guard and is called to perform disaster relief by a state's governor, that student would not be considered an independent student.
Institutions are not required to obtain a copy of military orders or a letter from a base or unit commander attesting to the student's claim that he or she has served on active duty for other than training purposes unless there is conflicting information, the FAFSA does not confirm the student's status as a veteran or the institution has reason to believe the student's information is inaccurate.
Your eligibility for state and federal financial aid is based on your earnings the previous year and other financial factors. Veteran's and members of the Reserve and National Guard who are returning from a call-up to active duty may be earning less now than when they served on active duty.
In this instance, students can appeal to their institution's financial aid office to have current earnings used to calculate their financial aid eligibility. For example, if your National Guard Unit was called-up to active duty in late 2005 for a period of 18 months, and you are now planning to enroll in college in 2007, your earnings will likely be significantly lower.
The Federal Pell and Minnesota State Grant Programs allow financial aid administrators to use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis, to alter the FAFSA results as appropriate. This is done at the discretion of the financial aid professional. For more information about filing an appeal, please contact your financial aid office.
According to State law, members of the United States Armed Forces on active federal military service stationed in Minnesota and their spouses and dependents are considered Minnesota residents and therefore eligible to participate in the Minnesota State Grant and other Minnesota financial aid programs provided they meet the other program eligibility guidelines. (Minnesota Statue 136A.101 Subdivision 8)
In addition, you may be eligible for additional benefits from your branch of military service. For information regarding these benefits you should contact your personnel non-commissioned officer.
For additional information, please contact the financial aid office of your school.
The Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-Chapter 30) provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for:
- College, business, technical or vocational school
- On-the-job training and apprenticeship programs
- Remedial, deficiency, and refresher training (in some cases)
- The cost of tests for licenses or certifications needed to get, keep, or advance in a job
- Correspondence courses
- Flight training (in some cases)
Each individual state approves schools and courses. To find out if your school or program is approved for educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, contact your school's Veterans Affairs Certifying Official or view a list of approved schools provided by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs State Approving Agency.
For additional information:
- Contact the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs at www.gibill.va.gov or 1-888-GI-BILL-1
- Your County Veterans Service Officer located in the county in which you live
- The Minnesota Higher Education Veterans Program Regional Coordinator for the school you are attending or plan to attend (view contact list)
- www.mymilitaryeducation.org
Members of the National Guard and Reserves may be eligible to receive specific federal and state benefits for veterans. If you are a Minnesota National Guard Member or Reserve Member you may be eligible for additional state benefits. They may also be eligible to receive federal and state grants.
For help to identify POTENTIAL veteran education benefits or incentives that you may be entitled to receive please visit the interactive GI Bill Comparison Tool provided by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Higher Education Veterans Programs.
Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR or Chapter 1606)
The Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve is an education program that provides up to 36 months of education benefits to members of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, as well as the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard.
How Much Money Can You Get?
The monthly benefit paid to you is based on the type of training you take, your enrollment level and if DOD put extra money in your MGIB Fund (called "kickers").
Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP or Chapter 1607)
The Reserve Educational Assistance Program or REAP provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), and National Guard, who are or were called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.
Generally, a member of a Reserve component who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under title 10, U.S. Code, for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation, is eligible for REAP. There is no specific timeframe to use REAP; however, your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.
Federal Tuition Assistance for Veterans
The Federal Tuition Assistance program for eligible National Guard or reserve members pays up to $250 per semester hour, up to $4,500 per fiscal year (October 1 through September 30) for tuition and fees. This benefit may be used in conjunction with other educational benefits. Please note this is not a guaranteed benefit. This program has a finite budget and is paid on a first come, first serve basis so it is best to apply early.
Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement
Minnesota Tuition Reimbursement is available to eligible members of the Minnesota National Guard enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses.
Guard members may use this program with the Federal Tuition Assistance and Montgomery GI Bill benefits.
Minnesota State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) will pay for 100 percent of your tuition (not including student fees) up to the undergraduate rate at the University of Minnesota for 144 semester credits. This benefit is available to current members of the Minnesota Army and Air National Guard and may be used in conjunction with the GI Bill and Federal Tuition Assistance (again, FTA and STR can be combined but only to equal 100 percent of tuition). This benefit is paid to the military member after a final grade is received for the course. Submission of required materials, including tuition fee statement and semester grade report, goes through the designated unit official. Like FTA, STR requires a "C" or better or "pass".
NOTE: State Tuition Reimbursement has been extended to service members who have satisfactorily completed their service contract in the Minnesota National Guard AND who have served honorably in active federal service since September 11, 2001. Eligibility is extended for a period of two years, plus the amount of time equal to the duration of that person's active service.
To apply, you MUST contact your unit full-time representative to obligate funds as soon as you know you will be going to school. You will need to provide the name of the school, approximate start date and number of credits to be taken.
The Minnesota GI Bill program was established in 2007 to provide postsecondary financial assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans and service members as well as eligible spouses and children of deceased or severely disabled eligible Minnesota veterans. The program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and more information can be found here.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs provides an educational benefit in the form of a one-time grant to veterans who have exhausted their federal benefits. You can contact your County Veteran Service Officer to assist you in applying for these education benefits.
For more information
Students should contact the financial aid office at the school they attend or plan to attend, their county veterans service officer, or:
Minnesota Higher Education Veterans Program phone numbers:
(651) 296-2562
888.LINK.VET (546.5838)
+1.651.5560596 International
www.mymilitaryeducation.org
- Contact the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs at www.gibill.va.gov or 1-888-GI-BILL-1
- Your County Veterans Service Officer located in the county in which you live
- The Minnesota Higher Education Veterans Programs Regional Coordinator for the school you are attending or plan to attend (view contact list)
- www.mymilitaryeducation.org
Minnesota residents enrolled at the University of Minnesota or at a state college and university who voluntarily or pursuant to the present selective service law withdraw to enlist or serve in the military prior to the end of the school year for which the tuition was paid, are entitled to the refund of all tuition paid for which credit cannot properly be given. Students applying for a refund of any paid tuition must furnish a certificate from the proper officers reciting the fact of the enlistment or the induction of the student into the military service of the United States. See Minnesota Statute 137.10 Refund of Tuition to Students in Certain Cases: for MNSCU or for U of MN.