Veteran Affairs

Chapter 33 provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 aggregate days of active duty on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Effective August 1, 2009 the Post-9/11 GI Bill® allows service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children.

• Covers up to $27,120.05 per academic year + Yellow Ribbon Program for those eligible.
• Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school.
• Book stipend is paid directly to the student - up to $1000 per year.
• Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is paid directly to student.
  
  • Student must be full-time and enrolled in at least one in-residence course to receive the full MHA rate.  
  • MHA is paid by the enrollment period - check the start and end dates for each class. Different start and end dates can mean different rates of pursuit for MHA.
  • If you enroll in online courses only, and you are full time, you will receive half the national average BAH. o The first and last month's MHA are pro-rated because each term begins and ends in the middle of the month.
  • MHA amounts are based on the DOD's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an "E-5 with dependents" for the zip code of the school.
  • If you drop courses at any time after the first week of the term, you may owe a portion of the MHA you receive to the VA, as well as tuition to the school.
• The Yellow Ribbon Program is available to students who are 100% eligible for Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits.  
  
  • Covers the difference of tuition and fees after the annual cap of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits is exhausted.  
  • 100% coverage – VA Yellow Ribbon contributions are 50% and TCU Yellow Ribbon contributions are 50%.
  • First come first serve basis.
  • Unlimited spots and coverage for undergraduate students.

Apply for Chapter 33 Benefits

Undergraduate and Graduate students who are eligible for 100% funding from Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits will receive a base tuition allowance of $27,120.05 for the 2023-2024 academic year from the VA and will automatically qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program at TCU. Effective August 1, 2022 active duty service members and spouses using transferred benefits may participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

• The Yellow Ribbon Program covers the remainder of tuition and fee charges after the annual cap of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits listed above is exhausted.
• The program covers 100% of tuition and fees by TCU providing a grant for 50% of the remaining tuition and fee charges, and the VA matching this amount.
• Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school.
• Funding and spots for undergraduate students are unlimited.
• TCU’s graduate programs have different limits for the number of students that will be supported and may have a different amount of Yellow Ribbon that will be contributed depending on the graduate program.

Yellow Ribbon Coverage Table

The Yellow Ribbon Program is also available to dependents receiving benefits under the John Fry Scholarship. 

Degree Level	College or Professional School	Maximum Number of Students	Maximum GI Bill Contributions for 23-24	Yellow Ribbon Contributions for 23-24
Undergraduate	All	Unlimited	$27,120.05	Unlimited
Graduate	Neeley School of Business	Unlimited	$27,120.05	Unlimited
Graduate	Harris School of Nurse Anesthesia	10	$27,120.05	$15,750 from TCU and $15,750 from VA
Graduate	Graduate Studies	18	$27,120.05	$4,903 from TCU and $4,903 from VA
Graduate	Brite Divinity School	10	$27,120.05	$4,500 from TCU and $4,500 from VA
Doctoral	Burnett School of Medicine at TCU	Unlimited	$27,120.05	$10,000 from TCU and $10,000 from VA

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill® education benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty while on active duty on or after September 11, 2001.  

• Children are eligible as of their 18th birthday (unless they have already graduated high school). A child may be married or be over 23 years old and still be eligible. If they became eligible before January 1, 2013 their eligibility ends on their 33rd birthday. The age limitation is removed if the child became eligible on or after January 1, 2013.
• Surviving spouses of active-duty members of the Armed Forces who died in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001 are eligible. Eligibility ends upon remarriage.
• If you are eligible for both Fry Scholarship and DEA (Dependents Educational Assistance), you will be required to make an irrevocable election between the two programs when you apply. Dependents are not eligible to receive both DEA and the Fry Scholarship based on the same event (like a service member dying in the line of duty) unless he or she is a child whose parent died prior to August 1, 2011. A child of a parent who died prior to August 1, 2011 may still be eligible for both benefits but he/she may only use one program at a time and combined benefits are capped at a total of 81 months of full-time training. In this situation the two benefit programs cannot be used concurrently.
• Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school.
• Recipients of the Fry Scholarship automatically qualify the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship.

The Fry Scholarship

The Edith Nourse Rogers Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) Scholarship allows some eligible Veterans and dependents in high-demand fields to extend their Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship benefits.

• If eligible, covers up to 9 months or $30,000 of added benefits.
• Does extend benefits if the annual cap for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits has already been met for the academic year.
• Does not qualify for Yellow Ribbon Program Funding.  
• Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school.

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) is a program that may provide educational assistance if you have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA.

