Reminders
- Ensure your program is approved for VA Education Benefits via Weams.
- If you have never used your VA Education Benefits, you will need to apply here.
- If you’ve previously used your benefits at another institution, click here to fill out the VA Form 22-1995 and transfer your benefits to ODU.
- Submit your Veterans Clearance Form approximately 30 days prior to the start of the term for priority certification.
- Veterans Clearance Forms submitted at the start of the term will be processed in the order they are received. Due to the volume of students to be processed, you may not receive certification prior to the beginning of classes.
- Still confused? Start here.
Questions?
ODU’s School Certifying Officials enter your enrollment information based on ODU guidelines for full-time status, and the VA determines the payments sent to the you and the school. If you have questions about your VA Education Benefits or payments, contact the VA Education Hotline at 1-888-442-4551 OR use Ask VA.
Chapters Information
Chapter 1606 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve Program. This Chapter requires you to meet certain training and time commitments.
- The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
- Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
- Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.
Chapter 30 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program. You may be eligible for these benefits if you're on Active Duty or after you're separated from Active Duty.
- The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
- Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
- Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
- Check out this PDF resource pamphlet for more information.
For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.
Chapter 31 is also known as Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.
This chapter provides beneficiaries with tuition, fees, books, and supplies. You might also receive a monthly stipend. To qualify for this benefit chapter, you must have a service-connected disability that the Department of Veterans Affairs rates at least 20% disabling.
- Payment: The invoicing for your tuition balance will be coordinated by ODU's Third Party Billing (thirdpartybilling@odu.edu) in the Office of Finance and your V.A. Educational Counselor.
- You do not need to fill out a Veterans Clearance Form. You will work directly with your V.A. Educational Counselor, who will send your authorization to our certifying team. Our certifying team will then submit your registration certification to the V.A. Your VA Educational Counselor will also make arrangements for ODU to bill the V.A. directly.
- Our staff will send your information to ODU's Parking Services so they can issue you a parking pass. As well as notifying the ODU Bookstore for you to obtain your books and supplies.
For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding Chapter 31, please click here.
Chapter 33 is also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. You may be eligible for this program, which provides up to 36 months of educational benefits, if you have at least 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001. This benefit can also be transferred to eligible dependents by a sponsoring service member while they are still on active duty.
- Payment: The VA sends tuition and fee payments directly to ODU. * Except for Day One Access Course materials fees.
- BAH is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. To get full BAH, you must be considered full-time and be in at least one 1-credit hour on campus. Click here for the current BAH allowance which is based on your zip code and pay grade. *The rate will be reduced if taking online-only courses.
- A Book Stipend is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. You will need to pay for your books, including Bookstore Course Materials that are charged directly when you register. You pay for this yourself through Leo Online. Click here for the current Book Stipend allowance rates.
- The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. By verifying that you are still enrolled in the same courses every month, you help avoid overpayments caused by changes to your training schedule and safeguard your GI Bill® entitlement by preventing entitlement charges for training you did not attend. To streamline the process verify enrollment easily and securely via text message.
For how to apply, eligibility requirements, and additional information regarding Chapter 33, please click here.
Please be aware that utilizing The Virginia Commonwealth Award, the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP), or Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) can impact payments of the Chapter 33 GI Bill® benefit.
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 federal GI Bill® benefits are considered a financial resource in a student's financial aid package and can impact eligibility for other financial aid. Additional funding sources for tuition and mandatory fees such as The Virginia Commonwealth Award, the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP), or Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) will always be applied to the student’s account first. Then, the VA is billed for any remaining charges for tuition and mandatory fees on the account.
The VA is the last payer of tuition and fees. Your amount of eligible tuition and mandatory fees to be reported to the VA will be reduced by the corresponding amount of applied monetary award. It will not increase the amount of funds that you receive, and you will not receive the amount of the tuition and mandatory fees award back as a refund.
Chapter 35 is also known as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program. This benefit offers a monthly stipend to the survivors or dependents of military service members killed, MIA, taken prisoner, or have been rated by the VA as totally and permanently disabled or 90% disabled as result of military service.
- Payment: The monthly check payment from the VA goes directly to you, and you will be responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
- There are age and time limits for this program depending on if you are the child or spouse of the Veteran or service member. Please click here for those details.
- Per V.A. guidance, we report tuition and fees to the V.A. if you're below half-time.
For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding the DEA Program, please click here.
Chapter 1606 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve Program. This Chapter requires you to meet certain training and time commitments.
- The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
- Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
- Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.
Chapter 30 is also known as the Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program. You may be eligible for these benefits if you're on Active Duty or after you're separated from Active Duty.
- The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to keep receiving payments. You can verify your enrollment online through the Web Automated Verification system (called "WAVE") or by phone by calling 877-823-2378.
- Click here to see the current monthly rate entitlement.
- Payment: The monthly check payment from the V.A. goes directly to you. Then, you're responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
- Check out this PDF resource pamphlet for more information.
For eligibility requirements, how to obtain these benefits, and additional information regarding Chapter 1606, please click here.
Chapter 31 is also known as Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.
This chapter provides beneficiaries with tuition, fees, books, and supplies. You might also receive a monthly stipend. To qualify for this benefit chapter, you must have a service-connected disability that the Department of Veterans Affairs rates at least 20% disabling.
- Payment: The invoicing for your tuition balance will be coordinated by ODU's Third Party Billing (thirdpartybilling@odu.edu) in the Office of Finance and your V.A. Educational Counselor.
- You do not need to fill out a Veterans Clearance Form. You will work directly with your V.A. Educational Counselor, who will send your authorization to our certifying team. Our certifying team will then submit your registration certification to the V.A. Your VA Educational Counselor will also make arrangements for ODU to bill the V.A. directly.
