Veteran Services

Overview

• You may be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) if you served on active duty after September 11, 2001.
• Benefits are prorated based upon the number of credit hours you choose to enroll in.
• You must be degree seeking (have a declared major), or be an Open Preference student, not to exceed two semesters. (Note: For certificates, endorsements, and licensure programs, check with the VA for approval.)
• If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, you may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Benefits

This program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible applicants. The benefits include tuition and fees, housing stipend, book stipend, and coverage of flight fees if enrolled in the applicable program. For more information visit Veterans Affairs.

How to Apply for Education Benefits

1. Apply

   If using the benefit yourself, first apply through the VA.

   If the benefit is being transferred to you, first apply through the VA.

2. Send your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to veterans@indstate.edu.

3. Request to use benefits

   Each semester you want to use your benefit, you will need to fill out a form to request to use your benefit through ISU.

4. Wait for payment

   About a month before the term starts, we will start certifying enrollment to the VA. After the semester starts, we will submit tuition and fees. Once this is submitted, the VA will determine eligibility and make payments to the appropriate office.

VA’s Monthly Verification of Enrollment

All students using Chapter 33 benefits, who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) will be required monthly to verify their enrollment status to continue receiving payments.

How do I Verify Enrollment?

Via Text Message (Easiest and fastest method):

1. To opt-in contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to ensure the VA has your mobile phone number
2. After opting-in, you can verify your enrollment by responding to a text message from the VA
3. NOTE: the VA will never ask for your personal information, for example, social security number or bank account number via text

Via Education Call Center:

1. Contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and ask the representative to verify enrollment on your behalf
2. NOTE: Wait times may be high due to the number of students verifying each month
3. If you opt-out of text verification and later change your mind, or need to change your mobile number, call the ECC at 1-888GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

Yellow Ribbon Program

If you are attending as a non-resident, tuition and fees will exceed the allowable Chapter 33 benefits. The Department of Veteran Affairs, in conjunction with ISU, makes additional funds available to those eligible under the Yellow Ribbon Program. Learn more about the program here.

Overview

• You may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty (MGIB-AD/Chapter 30) if you entered active duty after June 30,1985 and did not decline the Montgomery GI Bill® or if you meet other categories for eligibility. For clarification, visit Veterans Affairs or call 1-888-GI-BILL-1.
• Benefits are prorated based upon the number of credit hours you choose to enroll in
• You must be degree seeking (have a declared major), or be an Open Preference student, not to exceed two semesters. (Note: For certificates, endorsements, and licensure programs, check with the VA for approval.)

Benefits

This program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible applicants. The benefits include tuition and fees and a housing stipend. For more information visit Veterans Affairs.

How to Apply for Education Benefits

1. Apply

   If using the benefit yourself, first apply through the VA.

2. Request to use benefits

   Each semester you want to use your benefit, you will need to fill out a form to request to use your benefit through ISU.

3. Wait for payment

   About a month before the term starts, we will start certifying enrollment to the VA. Once this is submitted, the VA will determine eligibility and make payments to the appropriate office.

VA’s Monthly Verification of Enrollment

All students using Chapter 30 benefits, who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) will be required monthly to verify their enrollment status to continue receiving payments.

How do I Verify Enrollment?

Via Text Message (Easiest and fastest method):

1. To opt-in contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to ensure the VA has your mobile phone number
2. After opting-in, you can verify your enrollment by responding to a text message from the VA
3. NOTE: the VA will never ask for your personal information, for example, social security number or bank account number via text

Via Education Call Center:

1. Contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and ask the representative to verify enrollment on your behalf
2. NOTE: Wait times may be high due to the number of students verifying each month
3. If you opt-out of text verification and later change your mind, or need to change your mobile number, call the ECC at 1-888GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

Overview

You may be eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606) if you meet the following:

• You must be in a Guard or Reserve unit with a 6 year obligation.
• You must complete Initial Active Duty Training.
• You must maintain a Selective Reserve Status and remain in good status. (Note: If you no longer maintain selective reserve status, you may be eligible if you were a member of a reserve component who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 for a period of 90 days or more under a contingency operation.)
• You must be degree seeking (have a declared major), or be an Open Preference student, not to exceed two semesters. (Note: For certificates, endorsements, and licensure programs, check with the VA for approval.)
• For details and exceptions, visit Veterans Benefits or call 1-888-442-4551.
• In addition to Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) benefits, Army and Air National Guard members may eligible for the National Guard Supplemental Grant, which pays for tuition. This benefit is provided by the state of Indiana and is in addition to benefits provided by the Veterans Administration. For eligibility requirements and instructions, visit the Indiana Commission for Higher Education Division of Student Financial Aid.

Benefits

This program provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible applicants. Eligibility is determined by the Selected Reserve Components. For more information visit Veterans Affairs.

How to Apply for Education Benefits

1. Apply

   If using the benefit yourself, first apply through the VA.

2. Request to use benefits

   Each semester you want to use your benefit, you will need to fill out a form to request to use your benefit through ISU.

3. Wait for payment

   About a month before the term starts, we will start certifying enrollment to the VA. Once this is submitted, the VA will determine eligibility and make payments to the appropriate office.

VA’s Monthly Verification of Enrollment

All students using Chapter 30 benefits, who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) will be required monthly to verify their enrollment status to continue receiving payments.

