A female veteran holding a photo of her when she served

Military & Veterans Education Benefits

Each student's eligibility, benefits, and educational goals may differ. Students utilizing military and veteran education benefits are responsible for personally researching and determining which benefit is the best option for them based on their personal choice and the eligibility determined by organization/institution offering the benefit. In regard to having eligibility for more than one education benefit and the choice of which one to use, the Belmont VA School Certifying Official cannot make this determination for the student.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits

Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

is the most comprehensive education benefit package since the original GI Bill® was signed into law in 1944. The Post-9/11 GI-Bill® is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001.

  • This bill provides up to 36 months of educational benefits.
  • Payments are based on the amount of service you completed after September 10, 2001.
  • Post-9/11 GI-Bill® benefits do not cover study abroad unless it is a mandatory requirement to earn the degree declared.
  • Benefits are generally payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. (Please note: With the implementation of the Harry W. Colmery act, if your service ended on or after January 1, 2013, there will be no time limit or "delimiting date" to use your educational benefits.)
Eligibility for Benefits:
  • Your eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI-Bill® benefit is determined by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
  • You must have served on active duty a minimum of 90 aggregate days on or after September 11, 2001.
  • While you are still on active duty, you can transfer your education benefits to your spouse and/or dependents upon the approval of the Department of Defense.
  • You must receive an honorable discharge to be eligible.

Learn more or apply for this benefit

Post 9/11 GI Bill® Tuition/Fee Payment Rates

Post 9/11 GI Bill® Book Stipend and Monthly Housing Allowance

VA will make payment directly to you as the student for the Book Stipend ($41.67 per credit hour, once per semester) up to $1000 per academic year, and a Monthly Housing Allowance (paid at the end of each month you are enrolled in school and based on Belmont’s zip code and the Department of Defense’s E-5 w/ dependents payment rate for Basic Allowance for Housing). Both the Book Stipend and Monthly Housing Allowance will be prorated by the VA based on enrollment and benefit percentage-level. The Monthly Housing Allowance is also pro-rated for any months in which we are not it school a full month such as August/December and January/May. 

VA has implemented a monthly verification system for the Monthly Housing Allowance, for which you will need to verify your enrollment status each month to receive the payment.  Before your first semester using benefits, you can contact the VA at (888) 442-4551 to opt in for the automated text verification.

Click here for more information about MHA payment rates

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is available to students with 100% eligibility under the Post 9/11 GI-Bill®. This program makes additional funds for tuition and fees available for your education after the Institution for Higher Learning (IHL) Cap is reached in an academic year. The Yellow Ribbon Program eligibility goes hand-in-hand with the number months of entitlement you may have under the Post 9/11 GI-Bill®. The Yellow Ribbon Program does not pay toward non-tuition/fee related expenses.

Learn more about the Yellow Ribbon Program

Belmont University has voluntarily elected to fund a portion of your undergraduate or graduate tuition and fees that are over and above the amount covered under the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI-Bill benefits.

Belmont is committed to extend Yellow Ribbon Program funds to qualified undergraduate/ graduate students and Belmont University will match it with their Yellow Ribbon contribution. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is expected to pay up to 50% of unmet tuition and mandatory fees for eligible recipients as deemed by the Post-9/11 GI-Bill®

Veteran and Dependent of Veteran Eligibility for Benefits

  • Your eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program is determined by the VA.
  • You must be eligible for 100% of the Post-9/11 GI-Bill® and provide documentation of this to Belmont’s School Certifying Official. You must maintain good academic standing to use the benefit.
  • Active duty veterans and their spouse became eligible for Yellow Ribbon after August 1, 2022.

Contribution Amounts by Academic Program

Yellow Ribbon Contribution Amounts by Academic Program

Degree Level

College or Program

Maximum Annual Contribution for Yellow Ribbon (per student)

Bachelor

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

VA is expected to pay 50% of the unmet tuition/fees beyond the cap and Belmont will match the VA's Yellow Ribbon Payment.

Bachelor

Adult Degree Programs

VA is expected to pay 50% of the unmet tuition/fees beyond the cap and Belmont will match the VA's Yellow Ribbon Payment.

Master

All Master level programs

VA is expected to pay 50% of the unmet tuition/fees beyond the cap and Belmont will match the VA's Yellow Ribbon Payment.

Doctoral

All Doctoral level programs

VA is expected to pay 50% of the unmet tuition/fees beyond the cap and Belmont will match the VA's Yellow Ribbon Payment.

