How do I apply for my GI Bill® ?
Veterans or active duty members using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Montgomery GI Bill® or Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve and dependents using benefits can see our GI benefits page HERE to apply!
After you have successfully applied for the benefit, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA stating your percentage of eligibility and your months of entitlement. Once you receive this certificate from the VA please see the step by step guide on how to certify your enrollment at URI, click HERE!
Do I need to give my VA certificate of eligibility to anyone other than URI’s VA Certifying Official?
No, you do not need to give your certificate to anyone else at URI.
I just transferred to URI from another school, where I was using my Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits. Do I need to do anything to transfer benefits from the other school to URI?
No, the VA no longer requires VA Form 22-1995 or VA Form 22-5495. You would simply need to submit a Veterans Certification Worksheet to request to use your benefits here at URI (all Chapters except Ch. 31/VR&E. VR&E counselors submit information to the school for those students).
Do I need to be enrolled in a degree-granting program to receive Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits at URI?
Generally, yes. Non-matriculated students may be certified for GI Bill® benefits only if they are pending admission to one of URI’s degree-granting programs. If they are pending admission, they may be certified for up to two semesters as a non-matriculated student.
Does URI participate in The Yellow Ribbon Program?
Short answer, no. The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® that can help students attend expensive private schools at little or no cost to themselves.
Is tutoring covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill® ?
Yes, you can receive funds for individual tutoring if you are enrolled on a half-time or more basis and if you have a deficiency in a course that is part of your approved program. You must be enrolled in a course during the same term in which the tutoring is received.
The VA will pay up to $100/month, with a maximum amount payable of $1,200. You, your tutor, and URI’s VA Office of Veteran Affairs and Military Programs must complete an Application and Enrollment Certification for Individualized Tutorial Assistance (VA Form 22-1990t). This form must be completed within a year of the eligible tutoring. To begin the process of applying for reimbursement for tutoring, please email uriveteran@etal.uri.edu
Can I take classes at more than one school at a time?
You can take classes at more than one school under the GI Bill® as long as:
- The classes at both schools count toward your degree, and
- The school granting your degree considers the classes at the second school to be required in order to get your degree
Note: The GI Bill® won’t pay you to take the same class twice unless you get a failing grade in a class that the school requires for graduation.
A student may take courses at more than one school that apply towards their degree. The school that will grant the degree is the student’s “primary” school. All other schools are “secondary” schools.
Please contact your certifying official at your Primary School so that they can notify the VA that the courses will apply to the degree program.
If the student is only enrolled at the secondary school (supplemental enrollment), VA will pay for the credits taken at the secondary school. If the student is enrolled at the primary school and the secondary school at the same time (concurrent enrollment), VA will pay for the combined credit, taking overlapping enrollment dates into account.
What are the requirements to receive the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)?
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is available to students who are enrolled at least half-time on campus. This means that you must take a course load that is considered more than 50% of the full-time course load for your program. You can find information on BAH through the Veteran Affairs Website by clicking HERE.
When can I expect to receive the books and supplies stipend and my BAH housing allowance?
Your enrollment must be certified with the VA first. For most chapters, this cannot be done prior to 30 days before classes start. If you are eligible for a books and supply allowance (up to $1000/year), you would typically receive it at the beginning of a semester. BAH/MHA payments are paid at the beginning of the month for the previous month and are prorated based on the number of class days that month. The VA will also prorate based on the percentage of Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits you’re eligible for and how many credits you’re enrolled in. Note, if you’re taking only online classes, they will pay a housing allowance that is half the national average. Please ensure that you are prepared to cover your living expenses in the event of a lengthy delay in VA payments.
I am using Chapter 31 VR&E GI Benefits, do I need to pay for my enrollment deposit up front or does VR&E cover this?
At URI, we have partnered with VR&E (Chapter 31 beneficiaries) to come up with a process so that you do not have to pay for your enrollment deposit up front and later be reimbursed by the VA. If you are using Chapter 31 benefits and would like to request a “deferred charge”, you must follow the steps below:
- To initiate the Invoice process, URI Certifying Official must be made aware of the student’s intent to accept the offer of admission and verify eligibility for the VA VR&E (Chapter 31) benefits.
- The Certifying Official must have a VA form 22-1905 (from VR&E) in place in order to request the “deferred charge”. Please contact your Vocational Rehab counselor for more information about the VA form 22-1905. You can send requests to uriveteran@etal.uri.edu.
- VA VR&E will remit payment for the deposit amount upon receipt of URI’s invoice.
- If the student does not attend, the deposit will be retained by URI in accordance with our policy (we will follow the approved process and deadlines for refund of Enrollment Deposits for all students) and VA VR&E will not expect the deposit to be returned.