How do I Verify Enrollment?

Via Text Message (Easiest and fastest method):

1. To opt-in contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to ensure the VA has your mobile phone number
2. After opting-in, you can verify your enrollment by responding to a text message from the VA
3. NOTE: the VA will never ask for your personal information, for example, social security number or bank account number via text

Via Education Call Center:

1. Contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and ask the representative to verify enrollment on your behalf
2. NOTE: Wait times may be high due to the number of students verifying each month
3. If you opt-out of text verification and later change your mind, or need to change your mobile number, call the ECC at 1-888GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

Overview

• You may be eligible for the Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program if you are the son, daughter, or spouse of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled or died as a result of military service.
• If you are a son or daughter, you must be between the ages of 18 and 26 (some exceptions apply); marriage does not bar benefits.
• You must be degree seeking (have a declared major) or be an Open Preference student, not to exceed two semesters. (Note: For certificates, endorsements, and licensure programs, check with the VA for approval.)
• For details and exceptions, visit VA Survivors and Dependents Assistance.

Benefits

This program provides up to 45 months of education benefits to eligible applicants. This includes tuition and a housing stipend.

How to Apply for Education Benefits

1. Apply

   If using the benefit yourself, first apply through the VA.

2. Request to use benefits

   Each semester you want to use your benefit, you will need to fill out a form to request to use your benefit through ISU.

3. Wait for payment

   About a month before the term starts, we will start certifying enrollment to the VA. Once this is submitted, the VA will determine eligibility and make payments to the appropriate office.

VA’s Monthly Verification of Enrollment

All students using Chapter 30 benefits, who receive Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) will be required monthly to verify their enrollment status to continue receiving payments.

How do I Verify Enrollment?

Via Text Message (Easiest and fastest method):

1. To opt-in contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to ensure the VA has your mobile phone number
2. After opting-in, you can verify your enrollment by responding to a text message from the VA
3. NOTE: the VA will never ask for your personal information, for example, social security number or bank account number via text

Via Education Call Center:

1. Contact the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) and ask the representative to verify enrollment on your behalf
2. NOTE: Wait times may be high due to the number of students verifying each month
3. If you opt-out of text verification and later change your mind, or need to change your mobile number, call the ECC at 1-888GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

Overview

The Veteran Readiness and Employment program assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for careers. For detailed information on eligibility and services, visit the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Benefits

This program provides tuition and fees, housing stipend, book voucher and flight fees if enrolled in applicable program.

How to Apply for Education Benefits

1. Apply

   If using the benefit yourself, first apply through the VA.

2. Request to use benefits

   Each semester you want to use your benefit, you will need to fill out a form to request to use your benefit through ISU.

3. Wait for payment

   About a month before the term starts, we will start certifying enrollment to the VA. Once this is submitted, the VA will determine eligibility and make payments to the appropriate office.

Overview

The biological or legally adopted children of eligible disabled Indiana veterans may be eligible for a tuition and fee exemption. Additional information can be found at Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. The program pays up to 100% of regularly assessed tuition and fees at the undergraduate rate. The award is capped at 124 credit hours.

How to Apply

1. Student must submit a one-time application in ScholarTrack.
2. File a FAFSA each year
3. Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

How does this apply to my account?

Once you are approved for the award, you do not need to do anything else. This is a state award. The Office of Financial Aid will receive a list of students approved for fee remission from the state. This will be applied to your account 10 days before the start of the semester.

The tuition assistance program is a benefit that is available only while you’re in the service. It can be paired with other educational benefit programs.

Tuition assistance will cover $250 per credit hour.

Note: TA will not cover books and course materials, flight training fees, taking the same course twice, or continuing education units (CEU’s).

How to Apply for Tuition Assistance

Each branch has its own application form and procedures. To find out how to get started, visit your local installation education center, go online to a virtual education center, or click on the following links for each service branch.

• Army
• Air Force
• Navy
• National Guard

Return of Military Tuition Assistance

Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws or drops, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the Department of Defense policy, Indiana State University will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military Service branch. If a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, Indiana State University will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion.

Calculation

When a student “officially” withdraws from a course(s), either by officially dropping the course(s), or by processing an official withdrawal for the term, the date of withdrawal will be used as the last date of attendance. For unofficial course drops or withdrawals, Indiana State University will determine the last date of attendance based on instructor information provided at the time of grade submission. For online courses, the instructor information will be based on the last date a student made a substantive contribution to the class or submitted an assignment. Once the last day of attendance has been determined, Indiana State University will recalculate TA eligibility based on the following formula:

Number of days completed / Total days of the course = percent earned.

Note:

“Number of days completed” is defined as “start date to last date attended”.

“Total days of the course” is defined as “start date to end date, with the educational institution’s week of instruction counted as 7 days”.

Return of funds

Determining eligibility for TA is class specific. The start and end date will be used for each class to determine eligibility. Using the formula above, Indiana State University will be required to return some or all of the TA awarded to service members that did not complete at least 60% of each course, possibly creating a balance on the Indiana State University student account.

Indiana State offers Air Force ROTC and Army ROTC on campus, providing structured military training alongside your degree.

Air Force ROTC

Army ROTC

Train while completing college coursework, compete for scholarships and education benefits, and work toward commissioning opportunities after graduation.