Policies

  • Undergraduate and graduate students who have been declared by the Department of Veteran Affairs as 100% eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) benefit may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program at Belmont University. 
  • Under the effective Yellow Ribbon agreement, Belmont University will offer the fifty percent (50%) waiver to an unlimited number of eligible undergraduate and graduate students. 
  • The following terms and conditions apply to receive the benefit: 
    • Any financial aid designated for tuition and fees are applied first to the student's account, which may reduce the amount of the Yellow Ribbon benefit.
    • After applying the Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefit, a fifty percent (50%) waiver of unmet tuition and fees will be applied to the account not to exceed the Yellow Ribbon maximum annual contribution published by academic program. The amount of the benefit varies according to the cost of the academic program.
    • In order to accept benefits, new undergraduate and graduate students must submit the Yellow Ribbon Election form before the following deadlines (submission after the deadline will be reviewed by the VA School Certifying Official on a case-by-case basis):
August 1st: new students matriculating in the fall semester
December 1st: new students matriculating in the spring term
May 1st: new students matriculating during summer session
  • Continuous eligibility for the Yellow Ribbon Program is contingent upon maintaining good academic standing (see academic policy section in the academic catalog); continuous enrollment at Belmont University; and entitlement remaining under the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit.
  • Students are liable for any outstanding balance each term not covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Yellow Ribbon program or other financial aid and loans.
  • Yellow Ribbon waivers and benefit amounts are non-refundable to the student.
  • Yellow ribbon funds are non-refundable when a student does not maximize their annual benefit.
  • Non-degree seeking, transient or visiting students eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit at 100% level are not eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program at Belmont University.
  • Students should finalize their class schedule each term prior to the published drop/add period to avoid financial implications with their Yellow Ribbon contributions and the possibility of creating a debt with the university and Department of Veteran Affairs.
  • The University reserves the right to evaluate the Yellow Ribbon waiver on a case-by-case basis as determined by the student’s University withdrawal during a tuition refund period.
  • The University reserves the right to evaluate the Yellow Ribbon waiver on a case-by-case basis as determined by the student’s change in enrollment status during a term.
  • Belmont will apply the Yellow Ribbon waiver and VA matching portion directly to the students’ tuition and fees. If a student receives additional institutional scholarship aid in addition to the VA funds, the institutional scholarships may be reduced in order to comply with the University refund policy and VA policy.
  • The receipt of funds such as ROTC scholarships, My CAA, Federal Tuition Assistance, or other federal/state funds as outlined in the VA policies may also reduce the amount of funds the VA School Certifying Official is able to certify for tuition and fee payment.

Procedures

  • Yellow Ribbon funds are applied to the student’s account once the Post 9/11 GI Bill annual national cap has been exhausted.
  • If a student drops a course during the drop/add period, the Yellow Ribbon benefits from Belmont University and Department of Veteran Affairs are reduced according to the adjusted tuition and fee charges for the term.
  • If a student withdraws from a course resulting as a non-punitive grade assigned, the Yellow Ribbon benefit may be reduced for the term.
  • Yellow Ribbon funds are removed from the student’s account and may result as a debt owed by the student to Belmont University and Department of Veteran Affairs for non-attendance in classes.
  • Students may submit a formal written appeal to the School Certifying Official if they believe their benefit amount is incorrect or petition to reinstate their Yellow Ribbon benefit.  If requesting reinstatement of the Yellow Ribbon benefit, the student must demonstrate involuntary circumstances in the formal appeal and provide relevant documentation in support of their petition.  The written appeal will be reviewed by committee members knowledgeable of the university’s academic policy and Veteran Affairs education benefit policy.  The committee will send a written response to the student within thirty days of receiving the petition and documentation.
  • Academic progress will be monitored by the VA School Certifying Official. Benefits will be terminated for failure to maintain academic satisfactory progress in accordance with VA policy.

The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship

This program provides benefits to the children and surviving spouses of Servicemembers who died in the line of duty while on active duty after September 10, 2001.

Learn more about the Fry Scholarship.

Other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits

This program provides benefits for veterans who enlisted or entered active duty for the first time after June 30, 1985 and meet eligibility requirements.

Learn more about or apply for this benefit

This program provides benefits for members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard who enlisted, re-enlisted, or extended their enlistment for a period of six years after July 1, 1985.

Learn more about or apply for this benefit.

W.A.V.E. – Web Automated Verification of Enrollment

Beneficiaries of the Montgomery GI BIll-Active Duty – Ch. 30 and Montgomery GI Bill- Selected Reserve – Ch. 1606 must verify their school enrollment monthly with the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to receive their payment.

This program provides benefits for dependents or spouses of veterans.

Learn more about or apply for this benefit. 

The VetSucess program offers services (including education and training, vocational and personal counseling, financial aid, and job assistance) to veterans with service-connected disabilities as rated by the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Learn more about or apply for benefits

Additional Military Benefit Programs

Tennessee S.T.R.O.N.G. Act

The Tennessee STRONG Act is a reimbursement program for members of the TN National Guard/TN Air National Guard to obtain funding towards a first bachelor's or master's degree while actively drilling.

As a last-dollar reimbursement, the amount of state tuition reimbursement is offset by any other funds received. This includes any other state and federal aid including FTA, Pell, TSAA, HOPE scholarship, and any other tuition-specific scholarship; institutional or otherwise. 

