Federal VA Education Benefits

Veteran students and/or their dependents may qualify for Federal VA Education benefits. To determine eligibility, contact the VA Education Center at 1-888-442-4551. 

Application Procedures 

Veterans or dependents of disabled veterans can apply online at www.va.gov.

Enrollment Certification for Federal VA Education Benefits 

The UWA Office of Veteran and Military Affairs must have all appropriate documents stating the student’s eligibility for Federal VA Education benefits. 

  • Only courses required for the student’s declared major at the University of West Alabama will be certified to the VA. 
  • Classes that are successfully completed may not be certified again for VA purposes if they are repeated. However, if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class for successful completion, that class may be repeated and certified to VA again.   
  • Additional electives not required for the student’s declared degree plan will not be certified to the VA. 
  • Minors not required as part of the program of study will not be certified to the VA. 
  • Students must attend all enrolled classes, and any change in enrollment (add/drop classes, major changes) will be reported to the VA. 
  • Class start and end dates, as well as the number of credit hours registered, have a direct impact on the student’s monthly housing allowance (BAH). 
  • Students must complete a Veteran’s Request for Education Benefits form each semester they use VA benefits.

State VA Education Benefits

To determine eligibility for Alabama State VA Benefits, apply through your local Veterans Service Office. Click here to find your local office. If you have used Alabama VA benefits at another university, you must complete an ADVA-5 form and send it to your previous institution for processing. Once it is processed, the VA office will send us the benefits.

In-State Tuition for Veterans and Dependents

Under Section 702, Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 and 2017 Amendments, the following individuals shall be charged a rate of tuition not to exceed the in-state rate for tuition and fee purposes in accordance with Public Law 115-251 Sec. 301: 

  • A veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill® — Active Duty Program) or Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal State of residence). 
  • Anyone using transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C 3319) who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal State of residence). 
  • Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled in a program (excluding standard breaks).
  • Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. 3311 (b))9)) who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal State of residence.) 
  • Anyone using transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. 3319) who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty. 
  • Anyone using educational assistance under Chapter 31, Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E), effective for courses and terms beginning after March 1, 2019. A public institution of Higher Learning must charge the resident rate to Chapter 31 participants, as well as the other categories of individuals described above.

The policy shall be read to be amended as necessary to be compliant with the requirements of 38 U.S.C. 3679© as amended. When an institution charges these individuals more than the rate for residents, VA is required to disapprove programs of education sponsored by the VA. 

Section 1005 of the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-315) states that effective 1 August 2021, the requirement for covered individuals to enroll in a course at a public institution of higher learning within three years of being discharged to receive in-state tuition is removed. 

Military Student Coverage Contacts

Sharon Rainey, Office of Veteran and Military Affairs | va@uwa.edu | (205) 652-3930

  • Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
  • Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30)
  • Select Reserve Bill (Chapter 1606)
  • REAP GI Bill (Chapter 1607)
  • Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) (Chapter 35)

April Atcheson, Student Accounts | aatcheson@uwa.edu | (205) 652-3542

State VA Benefits and Tuition Assistance

  • Tuition Assistance
  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
  • Other State Scholarships
  • AL GI Dependents Scholarship

Charmaine Truelove, Financial Aid Office | ctruelove@uwa.edu | (205) 652-5382

Alabama National Guard

  • Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEAP)