Veteran Education Benefits
The College of Idaho is honored to serve those who have served.
We look forward to working with you as a veteran of the armed services. The College of Idaho is a great place if you wish to continue military involvement, leadership training, and want to receive a liberal arts education to prepare you for further success in life.
For students who have served, or are currently serving, in the United States Armed Services, or who are children or spouses of veterans, VA Educational Benefits may be available. If you are eligible to receive educational benefits from the VA we can provide the necessary enrollment verification, and assist you in completing the appropriate forms.
Additionally, the VA maintains a website, which includes information on all education benefits and how to apply for educational benefits. If you have questions the website cannot answer, you can call the VA Office at 1-888-442-4551, or use the Ask VA tool at https://ask.va.gov/.
VA Benefits Information
The College of Idaho is proud to be a partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and offer the Yellow Ribbon Program to qualified veterans or their dependents. The Yellow Ribbon GI Educational Enhancement Program is a component of the Post-9/11 Act of 2008. The partnership between the C of I and the VA offers qualified veterans or their dependents additional assistance to attend The College of Idaho. The C of I offers Yellow Ribbon scholarships to all students who are eligible.
For additional information regarding the Yellow Ribbon Program please visit the Veterans Affairs website.
Applying for Benefits
- To determine which VA Education benefits you may be eligible for, please visit the VA Education How to Apply webpage.
- It is highly recommended that you apply online, however you are also able to download paper forms to send via mail to VA. Please follow all instructions on the forms. This method does result in longer processing and decision times.
- If you are the spouse or dependent of a service member who is having Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits transferred to you, the service member will first need to submit a Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) through milConnect. Once the TEB is approved, you will need to submit a VA Form 22-1990e (Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits).
- If you need assistance with your VA forms and applications, please call the VA hotline at 888-442-4551.
- Once you receive a Certificate of Eligibility, please forward a copy to kmcdaniel@collegeofidaho.edu to have your VA Education benefit file updated at The College of Idaho.
Dependents of Veterans
- Those eligible to receive the Dependents' Educational Assistance may apply initially for their educational benefits at the VA DEA webpage. Please follow all necessary instructions for the application in order to avoid any delay in processing.
- There is a paper form to download and submit to VA if preferred (VA form 22-5490). This method will result in longer processing and decision times.
- Once you receive a Certificate of Eligibility, please forward a copy to kmcdaniel@collegeofidaho.edu to have your VA Education benefit file updated at The College of Idaho.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official VA.gov education website at https://www.va.gov/education/.
Veterans
- Apply for a change of program or place of training by completing VA form 22-1995. Please follow all instructions on the application in order to avoid any delay in processing and payments.
- It is highly recommended that you submit this form online, but you can download the fillable VA Form 22-1995. This will delay processing time.
- Make sure the School Certifying Official has a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility on file for timely payment of benefits.
Dependents of Veterans
- Those eligible to receive the Dependents' Educational Assistance may apply for a change of program or place of training by completing the online application at the following link: Dependents Educational Assistance Form 22-5495.
- Please make sure the School Certifying Official has a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility on file for timely payment of benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official VA.gov education website at https://www.va.gov/education/.
Benefit payments for these chapters are made directly to the students. The VA pays for attendance from the beginning date to the end date of the course and is combined with other courses if the attendance period is the same. The rate of pay depends on the number of units you are enrolled in.
In a standard 16-week semester, enrollment time is established as follows:
- 12 units is Full-time
- 9-11 units is ¾-time
- 6-8 units is ½-time
- 4-5 units is less than ½-time
- 1-3 units is ¼-time
Current payment rates are available at the following link: https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/
Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) Chapter 30 program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30 and pays the veteran directly in the form of a monthly stipend. For current rates, please visit the following link: https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/montgomery-active-duty-rates/
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official VA.gov education website at https://www.va.gov/education/.
The Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E): The mission of Chapter 31 is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible. This program pays the school directly for tuition, fees, and in some cases for books, and pays the veteran a monthly living stipend.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The veteran's percentage of eligibility is based on the number of days of active duty time after September 11, 2001. Additionally, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement are also approved. The VA will pay your tuition based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by an educational institution in the state where the educational institution is located. Additionally, you may be eligible to receive a living stipend and book allowance. Generally, benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. For current rates, please visit the following link: https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-rates/.
Post 9/11 GI Bill® recipients are required to verify their enrollment status on a monthly basis by the end of every month. Enrollment can be verified through the VA Education website, by text, by email, or by phone. VA strongly prefers that you verify enrollment by text. Failure to submit an enrollment verification for two consecutive months will result in withheld housing and kicker payments until you verify your enrollment again. For more information or to verify enrollment, please visit https://www.va.gov/education/verify-school-enrollment/#for-post-911-gi-bill-benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official VA.gov education website at https://www.va.gov/education/.
Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA) Chapter 35 provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. With this program the student is paid directly in the form of a monthly stipend. Please visit this link for more information: https://www.va.gov/education/survivor-dependent-benefits/dependents-education-assistance/
Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Chapter 1606 may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. This includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserves, and the Army and Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. With this program the service member is paid directly in the form of a monthly stipend.
Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) Chapter 1606 recipients are required to verify their enrollment every month through WAVE.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official VA.gov education website at https://www.va.gov/education/.
- Department of the Air Force
- Department of the Navy
- Department of the Army
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Coast Guard
To order a replacement DD214, visit the National Archives.
Additional VA Education benefits may be available to you, such as scholarships and other programs. For information about additional benefits, please visit the following link: https://www.va.gov/education/other-va-education-benefits/.