Educational Benefits

Education Forms

Education forms are available online. Visit this area to see what's there or contact our toll free number 888-442-4551 to request Education forms.

Check out our Higher Education Veterans Programs Flyer (PDF) from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs for Region Contact Information. 

Licensing and Certification Tests

You can receive reimbursement for licensing and certification tests you take on or after March 1, 2001. These tests must be specifically approved for the Government Issued (GI) Bill. VA can pay only for the cost of the tests and not other fees connected with obtaining a license or certification.

Military Resources

Higher Education for veterans and their families. More than 150 resources to help student veterans and their families overcome the challenges of higher education and career training. Resource guide is available online.

View the Go Grad website for a Guide to Master's Degrees for Military Members and Veterans.

Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB)

The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship / on-the-job training and correspondence courses. 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.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB - SR)

The MGIB - SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The selected reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Restrictions

Veterans Affairs (VA) cannot pay educational assistance or special training allowances to persons on active duty with the armed forces or the public health service whose education or training costs are being paid by the federal government. This bar also applies to persons receiving education or training under the government employees' training act and being paid their full salary during that period.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (DEA)

DEA 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, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.

Summary of Benefits Under the Educational Assistance Test Program Section 901 of Public Law 96-342

Section 901 is an Educational Assistance Test Program created by the Department of Defense Authorization Act of 1981 (Public Law 96-342) to encourage enlistment and reenlistment in the Armed Forces. Benefits are available to individuals who entered on active duty after September 30, 1980, and before October 1, 1981 (or before October 1, 1982, if entry was under a delayed enlistment contract signed between September 30, 1980, and October 1, 1981).

NOTE: Although public law 96-342 established a beginning date for the test program as October 1, 1980, the military service departments did not start offering the test program to new enlistees until December 1, 1980.

Tutorial Assistance Program

Tutorial assistance is available if you are receiving VA educational assistance at the half-time or more rate and have a deficiency in a subject making tutoring necessary. If you have questions on this program please contact our toll-free number 888-442-4551.

Tuition Assistance "Top-Up"

On October 30, 2000, the President signed into law an amendment to the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty education program that permits VA to pay a Tuition Assistance Top- up benefit. The amount of the benefit can be equal to the difference between the total cost of a college course and the amount of tuition assistance that is paid by the military for the course.