The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or individuals discharged after 30 days with a service-connected disability. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This program provides up to 36 months of education benefits.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill® will pay eligible individuals:
- Up to $28,937.09 toward tuition and mandatory fees in award year 2024-2025. The award year is Aug. 1 to July 31.
- If the percentage of maximum benefit payable is less than 100%, the VA will pay that percentage of tuition and fees for the academic year. For example, for students eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill at 80%, the VA will pay 80% of $28,937.09 for 2024-2025.
- A Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) based on the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an “E-5 with dependents” for the university’s zip code: 33606
- MHA/BAH is prorated based on “rate of pursuit.” BAH Calculator select E-5 with dependents
- Active duty, spouse of active duty service members and students studying at half time or less will not receive a MHA/BAH.
- An annual book and supply stipend of up to $1,000 paid proportionately based on enrollment.
What’s my rate of pursuit?
“Rate of pursuit” refers to a student’s enrollment during a term. During fall and spring semesters, undergraduates are full-time at 12 to 18 credits and half time at six credits per semester. Graduate students are full time at eight or more credits and half time at four credits per semester. Students must be enrolled more than half time during a term to receive the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA).
How do I apply for benefits?
Visit www.va.gov and click on "apply for education benefits. " After reading the instructions, select the appropriate option to apply for VA education benefits.
How do I get started with UT?
| VETERAN (or active duty service member) Have you used Post 9/11 GI Bill at another school? |
CHILD/SPOUSE of a service member Have you used Post 9/11 GI Bill at another school? |
| NO: Email your DD-214 (if separated) and your COE to vco@ut.edu. | NO: Email your COE to vco@ut.edu |
| YES: Email your DD-214 (if separated), your COE, AND the confirmation number for submitting your VA Form 22-1995 to vco@ut.edu. | YES: Email your COE AND the confirmation number for submitting your VA Form 22-1995 to vco@ut.edu. If you are a dependent using the Fry Scholarship, use VA Form 22-5495. |
What is a COE?
The “COE” is the Certificate of Eligibility that the VA sends all veterans, dependents or active duty service members that have applied to use and are eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill (CH 33). The VA will send the COE directly to the student to describe the student’s entitlement for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The COE is sometimes called an Award Letter. Email your COE to vco@ut.edu along with your name and UT ID# once you are admitted.
What does the Veterans Certifying Official do?
Your Veterans Certifying Official (VCO) submits online form 22-1999, Enrollment Certification, to notify the VA that you are currently registered and attending classes. The VCO will certify your enrollment every term prior to the start of the term. The VCO will also monitor your enrollment and report changes in enrollment to the VA. Changes in enrollment may result in adjustments in your benefits payout. Changes to enrollment could result in a debt. Consult with the VCO prior to adjusting your enrollment.
How do I transfer my GI Bill® benefits from another school?
Visit www.va.gov, click on "apply for education beneftis," then click "updating my program of study or place of training." Choose the appropriate option and submit the form online. Then email your confirmation and COE to vco@ut.edu.
How is The University of Tampa involved in the Yellow Ribbon Program?
Any student who is 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill, who is either a veteran or a dependent of a veteran, automatically receives Yellow Ribbon funds. As of August 1st, 2022, this may also apply to active duty service members. No additional application is required. UT’s Yellow Ribbon contribution is designed to cover most or all tuition and fees for eligible students. For the 2022-2023 academic year, The University of Tampa will offer Yellow Ribbon Funds to an unlimited number of eligible students. Yellow Ribbon funds will be awarded only after the annual CH33 tuition and fees benefit of $26,381.37 for 2022-2023 has been paid toward a student's account. After the VA has paid the annual tuition and fees benefits, The University of Tampa will award Yellow Ribbon for half the remaining charges, and the VA will match the other half of the charges, up to $10,000 per year for undergraduates and $3,500 for graduate students.
How does my financial aid interact with the Post 9/11 GI Bill®?
In general, only Title IV Federal Aid (Pell, SEOG, Direct loans and PLUS loans) will not be affected by VA benefits in any way. In most cases, the student will be refunded the Pell grant and student loans, or they will be applied to other expenses like room and board. Some state and institutional aid programs may be applied to room and board charges.
Financial aid designated for “tuition and fees only” (Guard and Reserve Tuition Assistance, Purple Heart Waiver, UT scholarships/grants, and ROTC scholarships) will be applied to a student’s tuition charges before CH 33 benefits. The remaining tuition and fees charges will be paid by the VA and/or Yellow Ribbon (if eligible). The student should not expect any refund of VA benefits, Tuition Assistance, Purple Heart Waiver, UT scholarships/grants or any other financial aid source designated for “tuition and fees only.”
