The US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides education benefits to eligible Service Members, Veterans, and their dependents or survivors. You can learn more about VA's educational benefits below and by visiting VA.gov's Education Benefits page.
Please note: SMU does not offer Hazelwood benefits as it is only offered through public institutions in Texas.
This program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to Veterans and active duty Servicemembers who have at least two years of active duty service. VA has specific categories that a servicemember must fall under to qualify. Categories can be viewed on VA's website. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
A monthly rate based on the type of education or training you are pursuing and your enrollment status. You may receive less than the full amount each month if you are enrolled less than full-time, you are getting on-the-job training, you are in an apprenticeship program, or you have served less than 3 continuous years on active duty.
The monthly stipend is sent directly to you from VA. Payments are received on the first of the month for your enrollment in the prior month. Some stipends are prorated based on terms starting or ending part way through the month. You are responsible for your tuition and fees payment regardless of when VA sends your payment.
Note: If you have a kicker (sometimes called “college fund”) or take part in the $600 Buy-Up program, you may get more money each month than the full-time enrollment rate. VA will add the kicker or buy-up amount to your monthly payment.
You must verify your enrollment each month either online through Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling VA toll free at 1-877-823-2378.
The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program is for service members and Veterans who have a service-connected disability that limits or prevents them from working. Veterans must have a disability rating of at least 10% and were not dishonorably discharged. Active duty service members must have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating) and will soon leave the military or are waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while on active duty. Severely injured active duty service members can automatically receive VR&E benefits before VA issues a disability rating.
After applying for VR&E, VA will schedule a meeting for you and a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to determine if your service-connected disability limits your ability to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment (a job that doesn’t make your disability worse, is stable, and matches your abilities, aptitudes, and interests). After VA makes the entitlement decision, you and your counselor will work together to develop a rehabilitation plan. This plan outlines the rehabilitation and other services that VR&E will provide.
Additional information about VR&E, including how VR&E entitlement impacts other education benefits, can be found on VA's website.
Payment and coverage for this benefit is determined by each individual's VRC. Typical coverage includes tuition, mandatory fees, and in some cases books and supplies. These payments are sent directly to the school. You may also qualify for a subsistence allowance that is sent directly to you based on your enrollment status (full-time, part-time).
If you are eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits and are participating in VR&E, you may elect to receive the GI Bill® monthly housing rate instead of the VR&E subsistence allowance if you have at least one day of entitlement remaining under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and you are within your GI Bill® eligibility period. In most cases, the GI Bill® rate will be higher. You will need to officially elect this option with your VRC.
You may be eligible if you served at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Service members must serve at least 36 months on active duty to receive 100% of this benefit. Those with between 90 days to 35 months of active duty service receive a prorated benefit based on active duty time. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
Visit the VA's Education website for the most up to date information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill® including information about the Forever GI Bill®- Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act and Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 and how they may affect your benefits.
Transfer of Education Benefits (TOB)
The transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® allows service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependents. The request to transfer unused GI Bill® benefits to eligible dependents must be completed while serving as an active member of the Armed Forces through milConnect. The Department of Defense (DoD) determines whether you can transfer benefits to your family. Once the DoD approves benefits for transfer, the new beneficiaries apply to use the benefits through VA. To find out more, visit VA's website.
VA pays the school tuition and mandatory fees up to VA's private school tuition cap. The private school tuition cap is set per academic year and is not split between semesters. VA will not send any additional tuition and fee payments to the school once the cap has been reached, unless you qualify for the Yellow Ribbon program. Any remaining balance, fees that are not mandatory, and tuition for courses that do not meet degree requirements are your responsibility.
If your eligibility percentage is below 100%, the private school tuition cap will be prorated at your percentage level.
| Percentage of Eligibility | Tuition Cap 2024-2025 |
| 100% | $28,937.09 |
| 90% | $26,043.38 |
| 80% | $23,149.67 |
| 70% | $20,255.96 |
| 60% | $17,362.25 |
| 50% | $14,468.54 |
Students at the 100% eligibility level may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
A monthly housing allowance (MHA) based on enrollment status (full-time or part-time) and modality (in-person or online) is sent directly to you. You must be enrolled more than half-time to receive a stipend. The full-time rate is based off the monthly military Basic Allowance for Housing rates for an E-5 with dependents for the school's zip code. If you are enrolled in all online courses, the full-time rate is equal to half the national average for MHA. Enrollment in at least one in-person course may qualify you for the higher residence rate. Active-duty service-members and their spouses are not eligible for MHA.
If your eligibility percentage is below 100%, your MHA payments will be prorated at your percentage level.
VA pays $41.67/ credit hour up to $1,000 per academic year for the book stipend. The stipend is paid directly to you and is not split evenly between semesters. If your eligibility percentage is below 100%, your book payment(s) will be prorated at your percentage level.
You must verify your enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving your housing stipend/kicker payment. Payments will be withheld if you fail to verify after two consecutive months or report that you are no longer enrolled in courses.
VA encourages you to opt-in to text messaging, which is a simple, quick, and secure option for verifying. You can also verify via email or online at va.gov. For more information, visit VA’s Post-9/11 GI Bill® Enrollment Verification page.
If you are enrolled half-time or less and/or if you are on active duty, you do not have to certify.
The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides education benefits for children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty or was a member of the Selected Reserve who died from a service-connected disability on or after September 11, 2001. For additional information about eligibility, please visit VA’s website.
If you are eligible for both the Fry Scholarship and Dependents Educational Assistance, you will be required to make an irrevocable election between the two programs when you apply.
The Fry Scholarship grants up to 36 months of entitlement for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® at the 100% benefit rate. You will receive tuition and mandatory fees up to VA’s private school tuition cap, monthly housing allowance and book stipend. If the program you are pursuing participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, you will be eligible. Please see the Post-9/11 GI Bill® tab above for more information.
The Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship provides veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill® or dependents using the Fry Scholarship in high-demand fields additional Post-9/11 GI Bill® eligibility. Students must have 6 months or less of entitlement remaining. Eligibility for the scholarship has two paths at SMU:
The STEM scholarship program cannot be used for graduate programs at this time.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, there is no guarantee you will receive the STEM scholarship. VA prioritizes those who are at the 100% benefit level for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and require the most credit hours compared to other applicants. For additional information, visit VA’s STEM scholarship website.
The STEM scholarship provides approved applicants up to an additional nine months, or a total of $30,000, of benefits, whichever comes first. VA will pay your tuition and mandatory fees to the school first. Tuition and mandatory fees cannot exceed VA’s annual private school tuition cap. If there’s money remaining, you may be eligible for a payment for books and supplies, then housing allowance. The monthly housing allowance is sent directly to you and must continue to verify your enrollment to receive the housing allowance.
The Yellow Ribbon Program is not part of the STEM scholarship program, so you are no longer eligible for this additional funding.
You can apply for the STEM Scholarship on VA’s website. It takes VA approximately 30 days to for a decision and they award scholarships on a monthly basis. VA will work with the school to verify your eligibility. If your application is approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in the mail. If denied, you will receive a denial letter explaining VA’s decision. VA makes all decisions regarding the scholarship. School Certifying Officials do not have any input in the decision.
You must begin using the STEM scholarship within 6 months of approval or you will need to reapply.
This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents and spouses of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, who is captured or missing, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related condition. For additional information about start and end dates of eligibility, please visit VA's website.
If you qualify for both the Fry Scholarship and DEA benefits, you will need to choose which benefit to use. Once you have made your choice, you cannot switch to the other program.
A monthly stipend based on the type of education or training you are pursuing and your enrollment status. You may receive less than the full amount each month if you are enrolled less than full-time, you are getting on-the-job training, or you are in an apprenticeship program.
The monthly stipend is sent directly to you from VA. Payments are received on the first of the month for your enrollment in the prior month. Some stipends are prorated based on terms starting or ending part way through the month. You are responsible for your tuition and fees payment regardless of when VA sends your payment.
Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, or Air National Guard may be eligible for up to 36 months of this education and training benefit. All initial entry training must be completed before you are eligible. Specific requirements and the eligibility period for the benefit can be found on VA's website.
A monthly rate based on the type of education or training you are pursuing and your enrollment status. You may receive less than the full amount each month if you are enrolled less than full-time, you are getting on-the-job training, or you are in an apprenticeship program.
The monthly stipend is sent directly to you from VA. Payments are received on the first of the month for your enrollment in the prior month. Some stipends are prorated based on terms starting or ending part way through the month. You are responsible for your tuition and fees payment regardless of when VA sends your payment.
Note: If you have a kicker, you may get more money each month than the full-time enrollment rate. VA will add the kicker to your monthly payment.
You must verify your enrollment each month either online through Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) or by calling VA toll free at 1-877-823-2378.