Military & Veteran Benefit Services

Please call (405) 744-6343 or email veteransbenefits@okstate.edu for assistance. In-person or virtual appointments may also be scheduled via OKState Slate. Select Advising Appointments and then Services (Academic Support) to find members of our Military and Veteran Benefits Services office. For additional information about services and additional aid available for veterans, check out the Office of Military-Affiliated Student Support.

• Certification Requirements for All Education Chapters

  To receive education benefits, you must be “certified,” to be eligible for the benefits by a veteran’s benefits certification specialist in the Registrar’s office. The certification process can take up to a month or more, so it is best to begin this process early.

   

  Initial Certification

  
  Your first step is to submit your initial application for benefits electronically to the Veterans Administration. Initial application procedures can be found at benefits.va.gov/gibill/. Once the application has been submitted, you will receive a “Certificate of Eligibility” from the Veteran’s Administration (normally within approximately two to four weeks of submitting your initial application online). Email a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to veteransbenefits@okstate.edu for further processing. If you have specific questions regarding the type of education program you are eligible for or application procedures, please contact the US Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-442-4551, or go the USDVA website at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/.   

   

  Continued Benefit Certification

   

  For continued receipt of VA education benefits throughout your academic career, you will be required to complete a Veterans Advisory Form each semester. The Veterans Advisory Form is available on the Forms page of the Registrar's website.

   

  Chapter 30, 1606 recipients: Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the VA at the end of each calendar month before you will receive your payment for that month. To verify enrollment, go to the Web Automated Verification of Enrollment (WAVE) at https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/index.do or call 1-877-823-2378.

   

  Chapter 33 (Post 9/11) Recipients: Once you are certified for your benefits, you must verify your enrollment with the VA at the end of each calendar month before you will receive your payment for that month. You can verify enrollment via text message or by calling the Education Call Center (ECC) at 1-888-442-4551. The ECC can also help you opt into text verification. The VA strongly recommends verifying enrollment via text.

   

  Credit Hour Requirements (applies to Chapters 30, 31, 35, and 1606): Education benefits are based on student enrollment status (e.g. full-time, half-time, etc.) To receive the maximum benefit, you must be enrolled as a full-time student. Part-time benefit rates are reduced proportionately. See the GI Bill Education Benefit Payment Rates website for current rates.

   

  Undergraduate Students

   

  Status	Fall/Spring/8-Week Term	Summer
  Full-Time	12 Credit Hours	6 Credit Hours
  3/4 Time	9-11 Credit Hours	4-5 Credit Hours
  1/2 Time	6-8 Credit Hours	3 Credit Hours
  < 1/2 Time	< 6 Credit Hours	under 3 Credit Hours

  Graduate Students

   

  Status	Fall/Spring/8-Week Term	Summer
  Full-Time	9 Credit Hours	2 Credit Hours
  3/4 Time	6-8 Credit Hours	1 Credit Hours
  1/2 Time	4-5 Credit Hours	1 Credit Hours
  < 1/2 Time	< under 4 Credit Hours	1 Credit Hours

   

  Students enrolled less than half-time qualify to receive a lump sum payment. Students enrolled quarter-time or less are eligible for a reimbursement of tuition and fees (not including books and supplies) not to exceed ¼ of the full-time rate. Monthly checks are based on the prorated monthly rate of payment and training time pursued.

   

  Class Attendance

  
  Dropping/withdrawing from classes and changes in original enrollment schedules can also affect payments received for education benefits. Before making any schedule changes, it is important to first consult the Veterans Benefits Services office in order to avoid/lessen the potential financial impact.

   

  If challenges arise in classes that could impact final grades received, contact the Veterans Benefit Services office regarding possible tutoring options and other available resources.

   

  Non-Standard Enrollment Periods

  
  Courses offered for a term shorter than 16 weeks during the Fall or Spring semesters, or shorter than 8 weeks during the Summer term are considered to be nonstandard enrollment, and have special rules. Students enrolled in short courses will be certified for the actual dates of attendance within the regular academic term. The VA pays education benefits for nonstandard enrollment periods based on credit equivalents. Contact the Veterans Benefit Services office to determine the expected payment amount for courses offered during a nonstandard enrollment period.

   

  Non-degree Status

  
  You may be able to receive education benefits for up to two semesters as a degree-seeking student who has not yet declared an academic major. At the conclusion of that second term, you will be required to officially declare a degree/major with the university. Failure to declare a degree/major prohibits future enrollment certifications to the VA. Contact the Veterans Benefits Services office for additional information and specific procedures required.