• Active Duty service members are eligible for Chapter 31 VR&E if they:
  
  • Expect to receive an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge upon separation from active duty.
  • Obtain a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
  • Apply for VR&E services.
    OR
    Are participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) or are certified by the military as having a severe injury or illness that may prevent them from performing their military duties.
  • Report for an evaluation with a VR&E counselor before separating from active duty.
  • Apply for VR&E services.
• Veterans are eligible if they:
  
  • Have received a discharge that is other than dishonorable.
  • Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA.
  • Apply for VR&E services.
• Tuition and Fees are paid directly to the school.

Chapter 31 Benefits

The Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition or of Veterans who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition.

• The monthly stipend is paid directly to the student.
• The first and last month's stipends are pro-rated because each term begins and ends in the middle of the month.
• Student is responsible for tuition and fees payment, regardless of when VA payment is received.
• It is recommended that you set up payment arrangements with the Office of Financial Services.

Chapter 35 Benefits

MGIB-AD program provides up to 36 months of education benefits and it may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship or on-the-job training and correspondence courses pre-approved by VA. The benefits generally apply to Veterans who began active duty service for the first time after June 30, 1985, had their pay reduced $100 a month for 12 months, and received an honorable discharge. Generally, the benefits are payable for 10 years following release from active duty.

• The monthly stipend is paid directly to the student.
• The first and last month's stipends are pro-rated because each term begins and ends in the middle of the month.
• Complete self-certifications each month in order to receive payment of educational benefits through 1-877-823-2378.
• Student is responsible for tuition and fees payment, regardless of when VA payment is received.
• It is recommended that you set up payment arrangements with the Office of Financial Services.

Chapter 30 Benefits

MGIB-SR program provides education and training benefits to eligible members of the Selected Reserve, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard or Air National Guard. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components and VA makes the payments.
  

• The monthly stipend is paid directly to the student.
• The first and last month's stipends are pro-rated because each term begins and ends in the middle of the month.
• Complete self-certifications each month in order to receive payment of educational benefits through 1-877-823-2378.
• Student is responsible for tuition and fees payment, regardless of when VA payment is received.

It is recommended that you set up payment arrangements with the Office of Financial Services.  

  
Chapter 1606 Benefits

Texas Christian University is not a public institution and therefore is NOT eligible for participation in this Texas program.

Hazelwood Act

• Only after the student’s file is complete will the certification be submitted to the VA (new students).
• In order to be certified for a given term students must fill out the Request for Enrollment Certification Form in their student portal.
• Being accurate in the completion of the from is crucial as any errors can affect the certification and payments.
• After the refund period ends (usually the first 30 days) for the term an amendment to the enrollment certification is submitted to the VA to include net tuition and fees. This means that funding may not arrive until 6-8 weeks into the semester.
• Notify the Veterans Education Benefits Office of any schedule or tuition/fee changes.
• Understand that failed, withdrawn, and dropped courses may affect payment status. Dependent on the drop/withdraw date, the result could be an overpayment to the VA and a debt for the student. It is imperative the Veterans Education Benefits Office is notified when a student plans to drop a course/withdraw from school.
• Understand that only courses towards the degree will be included in enrollment certification to the VA.
• Know what benefit program you are using and the payment terms. Different benefit programs pay benefits at different times and at different rates. TCU does not determine final payment amounts, the VA does.
• Know the amount of benefit and/or training time allotted, used and remaining. TCU does not have access to this information. It is possible benefits could be exhausted while attending TCU and funding not received.
• Know that VA will NOT pay for courses previously taken and passed or simply to improve your GPA.
• In order to continue to receive the Yellow Ribbon Program at TCU, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP is measured by three components:
  1. Qualitative progress—cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
  2. Quantitative progress—credit hours attempted versus credit hours successfully completed must be 75%
  3. Cumulative progress—the maximum time allowed for completing a four-year degree which is186 hours and 12 semesters

Since December 17, 2021, all students using Chapter 33) Post-9/11 GI Bill® Educational Benefits, who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments will be required to verify their enrollment status monthly to continue receiving their payments.

This is different from the TCU SCO’S enrollment certification process before the beginning of each semester.

The monthly enrollment verification is a Veteran Affairs requirement for Post-9/11 GI Bill® students to certify that they have remained enrolled in the same courses the SCO has previously certified.

Text Messaging (easiest and fastest method):

1. Opt-in with the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to ensure the VA has your mobile phone number.
2. After opting-in, you can verify your enrollment by responding to a text message from the VA.
3. The VA will never ask for your personal information, for example, social security number or bank account number via text.

Education Call Center:

1. Contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) Ask the representative to verify enrollment on your behalf.
2. Wait times may be high due to the number of students verifying each month.
3. If you opt-out of text verification and later change your mind, or need to change your mobile number, call the ECC at 1888GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

If you fail to verify your information for two consecutive months, your monthly payments will be placed on hold. You will then have to take additional steps to verify your enrollment and have the payments released.