Enrollment Deposit Refund Policy
Fall Deposits – Fully refundable through May 1st upon proper withdrawal notification to the Office of Admission. After May 1st, the Fall deposit is not refundable.
Spring Deposits – Not refundable. To officially withdraw, please send written notification to The Office of Admission, 14 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881.
The full deposit refund policy can be found at https://web.uri.edu/enrollment/enrollment-deposit/
When does URI certify for enrollment? How will I know that URI has certified my enrollment?
Once we receive your Student Verification Worksheet, URI’s VA certifying officials will start certifying BAH for each semester on the following dates. (Please submit forms as soon as possible in order to be certified on-time)
- Fall semester – beginning the early August
- Spring semester – beginning the end of December
- Summer Session – beginning the middle of May
After the Add/Drop period of each semester, we will submit the actual tuition and fees that are reportable to the VA. Please keep in mind, it is important for you to realize that if you traditionally receive a refund of PELL grants or students loans this may be delayed and you should plan accordingly. We are unable to release excess funds to you until your tuition and fees have been offset by payments made on your behalf by the GI Bill®. We have developed this system to ensure you are not charged with overpayments by the VA.
You will also receive an electronic automated email from the VA ONCE software used to submit enrollment certifications.
What is “Rate of pursuit” and how is it calculated?
“Rate of pursuit” is the calculation the VA will be using specific to the new GI Bill® to determine your Housing Allowance. “Rate of pursuit” calculates the total number of credits you are taking for the term divided by what URI considers full time. This total is then made into a percentage.
Example: Craig Lee is enrolled in 9 credits for the Fall term. At URI, full-time for undergraduate students is considered 12 credits for the Fall and Spring semester. Craig’s rate of pursuit would be calculated as: 9/12 = 0.75 = 75%. His rate of pursuit is high enough to receive the Housing Allowance.
Example: Jill Jones is enrolled in 6 credits for the Fall semester. At URI, full-time for undergraduate students is considered 12 credits for the Fall and Spring semester. Jill’s rate of pursuit would be calculated as: 6/12 = 0.50 = 50%. Her rate of pursuit is not high enough to receive the Housing Allowance.
Full-time for Graduate students is 9 credits.
General Rule: You want to take 12 credits to receive full BAH for undergraduate students and 9 credits for full BAH for Graduate students.
Will I be charged late fees due to an outstanding balance prior to my VA payment?
Late fees are automatically assessed due to an outstanding balance at certain times during a semester. If a late fee is assessed due to a late VA payment, that late fee will be waived. All balances outside of any VA payments made directly to the school are due by the tuition deadline. For questions or concerns about late fees and VA benefits, please contact uriveteran@etal.uri.edu.
How will the tuition payments work? Will I need to pay anything upfront? What happens if the VA payments don’t come through?
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, the Department of Veterans Affairs will process payments directly to URI. You will need to ensure that all documentation is in place so that URI receives payments on your behalf. In the event you learn that you are not entitled to VA payments, you will be responsible for paying any outstanding charges to the University.
For all other VA educational benefits programs, you will receive funds directly from the VA and you will be responsible for submitting all payments you owe to URI.
As with other scholarships, you should anticipate the amount you will receive from the VA and pay only the remaining balance on your student account. You should not pay upfront the amount that you expect to receive from the VA. We will ensure that you are not assessed a late fee, provided that you request the use of your benefits prior to the tuition deadline for this outstanding balance while VA payment is pending.
I am eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. How does this affect my VA benefits?
Pell Grants are not affected by the Post-9/11 VA benefit eligibility. If you are a Pell Grant recipient, the Post-9/11 VA benefits you receive will not count against your aid eligibility. In general, students will be able to keep their Pell grants even if they are receiving Post-9/11 benefits.
Do I have to report my VA educational benefits on the FAFSA application?
No. You do not have to report VA educational benefits on the FAFSA. However, you do need to report non-education VA benefits on the FAFSA. Non-education benefits include: disability, death pension, dependency indemnity compensation and/or VA Work-Study allowances.
What if I need to defer my enrollment due to military service or medical need?
Students admitted to the University of Rhode Island may request to defer their matriculation for one semester. Your request must be in writing and emailed to Debbie Suggs at admission@uri.edu with a subject line of “Deferral Request.” URI routinely grants these requests, and students will receive written notification of deferral approval. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Requests for year-long deferrals are only granted in cases of military service, medical issues, or documented gap years.
Please look at URI’s website on the deferral process HERE for more details on deferring attendance at URI.
I am a graduate student working on my thesis. I am not taking any formal courses, but I am registered as a “full-time” student. Can I receive BAH?
