GI Bill® Military Education Benefits

Other Student Services

The GI Bill® has been helping to cover the cost of education for veterans and their family members since 1944. If you'd like to use your GI Bill® benefits at the University of Denver, the Office of the Registrar is here to help. Follow the instructions below to get started.

Setting Up Benefits With the VA

If you have never used your VA education benefits before, you will first need to apply with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA may also allow you to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill® education benefits to a qualified family member, who must then apply to use the transferred benefits.

After you submit your application, the VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), usually within four to six weeks. The VA is responsible for determining your eligibility for education benefits.

Setting Up Benefits With DU

Once the VA has determined that you are eligible for benefits, you will need to submit the following two documents to VACertify@du.edu:

  1. Your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or a Statement of Benefits from va.gov
  2. A completed Intent to Use Veteran Benefits Information Sheet

The Intent to Use form asks for your full Social Security number, the term in which you intend to begin using your benefits, and your anticipated graduation date.

Chapter 35 dependents: Your VA File Number is the Social Security number of the service member who earned the benefit. The VA File Number is required for Chapter 35 dependents only.

Certification

Once DU has your required documentation on file and you have registered for classes, we will begin the two-step certification process. Certification typically begins 30 to 60 days before the start of the term.

Step 1: Enrollment certification
Before the term begins, we certify the credits for all courses that apply to your degree program. If you register for a course that does not apply to your degree program, our office will contact you via email.

Step 2: Tuition and fees certification
For Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® beneficiaries, we certify your tuition and fees after the 100% refund drop period ends. Depending on processing times, it may take several weeks for the VA to pay DU.

For other VA education benefit chapters, no separate tuition and fees certification is required.

You will receive an automated notification from the VA each time a certification is submitted. These notifications will be sent to the email address on file with the VA.

DU will certify all terms for which you are registered between the start term and graduation term listed on your Intent to Use form. If your graduation term changes, or if you do not want to use your benefits for a particular term, notify VACertify@du.edu as soon as possible; preferably at the time of registration.

Understanding Your Benefits

The VA offers benefits in the form of Chapters. Each one is unique and applies to a specific population. If you are unsure of what program you qualify for, please reach out to the VA at 1-888-442-4551.

For more information on calculating your benefits, please visit the GI Bill® Comparison Tool/Calculate Your Benefits website.

Chapter 33: Post-9/11 or Forever GI Bill®

This is the most widely used program for veterans and their families.

DU is a private school, and the VA caps the tuition benefit each year. After you have reached this cap, you will be responsible for any remaining charges for the academic year, unless you qualify for Yellow Ribbon funds. The cap includes tuition costs and eligible fees.

  • The Tuition Cap for the 2026-2027 academic year is $30,908.34  (100% eligibility rate)
  • Students whose eligibility rate is less than 100% are subject to tuition caps based on their percentage. Each quarter, the VA will pay your percentage, and you are responsible for paying the remainder. Once you have reached the tuition cap for your percentage, the VA will not make any more payments, and you will be responsible for the full cost of your tuition and fees for the remainder of the academic year.  Caps for less than 100% eligibility rates for the 2026-2027 academic year are as follows:
    • 90% eligibility rate = $27,817.51
    • 80% eligibility rate = $24,726.67                  
    • 70% eligibility rate = $21,635.84
    • 60% eligibility rate = $18,545.00
    • 50% eligibility rate = $15,454.17
  • The VA requires that all tuition-based funding, such as private scholarships, institutional scholarships, grants, federal tuition assistance, and employer assistance, be deducted before billing them for the final tuition and fees each quarter. This means that any aid mentioned above cannot be used to bridge the gap between the student’s charges and what the VA pays. Students with less than 100% eligibility will have an out-of-pocket balance due each quarter.
  • The VA will not pay for student housing, meal plans, parking, travel, or experiential learning fees, nor any other fees not charged to every student.
  • Yellow Ribbon

    To be eligible for Yellow Ribbon, you must:

    • Use Chapter 33 benefits and have benefits available
    • Have 100% eligibility

    If you are eligible, your benefits will roll into Yellow Ribbon funding automatically once you reach the tuition cap. There is no need to apply to use this benefit.

    Yellow Ribbon Limits

    All undergraduate and graduate students eligible for Yellow Ribbon are eligible for unlimited funding. The VA will pay 50% of your remaining costs, and DU will cover the remaining 50%.

  • Monthly Housing Allowance

    Students using Chapter 33 benefits are eligible for a monthly housing allowance (MHA). This benefit is always paid in arrears. You can expect your first housing payment during the first week of the month following the start of the term.

    Your housing allowance is based on the following:

    • Enrollment Status
      According to VA policy, you must be enrolled more than half time to qualify for the housing allowance. If you are enrolled more than half time but less than full time, your housing rate will be prorated based on your enrollment level. To maximize your housing benefits, we recommend full-time enrollment each term.

