Veterans Affairs (VA) Educational Benefits
VA educational benefits are designed to provide financial assistance for education and training to U.S. military veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and their families. These benefits help cover the cost of tuition, fees, housing, books, and other educational expenses, making higher education and career training more accessible for those who have served in the armed forces and their families.
Types of Benefits:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
- Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) (Chapter 30)
- Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33)
- Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (Chapter 31)
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35)
- Yellow Ribbon Program
- Tuition Assistance
Benefits and Payments
VA educational benefits provide various types of financial support to veterans, service members, and their dependents. These benefits help cover the costs associated with education and training.
See detailed information on each benefit type, their benefits and payments, and eligibility requirements at: https://www.mercer.edu/admissions/military/
Students’ Responsibilities
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
- Minimum GPA: You must maintain a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) as required by your school’s standards. Falling below this GPA could result in the suspension of your benefits.
- Completion Rate: You should successfully complete a sufficient percentage of your attempted courses. Typically, this means passing at least 67% of the credits you attempt each semester.
- Maximum Timeframe: You must complete your program within a maximum number of attempted credits or time, usually not exceeding 150% of the program’s length.
- Enrollment Status
- Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Your benefits are based on your enrollment status. Dropping below a certain credit hour threshold (e.g., moving from full-time to part-time) can reduce your benefits.
- Continuous Enrollment: Maintain continuous enrollment, unless you have a valid reason for a break in attendance. Extended breaks could affect your benefits.
- Course Relevance
- Approved Program of Study: Only courses that are part of your approved program of study are covered by VA benefits. Taking non-required or elective courses that do not apply to your degree could lead to reduced benefits.
- No Repeated Courses: Generally, you cannot use VA benefits to retake a course you have already passed, unless a higher grade is required by your program.
- Reporting Changes
- Adding or Dropping Courses: If you change your course load, your enrollment status (full-time, part-time, etc.) may change, affecting your benefits.
- Withdrawing from Courses: Fully withdrawing from a course or multiple courses can impact the benefits you receive and may require repayment.
- Change in Attendance: Any change in your attendance status, such as moving from on-campus to online classes, can impact benefits like the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
- Leave of Absence: Taking a break from your studies (leave of absence) should be reported to avoid overpayment issues.
How to Report Changes:
- Notify Your School’s VA Certifying Official: Your school’s VA certifying official is responsible for reporting your enrollment status to the VA. Inform them immediately of any changes.
- Update the VA: You may need to notify the VA directly through the GI Bill® website or by calling the VA Education Call Center at 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).
Consequences of Not Reporting
- Overpayments: Failure to report changes can lead to overpayments, where the VA pays more than you are entitled to. This may require you to repay the excess funds.
Impact of Withdrawals
- Reduction in Benefits: If you withdraw from a course, the VA may reduce or stop your benefits for that term. The amount of the benefits you receive is based on your enrollment status (full-time, part-time, etc.). Dropping a class may lower your status, leading to a reduction in your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and potentially requiring you to repay any overpayments.
- Tuition and Fees: If you withdraw after the university’s drop/add period, the VA may not cover the full tuition and fees for that course. You could be responsible for repaying the VA for any tuition and fees already paid for that course.
- Academic Progress: Frequent withdrawals can affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), which is a requirement to continue receiving VA benefits. Failure to meet SAP standards might lead to a suspension of your benefits.
Mitigating Circumstances – If you have a legitimate reason for withdrawing (e.g., illness, family emergency), you may be able to report mitigating circumstances to the VA. In some cases, this can prevent a reduction in benefits or the need to repay the VA.
Get Started with VA Education Benefits at Mercer
- Submit an application for admission to your selected Mercer program and indicate veteran status on your application.
- Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to your School Certifying Official (SCO).
- Submit the VA Funding Intent Form located in your student portal at my.mercer.edu. This form can be found in Action Items under the Dashboard tab and must be completed each semester.
Your SCO will submit enrollment verification and tuition & fees to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Benefits for Chapters 33 and 31 are paid directly to the Office of the Bursar. Tuition benefits for Chapters 30, 35, 1606, and 1607 will be paid directly to the student by VA. If you have questions about eligibility for other benefits paid directly to the student (monthly housing allowance, books and supplies stipend, or rural benefit payment), contact the VA at 888.442.4551.
If you have additional questions, contact your School Certifying Official:
LaShunda Walker, Registrar
Mercer University School of Law
1021 Georgia Avenue
Macon, GA 31207
Phone: 478-301-5023