The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs provides financial aid opportunities to students who served in the US Armed Forces on or after September 11, 2001, as well as the dependents of these veterans. More information about the GI Bill’s® benefits and eligibility requirements is available on the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.

Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008
The new GI Bill® expands the educational benefits available to many veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. This new legislation, effective August 1, 2009, provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. For information on how benefits are calculated, please visit Columbia's Military & Veterans Affairs site.

Students eligible to receive Veterans Administration educational benefits must submit a Veterans Request for Certification Form online for each semester in which they wish to receive benefits. The Post 9/11 GI Bill® will provide up to $25,162.14 in benefits at the 100% eligibility level for 2020-2021.

There is a two-step process to certify your enrollment with the VA which is based on the number of enrolled and completed credits each semester. The Veterans Certification Form should be submitted as early as possible before the beginning of the term with the number of credits you anticipate taking. This is to allow time for the VA to begin processing BAH and book stipends so the funds will arrive on time after the term has begun. Your actual registered credits will be reconfirmed with the VA after the beginning of the term, as any changes will affect the amount of your benefit.

We would like to ensure you have the following resources:

• GI Bill Comparison Tool - Take a moment to determine your estimated monthly housing payment by answering a few quick questions on the GI Bill Comparison Tool. The Academic Year 2019-2020 rates for terms that start on or after August 1, 2019 are now reflected in the tool. You can also estimate your MHA benefit if you attend an extension campus by following the instructions below:
  • Search and select your school’s main campus.
  • Scroll down to “Where will you take the majority of your classes?”
  • Select “An extension campus.”
  • Choose the location where you’ll take your classes to learn about the associated rate.
• Forever GI Bill: MHA Student Guide – Use this guide to better understand how changes to the MHA may impact you

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)