   

  Advance Payment

  
  Oklahoma State University does not participate in advance payment of VA education benefit entitlements.

• Benefit Programs

  Eligibility criteria and benefits vary for veterans’ education benefit programs from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Monthly stipends, eligibility periods, and documentation required are described in the links below.

   

  • Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30)
  • Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
  • VA Education Benefits for Survivors and Dependents – The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Chapter 35 Program and The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David ‘Fry Scholarship’
  • Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31)
  • Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)
  • Yellow Ribbon Program
• Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) GI Bill®

  In addition to the tuition and fee benefits for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, eligible veterans and their dependents may qualify for the following additional benefits:

   

  • Monthly Housing Allowance
    As an eligible veteran or member of the National Guard or Selected Reserve you may receive a monthly housing allowance (living stipend) based on the ZIP code of the location of the school you are attending - not your home ZIP code. This stipend is based on the Department of Defense’s Basic Allowance for Housing rates. This stipend does not require students to live on campus.
    NOTE: Service members currently on active duty and veterans (and eligible family members) taking courses on a half-time or less basis and/or taking 100% of their classes at a distance (online etc.) do not qualify for the monthly basic allowance for housing.
  • Annual Book Stipend
    You may receive an annual book stipend of up to $1,000 per academic year. This stipend will be paid at the beginning of each term. It is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by each student at a rate of $41.67 per credit hour.

  GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

• Yellow Ribbon Program

  The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the new GI Bill that allows institutions to voluntarily enter into an agreement with the VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the in-state undergraduate tuition rates. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and the VA will match the same amount as the institution.

   

  Students must apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program and must meet the following criteria to qualify to be eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits:

   

  • Undergraduate/Graduate/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student;
  • Classified by the university as a non-Oklahoma resident;
  • At least one of the following must be true:
    • Served at least 36 months on active duty (either all at once or with breaks in service), or
    • Received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001, and were honorably discharged after any amount of service, or
    • Received a Fry Scholarship on or after August 1, 2018, or
    • Served for at least 30 continuous days (all at once, without a break) on or after September 11, 2001, and were discharged after 60 days with a service-connected disability, or
    • Are a dependent child using benefits transferred by a Veteran or a service member who has served for at least 36 months on active duty and qualifies at the 100% level, or
      Find out about transferring Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits
    • Are receiving the Fry Scholarship (beginning August 1, 2018)
      Learn more about the Fry Scholarship

  Note: At this time, you’re not eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill if you’re an active-duty service member or the spouse of an active-duty service member. But, as of August 1, 2022, you may become eligible if you’re an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level, or the spouse using the transferred benefits of an active-duty service member who qualifies at the 100% level.

   

  Students must complete the Application for Yellow Ribbon Program form and submit to veteransbenefits@okstate.edu.

   

  YR participants are required to maintain continuous enrollment in each regular fall and spring semester and must remain in good academic standing each semester to remain eligible for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits. Any changes to the class schedule may result in overpayment of VA benefits and the student will be responsible for any overpayment of VA benefits that may occur. Students in an overpayment status who do not make reimbursements in a timely manner may be at risk of losing their Yellow Ribbon Program benefits. OSU will determine on an annual basis whether to continue participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Once accepted into the program, there is no need to re-apply.

   

  Monthly Housing Allowance (Basic Allowance for Housing)
  As an eligible veteran or member of the National Guard or Selected Reserve you may receive a monthly housing allowance (living stipend) based on the ZIP code of the location of the school you are attending. This stipend is based on the Department of Defense’s Basic Allowance for Housing rates. This stipend does not require students to live on campus.

   

  NOTE: Service members currently on active duty and veterans (and eligible family members) taking courses on a half-time or less basis and/or taking 100% of their classes at a distance (online etc.) do not qualify for the monthly basic allowance for housing.

   

  Annual Book Stipend
  You may receive an annual book stipend of up to $1,000 per academic year. This stipend will be paid at the beginning of each term. It is paid proportionately based on the number of credits taken by each student at a rate of $41.67 per credit hour.
  
  

  Benefit Transferability
  The Department of Defense (DoD) is authorized to allow individuals who, on or after August 1, 2009, have served at least 6 years in the Armed Forces and who agree to serve at least another 4 years in the Armed Forces to transfer unused entitlement to their Spouse. Once the member has reached their 10-year anniversary they may choose to transfer the benefit to any dependent(s) (ex: spouse, children). The Department of Defense may, by regulation, impose additional eligibility requirements and limit the number of months transferable to not less than 18 months.
  NOTE: DoD must develop regulations and provide VA with eligibility information before the VA can make payments under this provision. The ability to transfer benefits is limited to those currently serving in the military with some limited provisions for those retiring over the next few years.

