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Veterans Affairs & Military Education Benefits

You've made the important decision to continue your education. Whether you're an undergraduate student or graduate student, attending college for the first time or continuing your studies, there's a lot to understand and organize when it comes to using your VA education benefits.

It's important to know what your benefits are and how to use them, to know what forms are required and to be sure you submit them on time, and to know what the processes are for students at CU Denver.

We've outlined all the details here, from an explanation of benefits, to a checklist of the steps to take throughout the process, and an overview of residency requirements. So, start here and become familiar with the procedures and requirements. Then, if you have questions, reach out to our VMSS staff for the answers at VMSS@ucdenver.edu​.

How Your Benefits Work

You’re ready to begin your college career or continue it. You’ll be using VA Education Benefits. So, before you even start going to class, there’s a lot for you to learn about how your benefits work and the policies and procedures you'll follow to successfully access and use your benefits.  

You’ll need to know the requirements for your specific benefit. And, as you’re navigating through forms and procedures, you’ll be hearing some terms that might be new to you. Among other items, you’ll want to understand certification requests, financial aid, sponsor payments, and eligibility percentage. Undergraduate students who are Colorado residents may qualify for the College Opportunity Fund.

Take a look through the details provided, then check in with your VMSS staff with any questions at VMSS@ucdenver.edu​.

The College Opportunity Fund (​COF)​ is a tuition stipend available to undergraduate students who are residents of Colorado.

Post 9-11 GI Bill®

  • For students 100% eligible, accepting COF reduces the amount of tuition and fees billed to the VA
  • For students 90% eligible and below, accepting COF reduces the amount of tuition and fees billed to the VA and lessens the amount that is the student’s responsibility
    • 60% eligible without COF – If tuition and fees total $1000, the amount billed to the VA is $1000 and the student’s responsibility is $400
    • 60% eligible with COF - If tuition and fees total $1000 and $400 is received for COF, the amount billed to the VA is $600, making the student’s responsibility $240

For students using other types of Military Education Benefits who only receive a monthly stipend, accepting COF reduces your tuition and fees.​

Concurrent enrollment is when a student decides to take a course at a school other than the degree granting school. For VA purposes, the degree granting school is the “Parent” school while the non-degree granting school is the “Guest” school. The VA requires a Parent/Guest letter from the “Parent” school to the “Guest” school verifying the courses taken at the guest school are required for the student's program at the “Parent” school as well as that the credits will transfer into the “Parent” school and count toward the degree.

Students using the Post 9-11 GI Bill

Students NOT using the Post 9-11 GI Bill

    Practical training is required for some programs to complete a degree. Practical training includes: 

    • Internships 
    • Clinicals 
    • Rounds 
    • Rotations 
    • Residency 

    Practical training can be reported for a course as either credits or Clock Hours. A Clock Hour is one hour of practical training and can be reported by submitting the VMSS Clock Hour Form.

    Tuition and Fees

    Tuition and fees are submitted for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) to the VA after the census date. Census is the last day to drop/add classes and can be found in the CU Denver or CU Anschutz academic calendars. Submitting after census ensures that all fees and charges have been posted to student accounts. This also allows students to change their schedules as necessary before the VA is billed for tuition and fees to prevent payment issues. It can take anywhere from three to six weeks for the VA tuition and fee payment to be processed and posted to the student account.

    If there’s a balance after the payment deadline, service charges may be posted to student accounts. Emails may also be sent to students indicating a remaining account balance.

    Fees that are not covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill are:

    Don’t ignore an open balance. Provide either your COE or military-connected residency documents to VMSS@ucdenver.edu​. If you are a nonresident, be prepared to pay the difference between the resident and nonresident tuition rate. Tuition and fee rates can be found in CU Denver or  CU Anschutz student finances.

    Certification Requests

    Certification Requests should be submitted by students who are using the following benefits: 

    • Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30)
    • Post 9-11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
    • Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
    • Vocational Rehab (Chapter 31)
    • Survivors and Dependents Assistance (Chapter 35)
    • Reserve Educational Program - REAP (Chapter 1607)

    For more information about these benefits, go to VA About GI Benefits.

    When should I submit my Certification Request?

    What happens when my Certification Request is submitted?

    Submit Certification Request

    Eligibility Percentage

    The Post 9-11 GI Bill® assigns an eligibility percentage based on a service member’s time in service. The Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is used to verify a student’s eligibility percentage for Sponsor Payments (see Sponsor Payments below). Without a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) on file, a sponsor payment cannot be posted and service/late charges may apply. Please provide a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) prior to census to avoid late fees.

    If you are less than 100% eligible for the Post 9-11 GI Bill®, you must pay your portion by the CU Denver or  CU Anschutz due date, usually census. If the student's portion is not paid by the due date, services charges may apply. If you are not sure what your portion is, find your CU Denver or  CU Anschutz tuition and fee rate and multiply it by your eligibility percentage. If you need assistance, email VMSS@ucdenver.edu.

