Veterans | Military

US Military Branches insignias

Here at Mat-Su College, we salute our veterans and current members of the military and are proud to have them and their family members as students.

Are you eligible to receive Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits?

All students using VA Educational Benefits must meet with an Academic Advisor to select courses applicable to your degree.

Please contact Student Services at 907-745-9762 for more information.

What is required by a School Certifying Official?

  • Copy of your Certificate of Eligibility. Apply for Education Benefits.
  • Copy of your DD-214. Not required for dependents receiving transferred benefits, only required by servicemen.

Forms

IMPORTANT: The Request to be Certified Form must be submitted every semester before the payment deadline to avoid late fees.

Request for Certification Forms

Submit your Request for Certification Form after you have registered for classes every semester and before the payment deadline. Only classes that are applicable to your degree program can be certified. We cannot report waitlisted classes to the Veteran Affairs office.

Hybrid Course Requirements - After a student submits their Request for Certification Form, there will be one more step to complete.  Mat-Su College certifies all hybrid classes as in-person (residence credits) when the Request for Certification Form is first received so that students can receive all entitled benefits from the start of the semester.

IT IS THE STUDENTS' RESPONSIBILITY to ask their professor to email the MSC Veterans Certification Team at uaa_mscveteransrvcs@alaska.edu confirming they have attended at least one in-person class. The email should include the class CRN number and your student ID. If the residence attendance record is NOT provided by the end of the semester, MSC must report to VA that the class was fully attended via distance and VA residence requirements were not met. Be aware that any changes in enrollment could result in having to pay back funds for tuition & fees, housing, or other benefits you may have received.

Request for Certification Form - Fall 2024             Request for Certification Form Spring 2025           

Report of Change Request Forms

Submit your Report of Change Request Form when making any changes to your schedule such as adding/dropping/withdrawing from a class, changing degree programs, or when you register from a waitlisted class.

Report of Change Form - Fall 2024                         Report of Change Form Spring 2025

Benefits by Chapter

  • Chapter 33: Post 9/11 GI Bill®

    Tuition and Fee Benefits

    • Tuition and fees for certified classes are paid directly to the school.
    • Tuition and fee specific funding on the student account, such as tuition assistance, tuition waivers or scholarships that are tuition and fee specific, will be deducted from the total submitted to the VA for payment.

    Books & Supplies Stipend

    $41.67 per credit hour for the first 24 credits in an academic year is paid to the student.

    Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) 

    • BAH is paid to the student.
    • BAH is based on rate of pursuit of certified classes with at least one credit in the traditional classroom setting.
      • BAH rates can be found using the GI Bill® comparison tool (subject to change).  
      • Full-time rate of pursuit is 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students for a standard term. Students must be above half-time rate of pursuit to be eligible for BAH (6 credit hours for undergraduates and 4.5 credit hours for graduate students for a standard term). Students who are below full-time rate of pursuit or less than 100% eligible will be prorated.
    • Benefits for the first and last months of each term will be prorated by the number of days class is in session.
  • Chapter 31: Veteran Readiness and Employment

    Important Details

    • Veteran Readiness and Employment students must meet with their Veteran Readiness and Employment Counselor before utilizing their benefits.
    • Benefits for the first and last months of each term will be prorated by the number of days class is in session.

    Chapter 31 Specific Certification Processes

    • You are responsible for providing UAA MVSS with a valid PO# in the Tungston system.
    • You must discuss with your Veteran Readiness and Employment Counselor how to get a valid PO# in the Tungston system.
    • Your counselor may email us the PO# to UAA_Veterans@alaska.edu. 
    • After you have been certified, an authorization will be sent to the UAA bookstore so you may charge your textbooks and supplies needed as early as a week prior to the start of each term.
    • If you change your major or declare a minor, you will need to have your counselor submit a revised PO# indicating this change.

    Chapter 31 Specific Financial Resources

    If you are totally and permanently disabled, you may qualify for a discharge of your federal student loans and/or Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant service obligation. Under the Department of Education Federal Student Aid, students who meet the requirements for total and permanent disability (TPD) can qualify for the TPD discharge through the Department of Education Federal Student Aid.

  • Chapter 35: Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA)

    Benefits

    • The Monthly Educational Assistance Allowance Stipend for certified classes is paid to the student at the beginning of the month for the previous month. 
    • The student is responsible for paying tuition, fees and books before the payment deadline to avoid being assessed late fees.
    • Benefits for the first and last months of each term will be prorated by the number of days class is in session.
    • The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. Some DEA beneficiaries may be eligible for 81 months of GI Bill benefits if they are eligible for more than one education benefit. The following rates apply (effective Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024):
      • Full time: $1,488/month
      • Three-quarter time: $1,176/month
      • Half time: $862/month
      • Less than half time and more than quarter time: tuition and fee charges ONLY, not to exceed $862/month
      • Quarter time or less: tuition and fee charges ONLY not to exceed $372/month

    Chapter 35 Specific Certification Processes

    Before UAA is able to certify you, UAA MVSS need your file and payee numbers, which are located on your Certificate of Eligibility.

  • Chapter 30: Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty

    Benefits

    • The Monthly Educational Assistance Allowance Stipend for certified classes is paid to the student at the beginning of the month for the previous month. 
    • The student is responsible for paying tuition, fees and books before the payment deadline to avoid being assessed late fees.
    • Benefits for the first and last months of each term will be prorated by the number of days class is in session.
    • The student is eligible to receive up to 36 months of educational benefits. The following rates apply to those completing an enlistment of three years or more (effective Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024):
      • Full time: $2,358/ full month
      • Three-quarter time: $1,768.50/ full month
      • Half time: $1,179/ full month
      • Less than half time and more than quarter time: tuition and fee charges ONLY, not to exceed $1,179/ full month
      • Quarter time or less: tuition and fee charges ONLY not to exceed $589.50/ full month
  • Chapter 1606: Montgomery GI Bill-SR

    Benefits

    • The Monthly Educational Assistance Allowance Stipend for certified classes is paid to the student at the beginning of the month for the previous month. 
    • The student is responsible for paying tuition, fees and books before the payment deadline to avoid being assessed late fees.
    • Benefits for the first and last months of each term will be prorated by the number of days class is in session.
    • The student is eligible to receive up to 36 months of educational benefits. The following rates apply to those completing an enlistment of three years or more (effective Oct. 1, 2023–Sept. 30, 2024):
      • Full time: $466/full month
      • Three-quarter time: $349/full month
      • Half time: $233/full month
      • Less than half time: $116.50/ full month
    • Please note: Chapters 1606, MGIB-SR and 1607, REAP cannot be used in conjunction with federal Tuition Assistance (e.g., Army Ft Richardson Tuition Assistance).

    Chapter 1606 Specific Certification Processes

    • Submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to UAA MVSS.
    • Notice of Basic Eligibility (NOBE) is not a valid form to confirm benefit eligibility (effective Sept. 16, 2014).