• Military Tuition Assistance Programs

  Tuition Assistance and/or Tuition waiver programs may be offered through the various branches of the military. For information on these programs, students should contact the Education Officer of their unit. The Veteran Benefit Services office does not process any paperwork relating to tuition assistance. 

• Military Education Transfer Credit

  Military Credit

   

  OSU accepts credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE), as published in "The Guide to the Evaluation of Military Experiences in the Armed Services," for selected educational experiences provided by the armed forces. OSU also accepts credit earned through the DSST exams (DANTES Subject Standardized tests) for active veteran and dependent military personnel.

   

  Students who wish to establish credit for military training should request and submit a copy of their JST (Joint Services Transcript) and/or a DSST transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation.

   

  Training Programs

   

  OSU awards credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) in the "National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs." Students may present certificates of completion or a transcript from the ACE Registry of Credit Recommendations to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for evaluation. OSU also awards credit based on the recommendation of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in the NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service, formerly National PONSI).

• VA Forms Online

  Initial education benefit application forms are available using the link to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) web site (https://www.va.gov/education/how-to-apply/). Veterans Online Application (VONAPP) provides forms to complete online.

   

  Others forms available:

   

  • Veterans Advisory Form: required submission of form each term that student requests receipt of education benefits.
  • Post-9/11 Acknowledgement Form: required submission once.
  • Acknowledgement Form (all other benefit chapters): required submission once.
  • Change of Place of Training Form: required for changes in academic programs or place of training by the individual student.
  • Yellow Ribbon Program Application: for Chapter 33 students (who are out of state and not active duty) to apply for Yellow Ribbon Program benefits.
  • OSU Military Leave Of Absence (MLOA)/Withdrawal Request Form
• VA Education Benefits for Survivors and Dependents – The Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Chapter 35 Program and The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David ‘Fry Scholarship’

  You may be eligible for Chapter 35 benefits if you are the spouse or dependent of a veteran who:

   

  • is totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected injury, or
  • died while on active duty due to a service-related injury

  
  Benefit Guidelines

  You will receive a monthly stipend for personal use. You will receive a full benefit for full-time enrollment; the benefit will be reduced proportionately for part-time enrollment. Visit https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/chapter-35-rates/ for complete information on current rates.

   

  Documentation required for Chapter 35

   

  If you have never applied for benefits, visit the VA website http://www.vba.va.gov/survivors/index.htm for application and other useful information. Upon receipt of the VA awarded certificate of eligibility, bring a copy of the award letter to the campus veteran services office for further processing. You will be required to also submit a completed Veterans Advisory Form to the OSU Veterans Benefit Services office to complete the certification process.

   

  If you have received Chapter 35 education benefits through a previous institution, you must complete a Change of Place of Training form to the OSU Veterans Benefit Services office in addition to the Veterans Advisory form.

• Licensing and Certification Exams

  Chapters 30, 33 (limited to one test), 35, 1606, 1607
  VA can reimburse the cost of approved licensing and certification tests. Students are reimbursed the cost of the test, up to a maximum of $2,000. Benefits can be paid for tests that aren’t passed, for tests retaken if not passed, and for tests required to be recertified or to renew a license. Utilization of this benefit may exhaust one month of entitlement.

   

  Students must be eligible for benefits to receive test reimbursement. They must have remaining entitlement and their delimiting date must not have passed. Entitlement is prorated based on the amount reimbursed. Information about test fee reimbursement and required application can be found at: http://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-22-0803-ARE.pdf.

• National Tests
  Chapters 30, 35, 1606, 1607
  VA students can be reimbursed the fee charged for national admission tests and national tests for college credit. Utilization of this benefit may exhaust one month of entitlement. A list of currently approved tests can be found at the following VA website: http://inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchNE.do.
• Military Leave/Call Up

  Active Military Duty
  Per Oklahoma State law (SB 1830), OSU offers a military leave of absence (MLOA) to students who are members of the active uniformed military services of the United States who are called to active duty.