- Our staff will send your information to ODU's Parking Services so they can issue you a parking pass. As well as notifying the ODU Bookstore for you to obtain your books and supplies.
For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding Chapter 31, please click here.
Chapter 33 is also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. You may be eligible for this program, which provides up to 36 months of educational benefits, if you have at least 90 days of active duty service after September 10, 2001. This benefit can also be transferred to eligible dependents by a sponsoring service member while they are still on active duty.
- Payment: The VA sends tuition and fee payments directly to ODU. * Except for Day One Access Course materials fees.
- BAH is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. To get full BAH, you must be considered full-time and be in at least one 1-credit hour on campus. Click here for the current BAH allowance which is based on your zip code and pay grade. *The rate will be reduced if taking online-only courses.
- A Book Stipend is triggered by the initial enrollment certification. You will need to pay for your books, including Bookstore Course Materials that are charged directly when you register. You pay for this yourself through Leo Online. Click here for the current Book Stipend allowance rates.
- The V.A. requires you to verify your enrollment at the end of each month to continue receiving your Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) and/or kicker payments. By verifying that you are still enrolled in the same courses every month, you help avoid overpayments caused by changes to your training schedule and safeguard your GI Bill® entitlement by preventing entitlement charges for training you did not attend. To streamline the process verify enrollment easily and securely via text message.
For how to apply, eligibility requirements, and additional information regarding Chapter 33, please click here.
Please be aware that utilizing The Virginia Commonwealth Award, the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP), or Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) can impact payments of the Chapter 33 GI Bill® benefit.
Chapter 33 Post 9/11 federal GI Bill® benefits are considered a financial resource in a student's financial aid package and can impact eligibility for other financial aid. Additional funding sources for tuition and mandatory fees such as The Virginia Commonwealth Award, the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP), or Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) will always be applied to the student’s account first. Then, the VA is billed for any remaining charges for tuition and mandatory fees on the account.
The VA is the last payer of tuition and fees. Your amount of eligible tuition and mandatory fees to be reported to the VA will be reduced by the corresponding amount of applied monetary award. It will not increase the amount of funds that you receive, and you will not receive the amount of the tuition and mandatory fees award back as a refund.
Chapter 35 is also known as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program. This benefit offers a monthly stipend to the survivors or dependents of military service members killed, MIA, taken prisoner, or have been rated by the VA as totally and permanently disabled or 90% disabled as result of military service.
- Payment: The monthly check payment from the VA goes directly to you, and you will be responsible for paying your tuition balance before the deferment deadline.
- There are age and time limits for this program depending on if you are the child or spouse of the Veteran or service member. Please click here for those details.
- Per V.A. guidance, we report tuition and fees to the V.A. if you're below half-time.
For eligibility requirements, how to apply, and additional information regarding the DEA Program, please click here.
Certification Process
All students using G.I. Bill® benefits must have their enrollment certified by the ODU’s School Certifying Officials (SCOs) to receive their educational benefits. To initiate the certification process, you must complete a Veterans Clearance Form after you have registered for classes and finalized your schedule.
**Please note the SCOs will automatically recertify your enrollment to the VA each semester if you are enrolled each fall and spring term. You do not need to submit a new form each semester to initiate this process.
If you have never completed a Veterans Clearance Form, if you change your major, if you had a break in enrollment (fall/spring), if you are changing your benefit chapter, or if you change your status (active duty/veteran), then please complete a Veterans Clearance Form and submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility.
ODU’s SCOs begin reporting enrollment to the VA approximately 30 days before the first day of your class start dates and use a practice of submitting initial enrollment certification with $0.00 in the tuition and fees fields. Depending on your benefit, this first certification will trigger the VA's disbursement of your educational benefits which can include BAH, book stipends, or other monthly allotments. After the drop-add period, the tuition and fees are certified by amending the term to add the tuition and fees amount, and increases and reductions to your credit load will be reported to the VA. This process is called Zero Tuition and Fees Certification (Zero T&F Certification) and is previously known as dual certification.
Certification of the Veterans Clearance Form will prompt communication to the Office of Finance that your account should be coded for military tuition deferment. Deferment allows students using VA Education Benefits to temporarily postpone paying their ODU account balance while awaiting VA payment (for up to 90 days). The deferment applies to your tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meal plan charges.
Deferments prevent your account from accruing late fees as ODU waits on payment from the VA. If you submit a late Veterans Clearance Form after getting late fees during the deferment period, the Office of Finance should be able to reverse them. Payments not received by the deferment deadline are subject to all applicable late fees and penalties.
You will not receive a deferment if you have an outstanding balance from a previous semester. Deferments are not offered to Chapter 31 recipients and MEM Ashore students.
VA Education Benefit Deferment End Dates
- Fall Semester November 25th
- Spring Semester: April 10th
- Summer Semester: October 3rd
If you withdraw from a course, ODU must submit an adjustment of enrollment to the VA. Because the VA will not continue to pay for the course, debt may be created on the school by the VA. ODU will pay back any required debts with the VA, which will result in you owing a debt to ODU’s Office of Finance.
Chapter 33 Recipients-Though you may be approved for 100% tuition benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, the VA will pay no more than the university’s published in-state tuition rate and will only pay for your tuition and mandatory fees. Covered mandatory fees are detailed on the Office of Finance webpage. It is important to note, the VA payment to the school does not cover housing, meal plans, or books/course supplies (including the Course Materials fee that may be in your account balance). You can check your account balance on LEO Online and contact the Office of Finance if you have any questions.
Note: Chapter 31 students and Engineering Management students in the Portable Media Program do not need to complete the Veterans Clearance Form. Chapter 31 students will coordinate with their assigned VA Educational Counselor. Engineering Management students in the Portable Media Program will coordinate with the Engineering Management department
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill