Military Benefits & Rewards

Aerial Campus View

Military Benefits Eligibility

Veterans and Servicemembers might have education benefits available to them, their spouses and family members. If eligible, you might be able to benefit for more than one program. To learn more about the education benefits available, please visit the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs.

How to get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE):

Dependents and Family Members: At this time, the GI Bill® benefit statement isn’t available online to family members and dependents. You’ll need to request a new Certificate of Eligibility letter to check your GI Bill® benefit status. To request a COE, please call the Education Call Center at (888) 442-4551. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET.

Your aid offer from Gustavus Adolphus College will be revised to accommodate Chapter 33 or Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon benefits.

Please note: The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 added a provision to 38 USC 3679 that requires schools to allow eligible beneficiaries to attend classes without penalties while awaiting payments from the VA.

Military Benefits

Gustavus Adolphus College is a participant for both Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program. We are a 50% Yellow Ribbon Program participant. This means that if you are 100% eligible and have reached the national maximum for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® during the academic year, the VA and Gustavus Adolphus College will cover the remainder of your tuition and fees through the Yellow Ribbon Program for that particular academic year. The VA will cover 50% of your tuition and fees and Gustavus Adolphus College will cover the other 50% through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Your aid offer from Gustavus Adolphus College will be revised to accommodate Chapter 33 or Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon benefits.

Please note: The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 added a provision to 38 USC 3679 that requires schools to allow eligible beneficiaries to attend classes without penalties while awaiting payments from the VA.

ROTC students

Education Programs

In order to participate in the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® at Gustavus, you must:

Visit the link above for more information and ways to apply. 

  • Be admitted at Gustavus Adolphus College. To begin your application with Gustavus please click Apply.
  • Submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the Financial Aid Office.
  • Submit a completed VA Benefits Processing Authorization Form to the Financial Aid Office. 
     

In order to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program at Gustavus, you must:

Visit the link above for more information. 

The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) is available to those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. The are two main programs:

Visit the links above for more information and ways to apply. 

In order to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill® at Gustavus, you must:


 

The Survivor and Dependents Assistance Program has two main GI Bill® programs offering education assistance to survivors and dependents of Veterans:

Visit the links above for more information and ways to apply. 

In order to participate in the Fry Scholarship or DEA at Gustavus, you must:

The Minnesota G.I. Bill® is a new program that provides post-secondary educational assistance above and beyond other benefits to eligible Minnesota veterans. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible receive up to $3,000 per academic year and part-time students can receive up to $500 per semester; with a maximum lifetime benefit of $10,000.

To qualify, you must be a Minnesota resident enrolled at Minnesota institutions and a:

  • Veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time on or after September 11, 2001, or;
  • A non-veteran who has served honorably for a total of five credible years or more cumulatively as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 11, 2001, or;
  • A surviving spouse or dependent of a person who has served in the military at any time and who has died or has a 100% VA-determined permanent and total disability as a direct result of military service and eligible to receive federal education benefits under Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship or Chapter 35. Spouse and Dependent applicants must provide a Certificate of Eligibility.
  • Minnesota Resident - see specific program for resident requirements.

For more information please click this link: MN GI Bill®

In order to participate in the Federal Tuition Assistance Program at Gustavus, you must:

  • Be admitted at Gustavus Adolphus College. To begin your application with Gustavus please click Apply.
  • Be eligible to receive Minnesota GI Bill® benefits.
  • Submit your proof of eligibility to Gustavus.

Gustavus Adolphus College is a participant of the Federal Tuition Assistance program. It is recommended that students should apply for this benefit at least 60 days prior to the start of the term. This will give you enough time to complete all requirements. For more information on Federal Tuition Assistance, please contact your education office, unit administrator for more information.

In order to participate in the Federal Tuition Assistance Program at Gustavus, you must:

Refund Policy for Tuition Assistance Funds

Return of 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, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Gustavus Adolphus College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate basis through 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.

Instances when a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Return Timeline: If the date of withdrawal is before the first day of classes, 100 percent credit less $500.

For students in their first semester of attendance at Gustavus, after attending at least one class, but before the end of the 60 percent point in the term, 35 percent of TA will be returned.

For all other students, after attending at least one class, but before the end of the twentieth day of classes, 35 percent of TA will be returned.

After the 60% of the term, you have earned your aid and there is no return of TA funds.

Return dates are detailed on the website referenced above under Important Dates for fall and Spring Semesters.

Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding

View qualifying Dept. of Defense Memorandum of Understanding participants.

Per Gustavus Adolphus’ DoDMoU, the cost per credit for military members is calculated using the following formula:

  • Annual tuition rate (AT) times number of years to obtain a degree (4) = total cost of degree (TC)
    (TC) divided by number of credits necessary to obtain a degree (130) = calculated cost per credit (CCpC)
  • Example using 25-26 AY:  Tuition Cost = $57,386 X 4 years = $229,544.  $229,544  / 130 = $1,765.72.


 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about the education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site:

Veteran Resources

The mission of the VA School Certifying Official (SCO) is to provide aid and support for all students impacted by military service. Veterans, current military members, and military family members are encouraged to contact the Gustavus SCO for personalized information about both on and off campus resources available to meet their unique needs.

 

 

For information and assistance regarding benefits and resources, please contact:

 
Gustavus Financial Aid Office
VA Certifying Official
(507) 933-7527
finaid [at] gustavus.edu (finaid[at]gustavus[dot]edu)

David Schrader
Southeast Regional Coordinator
MN Department of Veteran Affairs
(507) 389-5726
david.schrader [at] state.mn.us (david[dot]schrader[at]state[dot]mn[dot]us) 

There are several scholarship opportunities available for veterans, current military members, and their dependents. For more information please visit linkvet.org to view a complete listing of scholarships.
 

You have earned college-level credit for your military training. To get military transfer credits, have an official copy of your military transcript sent to the admissions office for evaluation. Military transcripts can be obtained from:

Air Force 

  • Log in to AFVEC (Air Force Virtual Education Center)
  • Under Self Service click “CCAF Student Services”
  • Click “Transcripts”
  • Click “Order CCAF transcript”

For all other branches please visit the following link: Joint Services Transcripts

Veteran Service Officers will help you write and submit your benefits claims to the VA. Their services are free. They will help you gather the information that supports your claim. Once the claim is filed they will help you track the claim through the system. They can also help you file appeals for denied claims. It is important that you use a Veteran Service Officer. They will help you avoid the delays that missing paperwork or improperly filled out claims can cause.

To locate your State/County Veteran Service Office please click the following link, scroll to the bottom of the screen and select your state of residence: Veteran Service Offices

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