VA Education Benefits

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To receive current information on remaining entitlement, create an eBenefits account.

GI Bill registered trademarkGI 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 Web site.

Basic Eligibility

  • Veterans and service members with at least 90 days on active duty service after 09/10/01, or 30 days if discharged with a service-connected disability. You will be issued a percentage that equates to the amount of time served on or after 09/10/01. Each of the 3 payment benefits will be paid based on that percentage.
  • Period of eligibility is 15 years from last discharge or separation for those discharged/separated prior to January 1, 2013. Service members who discharged/separated on or after January 1, 2013 have no time limitation for the use of their benefits.

Payments

  • Percentage of:
    • Tuition and fees paid directly to the school.
    • Tuition and fees are paid directly to the school at the in-state rate only. Distance learning students and students who do not meet in-state residency requirements will be responsible for the remainder of their fees.
    • Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) See payment rates.
    • Book stipend (yearly limit of $1,000)

Additional Information About MHA

  • You must be enrolled at least 51% of full-time to receive MHA (e.g. 7 credits within a standard 14 to 16 length course where 12 credits is full time).
  • If you are enrolled exclusively in online training, you will receive MHA based on 1/2 the national average MHA, multiplied by your rate of eligibility and training time. Rates are available on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Basic Eligibility

  • Veterans/service members with at least two years of active duty after 06/30/1985. Members enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months and then are entitled to receive educational benefits when they complete a minimum service obligation.
  • Period of eligibility is 10 years (from last discharge or separation). This benefit allows 36 months of entitlement.

Payments

  • Monthly stipend, paid to the student, based on level of enrollment and prorated for the number of days in the month. See payment rates.

For more information

Basic Eligibility

  • Active member of the Selected Reserves with a 6 year obligation.
  • Period of eligibility is 14 years (from beginning date of eligibility, or until member leaves the Selected Reserve). This benefit allows 36 months of entitlement.

Payments

  • Monthly stipend, paid to the student, based on level of enrollment and prorated for the number of days in the month. See payment rates.

For more information

Basic Eligibility

  • Dependents of a veteran who died in service or is totally and permanently disabled as a result of service.
  • Eligibility typically ends at age 26 for dependent children. Spouse eligibility typically ends 10 years after the date eligibility is determined. If the Veteran died on active duty or was rated permanently and totally disabled within 3 years of discharge, spouse eligibility ends 20 years after the date of death or date of the rating.

Payments

  • Monthly stipend, paid to the student, based on level of enrollment and prorated for the number of days in the month. See payment rates.

For more information

Basic Eligibility

  • This program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs. This program is an employment program and requires a formal application process. The veteran meets with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to develop a rehabilitation plan which can include employment and living goals.
  • Period of eligibility is 12 years from the latter of the following:
    • Date of separation from active military service
    • Date the veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected disability rating.

Payments

  • Tuition and fees are paid directly to the school. Books and supplies are paid directly to the school. A subsistence stipend is paid directly to the veteran, based on training time which is calculated the same as Ch 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® is calculated.

More information

VA Education Benefits FAQs

To learn what benefit you are eligible for and submit an application, go to va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. Contact Rio Salado Veterans Services if you have questions

If you have used VA Education Benefits at another institution before enrolling at Rio Salado College, you will need to update your program of study or place of training with the VA.

These forms should be completed online at va.gov/education/how-to-apply/. Click the green button on that page and answer the questions that display.

Average processing time is 30 days, but during peak times, processing can take up to 6 weeks for an original claim. Payments are affected by a number of factors, including training time, course begin/end dates, course withdrawal, debts owed to VA and others. Only VA can project your payment date with accuracy. Call (888)442-4551 if you have not been paid within 30 days of your enrollment certification.

Yes. To purchase your course books before receiving your VA payment, you can request a book advance on your Request for Benefits Form. The Veterans Services Office will send you a promissory note to complete. For complete instructions and information, see Book Advances

Yes, you must complete a Request for Benefits form every semester. This is a requirement for all Rio Salado College students using VA Education Benefits. Submit a new Request for Benefits every time you register for new courses.

After you have submitted the required documentation to Rio Salado's Veterans Services office, you may have additional requirements. This depends on which benefit are you using. Please open and read all mail/email you receive from the VA and Rio Salado College regarding your benefits. Students receiving benefits under Chapter 30 or Chapter 1606 must verify their enrollment on the last day of every month and the last day of each course using WAVE.

To change your program of study (your degree plan), you must notify your military advisor (1-800-517-8590) military.advisor@riosalado.edu to have a new RioCompass program checklist created. You also need to submit a Transcript Evaluation Form for any new program plan. You must also indicate this change on your VA Request for Benefits form for the applicable term. These forms are located on our Important Documents page.

The Department of Veteran Affairs will only pay for courses that are required on your program of study or RioCompass checksheet. This is the program you indicate on your VA Request for Benefits Form.

NOTE: The VA does not cover remedial/deficiency courses that have an online delivery method and does not cover any course with a mixed media or correspondence delivery method.

Yes, you can use your VA Education Benefits for prior terms if you meet a few conditions. The VA will "back pay" a student for up to one year preceding the current date. 

Note: The VA will back pay only when courses apply to the current degree, were completed with a satisfactory grade and you were eligible to receive benefits when the courses were taken

Due to the complexity of block scheduling, and the ability to accelerate to an 8-week option in many of our courses, Rio Salado College does not authorize advance payment of VA education benefits.

The GI Bill Comparison Tool can help you determine for which benefits you might be eligible. It will also estimate your potential payments from VA under each benefit type while attending Rio Salado College. This allows you to choose the one that works best with your needs. You can only receive VA Education Benefits under one chapter at a time. Contact the Regional Veterans Affairs Office at 1-888-442-4551.

Yes, you can receive benefits at more than one school you are attending at the same time. One of the two institutions must be the "parent school" (institution where the degree will be awarded). That school must issue a parent school letter (315 letter) authorizing enrollment at the secondary institution. All courses must apply towards completion of the selected degree program at the parent school.

VA payments are circumstantial and depend on enrollment status. Please contact the Veteran Services Department so we can assist you with your enrollment at Rio Salado.

Full-time status is determined by the length of your courses and total amount of credits in which you are enrolled. For questions, please contact Rio Veterans Services Office.

If you are receiving CH33 benefits and your percentage of eligibility is less than 100%, you are responsible for whatever portion is not covered by the VA (i.e. your percentage is 70%, VA pays 70% and you are responsible for the remaining 30%). To learn your eligibility percentage, refer to your eBenefits homepage, Certificate of Eligibility, or Post-9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits.

The VA only pays for the in-state tuition rate at all public institutions. If you are receiving CH33 benefits, and not eligible for the in-state tuition rate, you are responsible for paying the remaining balance for your courses.

If you receive CH33 at the 100% level and do not qualify in-state tuition, you may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program. Contact the Veterans Services office for more information.

You may also owe the school funds due to a withdrawal or ceasing attendance. This is due to recent changes in VA debt policies. To find out more please visit the VA Page or call Veterans Services (480-517-8153).

Please contact the VA Regional Office at 1-888-442-4551 or view your benefit status on the eBenefits website.

Choosing the 8-week option.