Military & Veterans Education Benefits

Step 1: Determine Type of Benefit(s)

The Joan and Art Barron Veterans (JABVC), located in the Student Services West building, Room 1661, operates as the primary and initial resource for most military affiliated services at SDSU. Our mission is to assist military connected students – veteran, active duty, reserve, National Guard, and military spouses and children – with processing VA related benefits under a variety of different programs. These include:

• Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
• Chapter 30:  Montgomery GI - Bill® Active Duty
• Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance (DEA)
• Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment (V&RE)
• Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve
• Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program
• Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
• California Department of Veterans Affairs College Fee Waiver/Non-Resident College Fee Waiver for Veterans’ Dependents (“CalVet Fee Waiver”). 

For more information on these benefits including eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Once you have determined for which benefit(s) you may qualify, proceed to step 2.

Step 2: Gather and Submit Necessary Documents

Apply for Your Benefits

Students utilizing the below federal VA education benefits must apply at https://www.vets.gov/education/apply/ in order to use them.

• Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment (V&RE)*
• Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
• Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
• Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance
• Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve
• Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
• College Fee Waiver**

*Students wishing to utilize Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment must apply on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Educational and Career Counseling website.
**To apply for the College Fee Waiver, students must apply through their County Service Office and can obtain more information on the College Fee Waiver website.

VA Education Benefit Documents to Submit Before Registering for Classes

Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment
Students utilizing Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment must ensure their assigned counselor submits the necessary VA Form 22-1905 to the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center in order to have tuition and fees deferred and to be able to register for classes.

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®  OR
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
Students utilizing Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill® OR The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship must submit their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center in order to have their tuition and fees deferred and to be able to register for classes. If the COE is not provided before payment is due, students may be required to pay their tuition and fees early and will then be reimbursed after payments have been disbursed by the VA to the University. Students submitting their COE, must include their RedID, branch of service (sponsor’s if applicable) (i.e. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and/or National Guard), and date of separation (of sponsor if applicable).

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®
Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance
Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve
OR  Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program
Students utilizing Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®, Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance, Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill®– Selected Reserve, or Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program do NOT have to submit any documentation prior to registering for classes and are required to make arrangements to pay tuition and fees.

College Fee Waiver
Students utilizing the CalVet Fee Waiver must submit their award letter received from their County Service Office to the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center in order to have their in-state tuition for the academic year waived. The in-state tuition fee waiver is valid for the summer, fall, and spring terms of one full academic year and must be applied for each year. For example, summer 2022, fall 2022, and spring 2023 will be covered under one award letter. Students are still required to pay the campus mandatory fees each term. New students who pay their “Intent to Enroll” before submitting their award letter will have that amount paid towards their mandatory fees and the student will then be responsible for the difference. Students submitting the CalVet Fee Waiver award letter must include their RedID and the branch of service of their sponsor (i.e. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and/or National Guard).

Out-of-State Residency Exemptions

Subject to pending or new legislation, non-resident students may have an additional fee which is NOT covered by VA education benefits. Residency determination is made by the SDSU Office of Admissions and is NOT determined by the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center. Based on certain circumstances, military connected students may qualify for an exemption of these additional fees.

Students utilizing Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill® or Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill® may qualify for the exemption provided:

• The veteran using the benefit or who transferred the benefit to a dependent spouse or child separated from active service within 36 months of the veteran or the dependent utilizing transferred benefits begins classes
• The active period of service was 90 consecutive days or greater
• A copy of the veterans DD-214 is provided to the University AND A copy of the applicable COE (Chapter 33 or Chapter 30) is provided to the University to show benefit eligibility
• Effective for the 2017-2018 academic year, students who are dependents of active service members not stationed in California and who are using the Post 9/11 GI Bill® may qualify for the exemption. Contact the Barron Veterans Center at 619-594-5813 for additional information

Students still on active duty may qualify for the exemption provided they submit a copy of their orders assigning them to a military installation in California.

Step 3: Register for Classes

Military affiliated students will register for classes in the same manner as non-military students. For additional information on how to register for classes, visit the Office of the Registrar.

Once you have registered for classes, proceed to step 4.

Step 4: Submit Additional Documentation to the JABVC

Students wishing to utilize federal VA education benefits, must provide the Barron Veterans Center the following documentation EACH semester AFTER registering for classes. Students do NOT have to provide a class schedule.

Documentation

Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill®

• A signed VA Form 22-1995 the first semester attending and/or if changing a major.
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness & Employment

• If the VR&E counselor has not already done so, provide a copy signed by the counselor of the VA Form 22-1905 authorizing the student to pursue training.
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.
• The student will receive from JABVC staff the necessary documentation to obtain books, parking pass, and/or other approved items after notification that the certification has been completed.

Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®

• If not already submitted, provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility in order to have tuition and fees deferred for future terms.
• A signed VA Form 22-1995 the first semester attending and/or if changing a major.
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Chapter 35: Dependents Education Assistance

• A signed VA Form 22-5495 the first semester attending and/or if changing a major.
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.
  Additionally, the VA Claim Number (with assigned suffix) must be indicated on the Student Responsibility Agreement.

Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve

• A signed VA Form 22-1995 the first semester attending and/or if changing a major
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Chapter 1607: Reserve Educational Assistance Program

• A signed VA Form 22-1995 the first semester attending and/or if changing a major
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.

Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

• If not already submitted, provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility in order to have tuition and fees deferred for future terms
• A signed VA Form 22-1995 the first semester attending and/or if changing a major
• A completed and signed Student Responsibility Agreement. Without this document, the VA will NOT be notified that the student wishes to use their benefits.
  Students utilizing the CalVet Fee Waiver do not have any additional documentation to provide unless utilizing one of the above benefits as well.

Students may submit the above documentation to the Joan and Art Barron Veterans Center via MVP Linktree or using one the methods listed at the bottom of this page.