The Veterans Benefits eBrochure has additional information.=
How does my ROTC scholarship interact with the Post 9/11 GI Bill®?
The military is considered the “first payer.” As such, if you are a UT student receiving a scholarship under ROTC, Navy ROTC or Air Force ROTC, the military will pay your tuition and fees based on the amount of your ROTC scholarship, and the VA will pay the remaining tuition balance, if any. You will be eligible to collect both the book stipend and the monthly housing allowance, according to your GI Bill.
Can I take summer classes while using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®?
Yes, you will continue to receive the same tuition and fees benefits while studying in the summer. You will continue to receive MHA/BAH according to your “rate of pursuit.” Students enrolled half time or less during a summer term will not receive the MHA/BAH for that term.
What is the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship?
Public Law 111-32, the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, amends the Post-9/11 GI Bill (CH 33) to include the children or spouses of active-duty service members (including Selected Reserves) who died in the line of duty after Sept. 10, 2001. The benefit is effective Aug. 1, 2009; the same day the Post-9/11 GI Bill took effect. Eligible children or spouses attending school may receive up to $26,381.37 in 2022-2023 to attend a private school, plus the monthly housing allowance and book allowance under this program. The Yellow Ribbon Program does not apply to students eligible for the Fry Scholarship if they attended terms that began prior to Aug. 1, 2018.
How are payments made?
The VA pays to The University of Tampa the tuition benefit, mandatory academic fees and Yellow Ribbon (if eligible). The VA pays the student the book stipend and the housing allowance.
When will the payments be made?
The timing of payments is dependent on the date of the Enrollment Certification and the volume of benefits claims being processed by the VA. The book stipend should be received around the start of the term. The monthly housing allowance is paid at the beginning of each month for the month that was just completed.
Tuition and fees are submitted to the VA after the 100% drop/add period for each term. Generally, the VA submits payment to UT 30 days after tuition and fees are submitted. For Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Ch 33) students and VA Veteran Readiness and Employment (CH 31) students, our tuition policy complies with 38 USC 3679(e) which means Post 9/11 GI Bill and Veteran Readiness and Employment students will not be charged or otherwise penalized due to a delay in VA tuition and fee payments. For eligibility consideration, a Post 9/11 GI Bill student must submit a VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of the term. The Veteran Readiness and Employment Counselor for a CH 31 student must provide an authorization via the Tungsten Network by the first day of the term.
How much will I get paid directly for books and housing?
What is your eligibility percentage based on your COE?
| 100% | 90% OR LESS |
| Housing | Housing |
| The MHA is prorated based on “rate of pursuit.” Students less than full time but more than half time, will receive a MHA for a percentage of the full amount. For example: an undergraduate student taking nine or ten credits will receive about 80% of the MHA monthly rate. Students at half time or less will not receive the MHA. |
The MHA is prorated by both eligibility level and “rate of pursuit.” First, you will only receive a percentage of the MHA based on your eligibility level. Second, students less than full time, but more than half time, will receive a MHA for a percentage of the prorated amount. For example: a 90% student taking nine or ten credits will receive 90% of the MHA rate (based on eligibility percent), and then 80% of the remaining amount based on "rate of pursuit." Students at half time or less will not receive the MHA. |
| Books | Books |
| The book stipend is prorated and paid on a term-by-term basis. The VA pays approximately $41 per credit, per term and only up to $1,000 per award year. | The book stipend will be prorated based on your eligibility percentage. For example: at 90%, you may receive “up to” $900 for the academic year, or about $37 per registered credit hour. |
Do I have to pay my balance ahead of time?
Check your COE or Ebenefits account to find your eligibility percentage.
| 100% (automatically includes Yellow Ribbon eligibility) | 90% or less (no Yellow Ribbon at this eligibility level) |
| Tuition and Fees | Tuition and Fees |
| You will not be required to pay your tuition up front, although you may continue to receive a bill for other charges. Please contact the Bursar at (813) 253-6202 or bursar@ut.edu to determine if you have other charges not covered by your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Otherwise, your entire tuition and fees charges will be covered under a combination of applicable financial aid, CH 33 benefits and Yellow Ribbon benefits. |
You should plan to pay the portion of your tuition and fees not covered by your VA benefits up front by the published deadlines. The VA will pay out for tuition and fees up to your percentage of the annual tuition cap ($26,381.37 for the 2022-2023 academic year). Contact the VCO, vco@ut.edu, for a more detailed estimate. |
| Room and Board | Room and Board |
| If you are living on campus, then you must pay your room and board charges upfront and by the published deadlines. Contact the Bursar to determine your room and board charges and for payment options such as a Payment Plan. | If you are living on campus, then you must pay your room and board charges upfront and by the published deadlines. Contact the Bursar to determine your room and board charges and for payment options such as a Payment Plan. |
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).