   

  An MLOA allows a student to be absent from the University for active duty without penalty to admission status or grade point average and without loss of institutional financial aid. It also allows the student to be eligible for withdrawal from all or some classes with a full refund of tuition and fees or to be eligible for incomplete grades in classes for which he/she has successfully completed at least 50% of the coursework at the time of leave, if the student intends to complete the classes upon return from active duty. MLOAs shall not exceed a cumulative five years. Graduate student LOAs are for a period of one year with annual extensions possible up to the five-year cumulative limit. Students apply for MLOA by submitting the appropriate form and supporting documentation. See OSU Military Leave of Absence FAQs for more information Military Leave of Absence FAQS.

   

  If time allows, contact the Veterans Benefit Services office at (405) 744-6343 or veteransbenefits@okstate.edu to inform them of your pending activation. Notification will be made to the Veterans Administration and education benefits will be placed in a pending status. You will not be required to repay benefits previously received for the term in which you are activated.

   

  Short-Term Military Leave
  If you will miss classes for short-term military leave or military training exercises, (example: Annual training for National Guard and Reserve members) please contact your instructors as soon as you become aware of this so that any appropriate accommodations can be made between you and the instructor.

• Residency
  If you are currently serving on active duty, you may qualify for residency reclassification. Please review the following link In-State vs.Out-of-State Status for further information.
• College Financing Plan

  Visit the College Financing Plan, formerly known as the Financial Aid Shopping Sheet,  to assist in simplifying the information you receive about costs and financial aid associated with attending Oklahoma State University.  Visit the OSU Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid’s Cost & Aid site to assist with cost of attendance estimates and financial aid/scholarship opportunities.

• Contact Information

  OSU Veteran Services Office
  Office of the Registrar
  322 Student Union
  Stillwater OK 74078-1013
  Main Phone: 405-744-6343
  
  

  Have a question?
  E-mail us at veteransbenefits@okstate.edu

  (please specify in the subject line which VA Chapter, if known)

   

  Financial Aid Contact: Rob Lofton at (405) 744-6396 or by email at robert.lofton@okstate.edu

   

  Bursar Office Contact: Steven Prudhomme at (405) 744-7525 or by email at steven.prudhomme@okstate.edu

   

  Department of Veterans Affairs, Regional Processing Office – Muskogee OK
  Educational Benefit questions: Toll-free line: 1-888-442-4551
  Other VA benefits information: 1-800-827-1000
  Email: muskrpo@vba.va.gov

  Website: www.vba.va.gov/ro/muskogee

   

  Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
  Seretean Wellness Center, Oklahoma ABLE Tech & Student Accessibility Services

  1514 W. Hall of Fame, Stillwater OK 74078
  405-744-7116
  Website: https://accessibility.okstate.edu/

  Services, support, assistance related to any injury or disability issue (e.g. PTSD, traumatic brain injury) for classes, campus, community issues.

   

  Academic Assistance and Career Development
  214 Student Union (LASSO Center - Academic assistance, 405-744-5333), https://lasso.okstate.edu/

  320 Student Union (Student Counseling Center, 405-744-5472), http://ucs.okstate.edu/

  320W Student Union (Reboot Center - Stress management, 405-744-6434),

  https://ucs.okstate.edu/counseling/reboot-center.html

  360 Student Union (Career Services, 405-744-5253), http://www.hireosugrads.com/StudentsAlumni/

  Licensed professional counselors to address personal, career, academic, biofeedback/stress management or other issues (e.g. anger management, depression, academic rigor, grief); support groups; psychiatrist also on staff.

   

  Counseling Psychology Clinic
  111 PIO Bldg
  405-744-6980
  Website: https://education.okstate.edu/cpsy/clinic.html

  Psychological and mental health services to students, families and the community; individual, family/couples and group counseling; child therapy. Counselors are doctoral students in Counseling Psychology program. Pay on sliding scale. No session limit.

   

  Student Veterans Organization
  Rafael Rodriquez, SGA Executive Cabinet - Veterans Student Organization Director
  E-mail: Rafael.j.rodriquez@okstate.edu

• Helpful Links
  • AARTS
  • Army
  • Air Force
  • Coast Guard
  • Marines
  • Navy
  • GI Bill®
  • DD-214 (Discharge Papers)
  • Top Up
  • Current Rates
  • WAVE (verify enrollment)
  • Yellow Ribbon Program
  • University Counseling Services
  • College Scorecard
  • College Navigator
  • Paying for College website
  • OSU Military Leave Of Absence (MLOA)/Withdrawal Request Form
• Student Checklist for Veterans Benefit Services
  https://registrar.okstate.edu/site-files/documents/veterans_benefit_services_student_checklist.pdf