According to the VA, “in-residence training for graduate students consists of regularly scheduled, conventional classroom or laboratory sessions; or consists of research (either on campus or in absentia) necessary for the preparation of the student’s master’s thesis, doctoral dissertation, or similar prerequisite treatise; or consists of a combination of scheduled classroom or research.” As long as your school or program considers you to meet these qualifications on a “greater than half-time” basis, then you are eligible to receive BAH.
I still have not received my certificate of eligibility (COE). What happens if I don’t submit my certificate to URI by the time the bill is due?
If you have not yet received your certificate of eligibility, you may be able to view and print your statement of benefits through the VA tool by clicking HERE. If the VA tool is not available to you or you are having trouble accessing, please call the VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
Note: At this time, the GI Bill® benefit statement isn’t available online to family members and dependents. You’ll need to request a new Certificate of Eligibility letter to check your GI Bill® benefit status. To request a COE, please call the VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.
How do I apply for in-state residency while I apply, OR prior to the start of my first semester, OR during my first semester?
Residency Policy- Criteria C#As a GI Bill® recipient you may qualify for in-state tuition. To see if you are eligible, refer to the state’s Residency Policy.
You can find URI’s Residency Policies by clicking HERE!
Contact Nancy Pendergast, Veterans Benefits Certification Coordinator, at npendergast@uri.edu or uriveteran@etal.uri.edu.
Residency Criteria for Military-connected Students is as follows:
● A Veteran of the Uniformed Services who is eligible for Federal GI Bill® educational benefits. Required Documentation: A copy of your Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Federal Department of Veteran Affairs.
● An Active-duty member of the Uniformed Services who has been on active duty for a period of more than 30 days or who was injured on active duty and whose injuries caused them to be on active duty for a period of less than 30 days. Required Documentation: A copy of your military service orders demonstrating your active duty status.
Dependents:
● A dependent or other qualifying individual of a Veteran of the Uniformed Services who is eligible for transferred Federal GI Bill® education benefits, Fry Scholarship, or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Program. Dependents using transferred Federal GI Bill® education benefits or the Fry Scholarship must be domiciled in RI while attending. Required Documentation: A copy of student’s Certificate of Eligibility AND proof of RI domicile (i.e., an on-campus housing deposit/assignment or a copy of an ownership deed or rental lease). NOTE: Students using DEA/Ch. 35 benefits do not need to provide proof of RI domicile.
● A dependent of an Active-duty member of the Uniformed Services who has been on active duty for a period of more than 30 days or who was injured while on active duty and whose injuries caused them to be on active duty for a period of less than 30 days and resides in RI while attending. Required Documentation: A copy of the member’s military service orders demonstrating active-duty status AND proof of RI domicile (i.e., an on-campus housing deposit/assignment or a copy of an ownership deed or rental lease). Residency should be re-classified prior to the start of a semester. Please note that adjusting residency may affect merit and/or financial aid awards.
How do I apply for in-state residency if I am in my second (or more) semester at URI?
Residency Policy- Criteria C#As a GI Bill® recipient you may qualify for in-state tuition. To see if you are eligible, refer to the state’s Residency Policy.
If you feel you qualify for in-state tuition, please complete the Application for Rhode Island Military/Veteran Residency for Tuition Purposes.
You can find URI’s Residency Policies and Application Forms by clicking HERE! Please pay attention to which form is for you and which department it will be sent to.
NOTE: You MUST notarize your application, so please prepare for this.
Can I email my application for in-state residency if I am in my second (or more) semester at URI?
Yes! You may send your application to URI’s certifying official: uriveteran@etal.uri.edu
Can I transfer my Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to my spouse or child?
The Department of Defense allows individuals to transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits to a family member if they are a member of the Armed Forces on or after August 1, 2009, have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces, and agree to serve at least another four years in the Armed Forces. Up to 36 months of benefits may be transferred to family members in numerous combinations to multiple dependents.
To learn more about transferability of benefits, visit the GI Bill® website.
I am currently on Active Duty. Can I use the Post 9/11 GI Bill®?
Yes, you can use the Post 9/11 GI Bill® on Active Duty provided you have completed at least 90 days of service (excluding basic entry level and skill training). Your tuition will be paid based on how long you have served. However, the tuition payment cannot exceed the amount not paid by military tuition assistance (TA) and/or the total amount of tuition and fees. You will not receive a housing allowance or the book and supplies stipend while on Active Duty.
I did pay into the $1200 buy-in for the Montgomery GI Bill®. Will I get any of his money back?
Any individual who paid the $1,200 buy-in for the MGIB and elects to use the Post 9/11 GI Bill® will be refunded a proportional amount if, and after, all entitled benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill® are used. Individuals who do not use all their entitlement under the Post 9/11 GI Bill® will not receive a refund of contributions paid to the MGIB. Please call the VA Education Call Center at 888-442-4551 for more information. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.