Overview
VA education benefits help Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling. Learn how to apply for and manage the education and training benefits you’ve earned.
How to Use Your Benefits
Request to Certify
All students* wishing to use VA education benefits must complete a Request to Certify form each semester, after registering for classes, even if they are currently or have previously received benefits. After registering for courses, it will take 24- 48 hours for the system to recognize and reflect the changes.
*Law School, Paralegal, Franciscan School of Theology, and NCD Students do not use this form. These students should contact their program directly to certify benefits.
Getting Started
- How to Apply for your Benefits with the VA
- When Applying with VA, Which Form is Right for Me?
- GI Bill Statement of Benefits
- Are you using Chapter 31 (VR&E)?
- USD Law Students
- Cal Vet College Fee Waiver
- Franciscan School of Theology
Complete the application for Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits on the VA website.
The VA will determine your eligibility and mail your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to you in 30-45 days. With a COE, students can then request to certify.
A Closer Look
Chapter 33: Post-9/11G.I. Bill ®
For time:
You are given a number of months/days that you can be enrolled and receive benefits. The VA will count days based on the official dates of the term you are registered in.
If you are a Veteran, the benefit covers an entire term as long as you have at least a day of benefits left to start the term. If the benefit was transferred to you, the VA prorates your benefit based on the exact number of days you have left and only pays for those specific days.
You are using months/days of your benefit to receive Yellow Ribbon funds. To view your Post-9/11 GI Bill® education enrollment status and entitlement, log on to your eBenefits account.
For money:
There are annual tuition limits that can be paid to you within a VA fiscal year (this amount resets every year on August 1st). You must be using months/days of your benefit to receive Yellow Ribbon Funds.
Updated 05/19/2023
Yellow Ribbon Program Information
USD Yellow Ribbon Benefit Amount
2025-2026 Academic Year
Only a 100% maximum benefit rate under Chapter 33 is eligible for this funding.
Unlimited
for undergraduate students
Unlimited
for graduate students
Unlimited
for doctoral students
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The absence of the registration symbol ® does not constitute a waiver of VA's trademark rights.