Select a topic below to learn more.
Using Your VA Benefits at UNO
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation
Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
Chapter 35: Dependents' Education Assistance Program
Guard/Reservist Benefits
State Tuition Assistance
Reservist Tuition Credit Program
Residency
Nebraska Waiver of Tuition Program & Application
Federal Tuition Assistance
Transfer of Benefits
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 Policy for Veteran Students
Using Your VA Benefits at UNO
There are many different benefits available to active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran students. If you are using benefits for the first time at UNO, follow these steps to ensure timely processing of your benefit:
- Apply for benefits on www.va.gov
- Once you receive your certificate of eligibility (COE) you can email it to unovets@unomaha.edu or drop it off in person at our office
- Complete the VA Agreement Form, which officially notifies the Office of Financial Support and Scholarships that you will use VA benefits at UNO
- Complete the Notification of Intent on your MavLink account every semester to officially declare your intent to use benefits
Keep in mind that processing the certification can take the VA some time. Because of this, we will put a veteran’s extension on your student account until the end of term to avoid any late fees.
Some students depend on using federal financial aid (Pell grants, loans, etc.) for living assistance. Federal law mandates that financial aid must be applied to your account if there is a balance, and federal financial aid will disburse before your VA benefits typically do. This puts some students in a difficult financial situation.
Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty
This benefit is available for active duty members who enroll and pay $100 per month for 12 months and are then entitled to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation.
You must:
- Apply for Chapter 30 on www.va.gov through the application form for the benefit you are applying for. Ex. 22-1990 or 22-1995
- Verify your enrollment monthly on WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)
For Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill-Active duty benefit information please visit: Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®
Benefits are typically paid for 36 enrolled months of training. If all 36 months of eligibility have been used under Chapter 30, a veteran with three years of active duty service before August 2011 may switch over to Chapter 33 and use an additional 12 months of entitlement.
Chapter 31: Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation (Chapter 31) is an employment service that supports job training, employment accommodations, résumé development, and job seeking skills coaching for disabled veterans. This benefit includes:
- Paid tuition
- Fees
- Books and materials
- Parking permit (depending on eligibility)
A VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor has an office in our suite and is happy to assist in starting this benefit. Months of eligibility depend on a number of circumstances.
For Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation benefit information please visit: Chapter 31 Vocational RehabilitationChapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®
Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) provides up to 36 months of benefits for service members that have served at least 90 days of aggregate active duty service after September 11, 2001. This benefit can be used by the dependents of an eligible veteran, provided the service member has transferred the benefit to the dependent.
You must:
- Apply for Benefits through www.va.gov
Benefits include:
- Tuition
- Fees
- Living Stipend
- $1,000 per academic year book stipend paid, depending on eligibility
The full stipend paid is approximately the pay of an E-5 with dependents in this state’s zip code. Note: Active Duty students do not receive a monthly stipend. See the GI Bill® Comparison Tool for the current rates.
Yellow Ribbon: If you are out of state (either non-resident of MAP), the VA and UNO will pay the difference of in-state tuition. Your Chapter 33 benefits will pay the in-state tuition and fees amount. You may not be on active duty or the spouse of an active duty service member using transferred entitlement to use this benefit.
Veteran or transferee must be eligible for the maximum (100%) benefit rate under the Post 9/11 GI Bill®.
Online Rate: Fully online students at the full-time status receive 1/2 of the national average of the monthly housing allowance.
Tuition and Fee Certification Process: Federal funds must be applied first before any other aid can be applied to your account. Let our office know if you expect additional aid that will result in a refund so that we can certify your tuition and fees early to help expedite the process.
Debt Letters: Debts are incurred with the Post 9/11 GI Bill® when the VA has paid tuition and fees for a course that was later dropped or withdrawn from. In some circumstances, the debt may include the stipend and book stipend for the course as well.
Eligibility Percentages: Some students are only partially eligible for Chapter 33. If you are less than 100% eligible, you will receive that percentage of the monthly stipend and will be responsible for the difference of tuition and fees paid to the university.
For example:
A student that is 100% eligible for Chapter 33 will have 100% of their tuition and fees paid for by the VA and receive 100% of their entitled stipends. A student who may be 70% eligible for Chapter 33 will have 70% of their tuition and fees paid for by the VA, and receive that percentage of their entitled stipends. This student would then owe the University the remaining 30% of tuition and fees.
