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Eckerd College is approved for the education and training of veterans, service members and dependents of veterans eligible for benefits under the various V.A. educational programs. Students who may be eligible for V.A. benefits are urged to contact their local V.A. office as soon as accepted by the College and apply for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (gibill.va.gov).

Once approved, the student should bring a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility to the Office of the Registrar. No certification can be made until the Certificate of Eligibility is on file. There are special V.A. regulations regarding independent study, audit courses, standards of progress, special student enrollment, dual enrollment in two schools and summer enrollment. It is the student's responsibility to contact the V.A. office concerning special regulations and to report any change in status which affects the rate of benefits. A student's V.A. education benefits will be terminated if he/she remains on probation for more than two consecutive semesters/terms as mandated by The Department of Veterans Affairs. Students utilizing veteran benefits are eligible for priority enrollment pursuant to Section 303 if the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code § 3679 subsection (e), this school adopts the following additional provisions for any students using the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (CH 33), Veteran Readiness & Employment VR&E (CH 31) or Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) program (CH 35) of title 38 or Montgomery GI Bill ® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program (CH 1606) of Title 10 benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from VA. This school will not access fees for up to 90 days following certification of veteran beneficiary enrollment to VA:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment;

  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student;

  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;

  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;

  • Provide a written request to be certified;

  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

Types of Benefits

  • Montgomery GI Bill ®  Active Duty (MGIB-AD) - Chapter 30

  • Montgomery GI Bill ® Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) program -Chapter 1606

  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) - Chapter 31

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill  ® -  Chapter 33 

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill  ® - Chapter 33  @ the 100% benefit level (Yellow Ribbon Program)

  • Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance or DEA - Chapter 35

Applying for veterans’ benefits

Transferring VA educational benefits

  1. To start the use of benefits, the service member who earned the benefits must apply to the VA to transfer the benefits to their eligible dependent. This is completed using the milConnect portal. Additional details can be found on the VA Education website.

  2. Once your benefit transfer is approved, the service member will receive a confirmation letter that identifies what benefits were transferred and to whom they now belong. The new dependent with transferred benefits will now complete the application to notify the VA that those benefits will be used.

Activating earned or transferred benefits

  • Service members
    Service members must notify the VA they are planning to activate and use their benefits. This is done by completing the application process online on the VA portal or by completing the paper VA 22-1990E and submitting it to the VA to receive their Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

  • Dependents
    Dependents of service members apply to use their benefits after the transfer of benefits has been approved. This is done by completing the application process online on the VA portal or by completing the paper and submitting it to the VA to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE).

Using veterans’ benefits at Eckerd College

Previously-used benefit at a different institution

If you have used your benefits while attending a different institution, please submit a “Request for Change” form VA 22-1995. This can be completed online using the VA Portal.

Initial benefit certification

Upon completion of the VA review process, the student will receive a letter that includes their Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Please ensure you review your COE and maintain a copy for reference to understand what educational benefits you will be eligible to receive. Provide a copy of your COE to the Eckerd College School Certifying Official to initiate the certification process. Students can submit their COE via email to VAbenefits@eckerd.edu.

Recertification each semester

After your initial certification, you will need to notify the SCO each semester that you plan to use your benefits to pay your education costs. The number of months available for benefits is limited and as such, you are not automatically re-certified each semester. You MUST notify the SCO that you wish to use your benefits. Failure to notify the SCO will result in your benefits not being certified, and you will not be eligible for any benefit related payment deferments.