Veteran Education Benefits - The GI Bill®

For general questions and answers on Veteran Benefits please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Education Service site.

Application for VA education benefits

Some education benefits are for Veterans and some are for the spouse and/or dependents of Veterans. Please follow the instructions below that best match your situation. It can take the VA at least a month and sometimes longer to process education benefit applications. You may apply for both VA Education Benefits and admission to Concordia at the same time—there is no need to wait for approval or acceptance of one before applying for the other. Concordia University does not determine Veteran eligibility for benefits (education benefits, basic allowance for housing (BAH) or other stipends). If you have questions about how eligibility is determined or anything else about your possible benefits you may call VA Education Services hotline at 888-442-4551 (888-GIBILL-1).

Student IS the Veteran

There are several education benefits available to eligible select reserve, active duty and separated military personnel.

1. Apply for benefits via the VA website if you've not already done so. The VA does NOT communicate your eligibility to Concordia University. You may communicate with Concordia’s VA School Certifying Official (SCO) at any time during your process of applying for VA Education benefits so that we are aware of your possible eligibility. Write to VABenefits@cune.edu, or call the registrar’s office at 402-643-7230.
2. Once your application has been processed by the VA and you are approved, you will receive an award letter, known as the "Certificate of Eligibility" (COE) via US mail. Please scan and send a copy of your COE to Concordia's SCO at the email address above.  This is a sign to Concordia that you have been added to the VA’s Enrollment Manager database.  We can then take the next step to secure funding from the VA for your education, once you are enrolled at Concordia for a semester.

Student is NOT the Veteran

There are two primary benefit programs available to eligible Veteran spouses and dependents - Chapter 35 Dependent Educational Assistance (DEA) or Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement.

CHAPTER 35 DEA

1. Apply for benefits via the VA website if you've not already done so. The VA does NOT communicate your eligibility to Concordia University.  You may communicate with Concordia’s VA School Certifying Official (SCO) at any time during your process of applying for VA Education benefits so that we are aware of your possible eligibility.  Write to VABenefits@cune.edu, or call the registrar’s office at 402-643-7230.
2. Once your application has been processed by the VA and you are approved, you will receive an award letter, known as the "Certificate of Eligibility" (COE) via US mail. Please scan and send a copy of your COE to Concordia's SCO at the email address above.  This is a sign to Concordia that you have been added to the VA’s Enrollment Manager database.  We can then take the next step to secure funding from the VA for your education, once you are enrolled at Concordia for a semester.

CHAPTER 33 POST-9/11 GI BILL TRANSFER OF ENTITLEMENT

1. While on active duty, the Veteran must submit a Transfer Education Benefit (TEB) with the Department of Defense (DoD). Once the TEB has been approved, the Veteran will receive a hard copy confirmation via US mail.
2. Upon approval of the TEB, the dependent student may apply for benefits via the VA website. The VA does NOT communicate your eligibility to Concordia University.  You may communicate with Concordia’s VA School Certifying Official (SCO) at any time during the process of applying for VA Education benefits so that we are aware of your possible eligibility.  Write to VABenefits@cune.edu, or call the registrar’s office at 402-643-7230.
3. Once the student's application has been processed by the VA, the VA will send a "Certificate of Eligibility" (COE) via US mail.  When you receive your COE, please scan and email a copy to the SCO. Once we have the necessary documentation about your benefits, we will take the next step to secure funding from the VA for your education at Concordia.

School Certification

School certification requires:

1. Student is listed in VA’s Enrollment Manager Database
2. Active registration at Concordia
3. Pursuit of an eligible degree (all of our degree programs are approved by the VA)
4. Courses must apply to degree requirements

Enrollment will be certified generally at least one month prior to the start of a new semester. Enrollment will be automatically certified for subsequent Fall and Spring semesters; students wishing to be certified for the Summer term should notify Concordia University's VA School Certifying Official (see below).

Often students have fewer months of eligibility than are needed to complete a full degree program. Students have the right to choose which semesters are reported to the VA. Please communicate with Concordia’s SCO at VABenefits@cune.edu if you wish to not use your benefits for an upcoming term, or to begin using benefits after a period of not using them.

VA Payments

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, and Chapter 31 tuition and fees benefits are paid directly to Concordia University. All other benefits are paid directly to the student, and it is the student's responsibility to use those funds toward school and related expenses.

Yellow Ribbon

The VA is the authority in determining basic eligibility for Yellow Ribbon. Generally speaking, students may qualify for Yellow Ribbon funds if all of the following are met:

Student is the Veteran:

1. No longer on Active Duty
2. Eligible for 100% tuition and fees paid, under Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill
3. Tuition and fees exceed the fiscal year maximum covered by Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill

Student is the spouse of the Veteran:

1. Veteran is no longer on Active Duty
2. Eligible for 100% of benefits (tuition and fees paid) under Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement
3. Tuition and fees exceed the fiscal year maximum covered by Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill

Student is the child of the Veteran:

1. Eligible for 100% of benefits (tuition and fees paid) under Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill Transfer of Entitlement
2. Tuition and fees exceed the fiscal year maximum covered by Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill

NOTE:  The VA requires that all institutional aid awarded to Concordia Students be applied to tuition and fee totals first.  The remaining tuition and fees owed are then reported on the student’s  Enrollment Certification to the VA.  In all cases of students eligible for 100% of benefits, the student does receive 100% of tuition and fees paid, between the school and the VA.

Student Responsibilities

• It is the student’s responsibility to be aware that registration and enrollment changes may affect student benefits and in some cases may cause a return and repayment of funds to the VA.
• It is the student's responsibility to make payment arrangements with the Student Financial Services Office for charges billed by Concordia University. This must be completed by the semester payment deadlines.
• It is the student's responsibility to self-report monthly enrollment information to the VA (this can be set up to be done by text of phone).
• It is the student's responsibility to keep address and direct deposit information current with the VA. Address changes should be communicated separately to the School Certifying Official as well.

Called to Active Military Duty

It is the intent of Concordia University, Nebraska to facilitate the withdrawal or change in registration and the reenrollment of students who are called to active military duty. If called to active duty in the U.S. armed forces, students may withdraw and receive a full refund of tuition and fees for that semester. The student (or a representative) should take a copy of the military orders to the Registrar’s office to process withdrawal or change in registration. Withdrawal for active military service will have no effect on any subsequent request to withdraw from the University. Students may re-enroll upon completion of their tour of duty.

The University policy governing military call-ups allows for a variety of unique solutions not covered by University policy (such as receiving incompletes in some classes while retro-withdrawing from others leading to a partial refund; or receiving a total refund of tuition and fees) which minimizes the effects of time and financial investment put into a semester already in progress when you are called to active military service.

• You will need a copy of your orders.
• You should first consult with your advisor. Based on the specific course(s) in which you are enrolled and the point in the semester when the call-up occurs, you may be advised to discuss incomplete contracts with individual instructor or be directed immediately to the registrar’s office.
• The registrar and student financial services staff will make determinations as to appropriate withdrawal procedures and refunds and explain the process for re-enrollment after completing active duty. They will also assist with quick referrals related to financial aid issues, cancellation of any campus housing contracts, and allowable refunds.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 Policy for Veteran Students

Utilizing VA GI Bill® Education Benefits

Consistent with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, Section 103, Concordia University, Nebraska will not impose any penalties due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs on recipients of Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 VA Benefits. Concordia University, Nebraska will permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides Concordia University, Nebraska a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33, and ending on the earlier of the following dates: 1) The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution or 2) 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the COE (Certificate of Eligibility).

Additionally, Concordia University, Nebraska will not require that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to Concordia University, Nebraska due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 31 or 33. A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation, or chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits, and has been verified by the school certifying official as benefit eligible. This requirement is limited to the portion of funds paid by VA.

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

Questions?