The tuition reimbursement will be made to the educational institution on behalf of an eligible member for no more than 120 credit hours toward a first-time bachelor’s degree or 40 graduate credit hours toward a master's degree. 

Learn more about the program

  1. Prior to completing the TN Strong Application, you must apply for Military Tuition Assistance (TA). See steps for applying for TA below.
  2. Complete the S.T.R.O.N.G. application packet 
    • Request completion of SECTION IV - Enrollment Certification with the Belmont University VA School Certifying Official, Registrar’s Office, Gabhart Student Center, 1st Floor) at vabenefits@belmont.edu
    • Complete the Belmont University Student Third Party Contract Application for Student Financial Services through your MyBelmont student portal.
  3. Once the application packet is complete, including the FTA documentation, save as one document and then email to your branch of service’s mailbox: 
  4. Once the semester is completed, submit your account summary for the semester and final grades to your branch of service.

Tennessee Helping Heroes Grant

The award amount of $1,000 per semester is awarded by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation on a first-come, first-served basis. Veteran students must complete all requirements to be eligible.

Learn more about this grant

Military Tuition Assistance (TA)

The Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance (TA) program provides financial assistance to Service members for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of professional and personal self-development goals. TA is available for courses that are part of an approved academic degree or certificate program. The courses must be offered by schools that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and are signatories to the current DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DOD MOU).

TA funds are a unique, distinct source of financial aid available to eligible Service members and TA is identified as a first payer.

In general, eligible Service members can receive TA at a rate of $250 per semester hour cap with an annual ceiling of $4500. The Services are authorized to establish Service specific eligibility criteria to manage TA funds. For Service specific TA policies and procedures, visit their voluntary education websites below:

Army TA

Air Force TA

Navy TA

Marine Corp TA

Coast Guard TA

Eligible Service members are directed to speak with their Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within their Military Service prior to being enrolled at Belmont University.

Per DoD MOU paragraph 4.d. Approved Courses. If an eligible Service member decides to use TA, educational institutions will enroll him or her only after the TA is approved by the individual’s Service. Service members will be solely responsible for all tuition costs without this prior approval. This requirement does not prohibit an educational institution from pre-registering a Service member in a course in order to secure a slot in the course. If the Service member enrolls before the appropriate Service approves Military TA, then the Service member could be responsible for the tuition. All Military TA must be requested and approved prior to the start date of the course. The Military TA is approved on a course-by-course basis and only for the specific course(s) and class dates that a Service member requests. If a military student “self-identifies” their eligibility and the Service has not approved the funding, then the Service member will be solely responsible for all tuition costs, not the Service.

Once enrolled, see Third Party Billing steps, here.

Belmont University's Net Price Calculator does not require prospective students to input contact information as you may select to run the calculation as a "Guest" with the option of establishing a prospective login after receiving your net price estimate. The Net Price Calculator allows you to enter financial information relevant to the estimation of tuition/fee/books/materials/room/board costs along with estimation of potential federal/state/institutional aid.

Belmont University Net Price Calculator

Belmont University maintains the highest integrity to ensure we refrain from providing commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including Tuition Assistance funds) to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.  Additionally, Belmont University will not use high-pressure recruitment tactics to enroll students. Belmont University follows the regulations set forth by the Department of Education (34 C.F.R 668.71-668.75 and 668.14).

In compliance with Federal Requirements and the Department of Defense, if Belmont University’s Cohort Default Rate (CDR) exceeds the national average CDR, Belmont University will disclose this information and provide its students with the loan repayment data.  The Cohort Default Rate is updated on a yearly basis. 

Step 1: Seek approval from your Educational Services Officer (ESO) or counselor within the Military Service prior to enrolling.

Step 2: Access the portal for your branch linked above to request Tuition Assistance. 

Step 3: Notify Belmont University's Student Financial Services and VA Certification Specialist that you plan to utilize FTA via email to thirdpartybilling@belmont.edu  

Step 4: Seek approval of your Educational Path through your Service specific portal. 

Step 6: Once your Educational Path is approved, request TA for each course you register at Belmont University in advance of each semester through your Service specific portal 

Important Note: To act in accordance with procedures, we suggest requesting FTA as soon as you have registered for courses. If you wait to request FTA on the first day of the term or later, it will be declined.   

Step 8: Upload documents to your Service specific portal (if needed). Check your Service email and University emails frequently to ensure no requirements remain after submission.   

Returning to Belmont

Belmont University’s Returning to Belmont readmissions policy allows for Service members to return to Belmont without penalty for having to temporarily unable to attend class or have to suspend their studies due to their service requirements.
Students in this situation are encouraged to contact the VA School Certifying Official in the Office of the Registrar via email at vabenefits@belmont.edu for counseling on their options. Click here for more information on re-enrolling to Belmont University.

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

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Have Questions?

Our Veterans Success Team is here to help veterans and service members who are prospective and current students. 

Email Us