For additional information on Ch 33 benefit rates, please visit the following page: Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill®** This is a living stipend paid to you. Unlike the other benefits, tuition and fees are paid by the VA.
Chapter 35: Dependents’ Education Assistance Program
The Dependent’s Education Assistance Program was created for dependents whose sponsor is missing, forcibly detained, has died, or is 100% permanently and totally disabled in connection to military service.
You must:
- Apply for Chapter 35 on www.va.gov
- Spouses may use Chapter 35 between 10-20 years, depending on the sponsor’s condition
- Children may use Chapter 35 from age 18-26, though there are certain circumstances under which this can be extended
- Benefits extend 45 months
More Information: Chapter 35 Dependents' Education Assistance Program
Guard/Reservist Benefits
Chapter 1606: MGIB – Selected Reserve
For both chapters, your benefits should also be verified monthly in WAVE (Web Automated Verification of Enrollment)
For current rates for both 1606 and 1607 please visit the following page: Chapter 1606Students currently using 1606 are only allowed to use Federal Tuition Assistance concurrently with their respective benefits if they are enrolled at least half time.
State Tuition Assistance - Army
When Army Federal Tuition Assistance (GoArmyEd annual coverage) has reached its yearly limit, eligible members can also use Nebraska state tuition assistance at 75% (Guard) or 50% (Reservists) of the cost of tuition.
All active duty military (including Nebraska Guard) and their dependents stationed in Nebraska are immediately eligible for in-state residency. Contact the admissions office at unoadmissions@unomaha.edu
The following link is for Federal Tuition Assistance
The following link is for State Tuition Assistance
Reservist Tuition Credit Program
The Nebraska State College System participates in a tuition credit program that provides a credit for 50% of the tuition charges for enlisted members of Active Reserve Nebraska based units.
See more about this program and how to apply here.
Residency
Yellow Ribbon
UNO is a fully participating Yellow Ribbon school. The program is a part of the Post 9-11 GI Bill® and applies to out of state students who are 100% eligible for the benefit. For eligible students, the Yellow Ribbon program covers the difference between the in-state tuition and out of state, leaving no out of pocket cost for the student.
In-State Residency for Active Duty, Veterans, and Dependents
As of August 2015, all veterans and family members of veterans who have moved to Nebraska within three (3) years of separating from military service are eligible for in-state residency.
Contact the admissions office at unoadmissions@unomaha.edu to fill out the appropriate paperwork.
Nebraska Waiver of Tuition Program & Application
UNO participates in the Nebraska Waiver of Tuition program (NE R.S.S. 80-411).
Eligibible students must meet all Waiver guidelines as well as:
- Live in the State of Nebraska and qualify for Resident tuition,
- Submit a a FAFSA annually, and
- Maintain satisfactory standing with Financial Support and Scholarships while enrolled.
Federal Tuition Assistance
We understand that approval for tuition assistance can be a challenging process. We are happy to facilitate and clarify the university’s role in applying for tuition assistance. Our office will help you fill out your projected degree plan with your advisor. When your tuition assistance is approved, please send our office a copy.
Please note that UNO is not the approving authority for Federal Tuition Assistance, please work with your respective education services office prior to enrolling to ensure eligibility and availability of education benefits.
For information on how to access your federal tuition assistance, please visit our FTA Guides: https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/division-of-continuing-studies/uno-at-offutt/fta-information.php
Transfer Benefits
Military personnel must have selected a dependent to whom they wish to transfer benefits while on active duty or on drill and reserve status. Sponsors can adjust the amount of benefit given to the dependent in MilConnect.
When applying for a sponsor’s education benefits, be mindful of the application you’ll use. For first time users, you will fill out VA Form 22-1990e located at www.va.gov.
Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 Policy for Veteran Students
Utilizing VA GI Bill® Education Benefits
Consistent with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, Section 103, University of Nebraska at Omaha will not impose any penalties due to the delayed disbursement of a payment by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs on recipients of Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 VA Benefits. University of Nebraska at Omaha will permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides University of Nebraska at Omaha a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33, and ending on the earlier of the following dates: 1) The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution or 2) 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the COE (Certificate of Eligibility).
Additionally, University of Nebraska at Omaha will not require that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to University of Nebraska at Omaha due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs under chapter 31 or 33. A Covered Individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation, or chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits, and has been verified by the school certifying official as benefit eligible. This requirement is limited to the portion of funds paid by VA.
"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 www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.