Education

Education

Veterans Affairs Education Benefits

An OHSU student veteran smiles while sitting with classmates.

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides funding for education to veterans and their family members through the GI Bill®. Our Veteran Certification Team can help you understand and manage your benefits. 

If you’re a dependent of a veteran, you may also qualify for a Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver from OHSU.› 

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

VA education benefits for veterans

The GI Bill® provides financial support for veterans and their family members. Benefits vary based on which chapter you qualify under.

Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

If you have a service-connected disability, Chapter 31 pays tuition and a subsistence allowance. 

  • Tuition and fees are billed to the VA directly by Student Accounts Receivable.
  • Subsistence allowance is paid to you.
  • Book and supply funds can be paid to you or the school. Books and supplies can also be purchased on your behalf. Please check with your Chapter 31 counselor for more information. 

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill®

Chapter 33 helps pay for tuition, housing and other education costs based on your eligibility. 

  • Tuition and fees are paid directly to the school.
  • Regional campus fees (undergraduate nursing students only): Chapter 33 covers campus and building fees charged by our partner institutions (EOU, OIT, SOU and WOU). If you are taking a course that meets your degree requirements, the VA will pay those fees directly to the partner institution. If not, OHSU will provide you with a refund which you are expected to use to pay the partner institution.
  • Housing and book funds are paid to you.
  • VA policy requires two separate certifications. Our Veteran Certification Team will:
    1. Review your class registration and certify your enrollment status to the VA once you submit the certification request.
    2. Certify your tuition and fees with the VA after the last day of the add/drop period. You can find the last day to add/drop a course on the academic calendar. Tuition and fees are typically reported to the VA one week after the add/drop period and funds are sent to OHSU two to three weeks later. Student Accounts Receivable will automatically reverse any interest fees that accrue while VA tuition funds are being processed. 

Chapter 30: GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

If you served on active duty, Chapter 30 helps pay for education and cover expenses while you train for a job. 

  • Monthly stipend is paid to you.
  • Your stipend amount is calculated based on enrollment status. Our Veteran Certification Team will review your class registration and certify your enrollment to the VA. 

Chapter 1606: GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR)

If you served in the Selected Reserve, Chapter 1606 helps pay for education and cover expenses while you train for a job. 

  • Monthly stipend is paid to you.
  • Your stipend amount is calculated based on enrollment status. Our Veteran Certification Team will calculate the number of credits you are enrolled in and certify your enrollment status to the VA. 

How to set up and use your VA education benefits

Step 1: Get and submit your Certificate of Eligibility 

To access your VA education benefits, you will first need to apply to the VA for a benefit program and be approved. On approval, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), which OHSU needs on file to process your benefit certifications. 

Next, complete the VA benefit intake form and attach your Certificate of Eligibility to send it to our office. You only need to complete the intake form once, unless you switch to a different chapter. 

Step 2: Request a military transcript 

Before you can receive VA education benefits, we will need to review your official military transcript for prior credit. To avoid any delays, request your military transcript be sent to OHSU as early as possible (after you’ve applied to your program). 

OHSU accepts credits per the transfer credit policy. For graduate level programs, prior credit is accepted only upon approval by the program.  

Step 3: Register for courses and request enrollment status certification 

The VA uses your enrollment status (full-time, three-quarter-time or half-time) to determine how much you’ll receive. Each term, after you register for courses and submit your VA benefits certification form, we calculate your enrollment status based on total credit hours then report your status to the VA. 

Enrollment status Undergraduate credit hours required Graduate credit hours required
Full-time 12+ 9+
Three-quarter-time 10-11 7-8
Half-time 7-9 5-6

Note: Modular courses (those that begin or end on dates different than the standard term) contribute credit hours toward your enrollment status based on course length. If you’re taking a modular course, your enrollment status and benefit rate may be affected.

Credit hours for modular courses

Modular course duration (weeks) Undergraduates: full-time credit hours counted in enrollment status Graduates: full-time credit hours counted in enrollment status
14 14 10
10-13 (standard term) 12 9
9 9 6
8 8 6
7 7 5
6 6 4
5 5 3
4 4 3
3 3 2
2 2 1
1 1 1

How to continue using your benefits in a new term

Each term, after you register for classes, complete the VA benefits certification form to continue using your benefits. 

How to transfer benefits from a previous institution

  1. Submit a Request for Change of Program or Place of Training to the VA.
  2. Once you have your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), complete the VA benefits intake form and upload your certificate.  
  3. Register for classes.
  4. Complete the VA benefit certification form.

How to use benefits at a partner or secondary institution

  1. Confirm with your program that the course will satisfy your degree requirements. Once confirmed, enroll in the course.
  2. Complete the VA benefit certification form, indicating that you are taking a course at another institution. When prompted, include the following information:
    1. Name of the institution
    2. Registration information, including course subject, course number, course title, number of credits and academic term
  3. Our office will send a request to the secondary institution to certify your course to the VA.
  4. The VA will factor in your enrollment at all institutions in which you are pursuing requirements for your primary degree program. For example, if you are enrolled in 9 credits at OHSU and 3 credits at Eastern Oregon University, the VA will combine the credits for a total of 12 and you will receive benefits at the full-time rate. 
    1. If you are taking a course at a partner institution that does NOT meet your primary degree requirements, including classes that lead to a minor at your partner institution, then the VA will only consider your enrollment at OHSU. 

VA education benefits for children and spouses of veterans

If you’re a family member of a veteran, you may qualify for financial support for education through the VA. 

Transfer Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to dependents

Veterans may be able to transfer their Chapter 33 benefits to a dependent family member to help pay for tuition, housing and other education costs. 

Chapter 35: Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)

You may qualify for Chapter 35 if you’re the child or spouse of a veteran who has died, is captured or missing or has a permanent, total, service-connected disability. Chapter 35 helps pay for education and cover expenses while you train for a job. 

  • Monthly stipend is sent to you.
  • Your stipend amount is calculated based on enrollment status. Our Veteran Certification Team will calculate the number of credits you are enrolled in and certify your enrollment status to the VA. 

Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver

If you’re the dependent of a veteran, you may be eligible for a tuition waiver under Oregon law ORS 350.285. The Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver covers up to four years of a bachelor’s degree and up to two years of a master’s degree. 

How to qualify for the Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver

You must meet all three of the following requirements to qualify for the Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver. 

Requirement 1: You’re the child or spouse of a veteran who has died, is disabled or received the Purple Heart

Either of the following options fulfills this requirement:

Option 1 – Dependent of a deceased or disabled veteran: You are a child, adopted child, stepchild, spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who: 

  • Died while on active duty
  • Died as a result of a service-connected disability
  • Is 100% disabled as a result of a service-connected disability (as certified by the VA or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States).

Option 2 – Dependent of a Purple Heart recipient: You are a child, adopted child, or stepchild of a veteran (either alive or deceased) who was awarded the Purple Heart in 2001 or later for wounds received in combat. The recipient must have been relieved or discharged from service in the U.S. Armed Forces with either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. 

Requirement 2: You’re in a qualified degree program 

  • If you are admitted to a bachelor's or master's degree program at OHSU.
  • The waiver cannot be applied to courses for a doctoral degree or for a certificate at any level.
  • The waiver cannot be applied to the M.D./M.P.H. dual degree program.
  • If you’re in the M.S. Nutrition/Dietetic Internship program, the waiver applies only to coursework in the M.S. degree. It does not apply to coursework leading to the Dietetic Internship certificate. 

Requirement 3: You’re considered an Oregon resident at OHSU 

How to apply for the Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver

Step 1 – Gather the required documentation of eligibility

Option 1 – Dependent of a deceased or disabled veteran: Either a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for Chapter 35 benefits OR a Veteran Sponsor’s Disability Letter with 100% rating. (Note: The disability rating must be 100%. You will not qualify as eligible if the sponsor is rated less than 100%, even if they receive disability pay at the 100% level due to individual unemployability). 

Option 2 – Dependent of a Purple Heart recipient: Either a copy of the Purple Heart Medal documentation OR a DD214 with Purple Heart listed in section 13 for record of service on or after 2001.

Step 2 – Complete and submit the Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver form  

We must receive your form no later than 5 p.m. on the first day of the term for which you’re seeking the waiver. 

How the waiver works with GI Bill® benefits

If you receive the Veteran’s Dependent Tuition Waiver, your tuition benefits from the GI Bill® may be affected.

Your GI Bill® chapter How your benefits work with the Veteran's Dependent Tuition Waiver
Chapter 35: Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program You must be at least half-time to ensure you receive both benefits. Students falling below half-time with $0 tuition may become ineligible for Chapter 35 benefits.
Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Because you will be paying no tuition, no tuition funds will be disbursed. Your months of GI Bill® benefits will be used up during this period.
Chapter 33: Post-9/11 GI Bill Because you will be paying no tuition, no tuition funds will be disbursed. You can receive housing benefits if you qualify, but your months of GI Bill® benefits will be used up during this period.
Chapter 30: GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD) You must be at least half-time to ensure you receive both benefits. Students falling below half-time with $0 tuition may become ineligible for Chapter 30 benefits.
Chapter 1606: GI Bill® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) You must be at least half-time to ensure you receive both benefits. Students falling below half-time with $0 tuition may become ineligible for Chapter 1606 benefits.

In-state tuition for beneficiaries

If you meet one of the following conditions, you are considered an Oregon resident and qualify for in-state tuition (regardless of your formal state of residence). See OHSU policy 02-10-010 for details and restrictions. 

  • You are a veteran and have secured housing in Oregon prior to commencing enrollment in an OHSU academic program.
  • You are a veteran who lives in Oregon and you receive benefits under Chapter 30 or 33.
  • You live in Oregon and use transferred benefits under Chapter 33.
  • You live in Oregon and receive benefits under Chapter 31 or Chapter 1606. 

How VA benefits work with other financial aid

Chapter 31 

Chapter 31 benefits may be affected by other financial aid. Please email the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@ohsu.edu for more information. 

Chapter 33 

Chapter 33 benefits are affected by certain types of financial aid. If you are receiving other aid, inform our Veteran Certification Team at veterancert@ohsu.edu and verify if your GI Bill® benefits will be affected. 

Aid that may affect your Chapter 33 tuition funds disbursement: 

  • Scholarships, grants and loans received solely for tuition
  • Other military funding, such as the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) or Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance (ONGSTA) 

Aid that does not affect your Chapter 33 tuition funds disbursement:   

  • Any scholarships that can be used for more than just tuition
  • Title IV aid