      Undergraduate: Full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours taken concurrently during standard terms (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

      Graduate: Full-time enrollment is 8 credit hours taken concurrently during standard terms (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

    • Dates of Enrollment
      The VA will only pay the housing allowance for dates you are enrolled in classes. For example, if your term begins on September 12, the VA will begin paying your housing allowance on September 12, and your September payment will be prorated.

       

    • Method of Instruction
      The VA adjusts your housing allowance based on how your courses are delivered.

      Online-only courses: Qualify for 50% of the national average housing rate.

      Classroom, hybrid, internship, externship, and independent study courses: Qualify for the housing rate based on DU's ZIP code.

      Approved study abroad programs: Qualify for the Foreign Institution MHA rate.

    • Location
      The majority of DU courses are taught at the main campus. Students enrolled in cohorts at a branch campus may receive a different housing rate.
  • Book Stipend

    Students are eligible for a $1000 book stipend each year (100% eligibility rate). Funds are disbursed after your enrollment has been certified and approximately one week before the start of the term. Plan to pay for books up front and be reimbursed when the VA makes its payment. Stipend amounts are prorated each term based on your number of credits. Once you reach the cap, you will not receive additional book stipends until next year. The current calculation for books is approximately $41 per credit hour.

    The VA manages and distributes the book stipend. If you have questions about payment, call them at 1-888-442-4551.


Other Chapters

  • Chapter 30 (Montgomery), Chapter 1606 (Reservists), and Chapter 35 (Survivor or Dependent’s Educational Assistance

    Students in this program receive a monthly stipend from the VA. We will certify you for your enrollment, and the VA will pay you directly. You will be responsible for making any payments to DU.

    For more information, visit https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits.

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

    Students using Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits must apply and be approved through the VA VR&E program. You will work directly with your VR&E counselor regarding your program of study, enrollment, books and supplies, and other aspects of your VR&E benefits. 

    Once your VR&E counselor submits an Authorization (PO) to DU, our office can coordinate your enrollment certification each term through the effective dates of the PO.

    Please be sure to waive the student health insurance plan each term it is billed, as VR&E will not cover that charge. 

    What our office can do:

    • Certify your enrollment when there is an active Chapter 31 Authorization (PO) on file for you. Your VR&E counselor must submit the authorization through Tungsten. DU requires separate authorizations for tuition/fees and books/supplies.
    • Submit enrollment changes to the VA.
    • Confirm that your enrollment certifications were submitted accurately and in a timely manner.

    What our office cannot do:

    For more information, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/vocrehab.

Statement of Understanding

When using veteran benefits and being certified, you agree to contact the School Certifying Official at VACertify@du.edu within 72 hours if you make any of the following changes:

  • Increase or decrease in enrollment
  • Course changes even if the overall number of credits remains the same
  • Withdrawal from the University
  • Change of program
  • Receive a No Pass grade or an Incomplete

A reduction in your course load may result in a retroactive reduction in benefits and a debt to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). You will be responsible for paying back any and all debts to the VA if an overpayment is made.

The VA is ultimately responsible for determining payments for tuition, fees, monthly housing allowance, and book stipends. These payments are dependent on which chapter you use, the dates of registration and/or enrollment, and enrollment status of full- or half-time.

University of Denver Institution Policy on Recruiting, Marketing, and Advertising

The University of Denver believes in supporting and protecting our students through fair and equitable practices, which is inclusive of our military and veteran students. We abide by all federal laws, including the Higher Education Act (H.E.A) for Title IV funding, and the principles of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). The University of Denver follows and upholds the Department of Veterans Affairs Principles of Excellence, including the DoD's policies on tuition assistance.

View the full policy at DU Policy on Recruiting, Marketing and Advertising.

Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Section 103)

In accordance with Title 38 U.S. Code 3679(e), the University of Denver will not penalize or limit the participation of students covered under the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® or Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment program while awaiting the payment of tuition and fees by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The University will not charge late fees, deny access to institutional facilities, require students to take additional funding or drop them from classes for non-payment. This applies to all covered students using Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® or Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment program.

To be considered a covered individual, the University of Denver will require the following documentation by the first payment deadline, no later than the first day of the start of the term:

  1. Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of benefits
  2. VA Form 28-1905 or authorization from the counselor

Active Military Tuition Assistance

All active-duty service members using tuition assistance from the military should first speak to their Educational Services Officer (ES) or educational counselor within their military service prior to enrolling as a student at the University of Denver. If you have authorizations to submit for payment, please send them to VAcertify@du.edu and studentbilling@du.edu.

Contact Information

School Certifying Officials: Brad Bishop and Tracey Hart, 303-871-4878.
For the fastest response, please email: VACertify@du.edu.

Additional Support

Our dynamic staff in the Office of Veterans & Military Resources will be happy to answer all of your questions about getting started with benefits but are also available to support you as a student veteran, active duty service member/spouse, reservist, dependent or ROTC. You can visit du.edu/veterans or email veterans@du.edu.

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