    Sponsor Payments

    Sponsor Payments will be posted to eligible Post 9-11 GI Bill® and Vocational Rehab students on or around the first day of the term and once a week until census. A Sponsor Payment is a VA tuition and fee placeholder in the amount expected from the VA based on the student's eligibility percentage. The following Post 9-11 GI Bill® exceptions are not eligible for a sponsor payment: 

    • Students who have not submitted a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
    • Non-residents
    • Students enrolled in Study Abroad​

    For students not eligible for a sponsor payment, the VA payment will be posted once received. This may delay the receipt of Financial aid funding.

    Financial Aid

    The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filled out each school year to be eligible for  Financial Aid. Available Financial Aid will appear in the student’s portal and must be accepted by the student. Accepted Financial Aid will be posted to the student's account and applied to tuition and fees. Without authorization, Financial Aid will not be applied to mandatory fees such as:

    • On campus housing
    • Book store charges
    • Short term loans
    • Miscellaneous voluntary fees

    Authorizing Financial Aid to pay all charges will allow the Bursar's office to pay all outstanding balances prior to refunding your financial aid.

    To Authorize Financial Aid and avoid late fees and registration holds:

    View Student Permissions

     

    To set up direct deposit:

    Direct Deposit Student Refunds

    Veteran & Military Residency

    Veteran & Military Tuition Assistance

    Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit to active duty military, reservists, and the National Guard. TA is processed by the Bursar’s Third Party Billing department. To use TA, students should go to the appropriate TA platform and apply. The following information will be required to be approved for TA: 

     

    • Contact your Base’s Education Office or go to the appropriate website listed in the chart below.
    • Upload your Degree Plan (commonly known as your Degree Audit)
      • When you run your Degree Audit, expand all sections of the audit, go to Print the page, then change the Printer to Save as PDF. (Can we make this a question mark that students can click on to get this additional info?)
      • Update copy annually to verify that the class you are attempting to use TA Funding for will progress your degree. 
    • Complete a CU Denver Third Party Student Agreement Form.

    There is more information about the process to utilize TA at Third-Party Billing's Website. Any questions about CU Denver’s processes for using TA Funding should be directed to thirdpartybilling@ucdenver.edu.


         		ARMY NAVY AIR FORCE SPACE FORCE MARINES COAST GUARD NATIONAL GUARD  
     
    Website Army IgnitED MyNavy Education  Air Force Virtual Education Center Air Force Virtual Education Center Marines TA  Coast Guard TA State TA  
    Type of Tuition Assistance Federal Tuition Assistance Federal Tuition Assistance Federal Tuition Assistance Federal Tuition Assistance Federal Tuition Assistance Federal Tuition Assistance State Tuition Assistance 
    Amount per Credit Hour $250  $250  $250  $250  $250  $250  100% tuition after COF 
    Annual TA Cap $4,000  $3,000  $4,500  $4,500  $4,500  $2,250  $5000 per Semester 
    GPA Requirements (Undergrad) 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.0 2.5 
    GPA Requirements (Grad) 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 2.5 
    TA Application Window No later than 10 days before class start date 60 to 15 days before class start date 45 days to 7 days in advance 45 days to 7 days in advance 60 days in advance, must be approved prior to start date 90 days to 14 days in advance Apply during Application period on Website below for each Term 
    Credit Caps (Undergraduate) 130 120 Lifetime 128 128 *TA will be authorized for your FIRST Bachelor’s Degree   130 132 Lifetime 
    Credit Caps (Graduate) 39 120 Lifetime 42 42 *TA will be authorized for your FIRST Master’s Degree   40 132 Lifetime 

     

     

     

    CU Denver Land Acknowledgement

    Acknowledging that we reside in the homelands of Indigenous Peoples is an important step in recognizing the history and the original stewards of these lands. Land acknowledgments must extend far beyond words, the United States has worked hard to erase the narratives of Indigenous Peoples over time. Land acknowledgment statements can help to remind us of the history, the contributions and the sacrifices Native peoples have made.

    We honor and acknowledge that we are on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute nations. This area, specifically the confluence of the Platte and Cherry Creek Rivers was the epicenter for trade, information sharing, planning for the future, community, family and ally building, as well as conducting healing ceremonies for over 45 Indigenous Nations, including the Lakota, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Shoshone, Paiute, Zuni, Hopi among others.

    We must recognize Indigenous peoples as the original stewards of this land and as these words of acknowledgment are spoken and heard, remember the ties these nations still have to their traditional homelands. Let us acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory and pay our respect to the diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land. Let us also give thanks to all Tribal Nations and the ancestors of this place.

    Gracie RedShirt Tyon, Lakota, Director, American Indian Student Services


    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 website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

    CU Denver Veteran & Military Student Services

    CU Denver

    Tivoli Student Union

    900 Auraria Parkway

    124

    Denver, CO 80204

    VMSS@ucdenver.edu

    303-315-7300

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