Education Benefits

Explore and apply for benefits

There are several kinds of military education benefits available for service members and their dependents at IU. Your eligibility for benefits depends on a number of factors, including when and for how long you served. If you’re not sure which benefits you qualify for or how to apply for them, contact the Center for Veteran and Military Students—we’ll help you figure it out.

VA education benefits

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides education benefits to qualified veterans and their dependents through the GI Bill® and other educational assistance programs.

If you’ve served on active duty for at least 90 days after September 10, 2001, you may qualify for up to 36 months of education benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. Benefits also may be available for qualified dependents.

Learn about the post-9/11 GI Bill®
Yellow Ribbon Program

If you are a nonresident student, you may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides additional financial assistance to nonresident students whose costs aren’t fully covered by the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

Learn about the Yellow Ribbon Program

If you’ve served on active duty for at least two years, you may qualify for up to 36 months of education benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill® Active Duty. These benefits are available for 10 years after you end active duty.

Learn about the Montgomery GI® Bill Active Duty

If you are a member of the Selected Reserve (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy Reserve or the Air or Army National Guard), you may be eligible for up to 36 months of education benefits through the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve.

Learn about the Montgomery GI Bill® Selected Reserve

If you are a veteran with a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, you may be eligible for Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits, including funding for education-related expenses such as tuition, books, and supplies. Benefits also may be available to qualified dependents.

Learn about Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits
Educational Assistance Program

If you are a qualified dependent of a veteran who is disabled or has died, you may qualify for education benefits through the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program.

Learn about the Educational Assistance Program
Fry Scholarship

If your parent or spouse was an active-duty service member who died in the line of duty after September 11, 2001, you may qualify for the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.

Learn about the Fry Scholarship
Fry Scholar Supplemental Grant

If you receive Fry Scholarship benefits, you also are eligible for the Fry Scholar Supplemental Grant. There is no separate application for the grant; the award will be processed by the Office of Veterans Support Services when you certify your enrollment as a Fry Scholar.

How to use your VA education benefits

To request to use the benefits listed above, follow these instructions:

  1. Make sure you have sign-in access to the Veterans Affairs website.
  2. Apply for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by going to the VA website and completing an online application.
  3. Fill out the New Student Intake form. Your social security number and COE will be required. Your SSN must be current with IU, so be sure to submit or check your SSN before submitting. You will only fill out this form once while attending IU Bloomington. 
  4. After you've registered for classes, fill out the Request for Enrollment Certification (REC). The REC is required for every semester you use benefits. This is the request used to initiate VA benefits each semester. We will process your REC in the order it was received. Check your IU email frequently for updates. 

You are strongly encouraged to attend one of our online onboarding information sessions. View the summer schedule on the Center for Veteran and Military Students calendar.

Payment from the VA can occur any time after certification, but our expectation is that the first full stipend payment will be received on October 1 for the fall semester and March 1 for the spring semester.

Payments or estimated credit may not reflect on your bursar bill before the first due date. If this occurs, we will place a code on your account to ensure you don't receive late payment fees.

  • If you cannot register for classes until you have attended a New Student Orientation, we encourage you to attend one as early as possible.
  • We can only certify classes for benefits that are required for your degree. Electives can only be certified if you have remaining elective classes to take.
  • Any course drop/add activity could have an impact on your veterans benefits and eligibility. Changing courses (drop and withdrawals) or delays in REC submission can cause overpayment, underpayment, and delays in process.
  • Changing your major or adding/dropping classes after we have certified your courses for a semester is highly discouraged.
  • Notify us if you are in a dual degree program or will be taking both undergrad and graduate classes at the same time.

Military tuition assistance

Each service branch provides tuition assistance for voluntary off-duty education programs for active duty, National Guard, and Reserve Component service members. The application process varies by branch. Please check with your Educational Services Officer prior to enrolling.

If you are awarded tuition assistance, please let the Bursar’s Office know by submitting your tuition assistance authorization. If you have further questions about the sponsored student process, visit Student Central's Third-Party Sponsors page.

If you are a student using the military Tuition Assistance program and you have questions about non-military financial aid, please contact Randy Hawes or Mary Ann Williams at Student Central. They can be reached at scvets@iu.edu or by calling Student Central (812-855-6500) during normal business hours. Other contact options may be available. Visit Student Central for options.

Learn about Air Force tuition assistance

Learn about Army tuition assistance

Learn about Coast Guard tuition assistance

Learn about Marine Corps tuition assistance

Learn about Navy tuition assistance

State benefits

The state of Indiana offers education benefits to qualified Indiana veterans and their dependents.

The Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs offers tuition and fee exemptions for:

  • Indiana residents who have received the Purple Heart
  • Children of disabled Indiana veterans
Learn about the exemption for Purple Heart recipientsLearn about the exemption for children of disabled vets

If you are a member of the Indiana National Guard in active drilling status, you may qualify for the Indiana National Guard Tuition Supplement Grant. The grant could pay up to 100 percent of tuition and regularly assessed fees.

You must have a current FAFSA on file and submit an application for the grant each semester you wish to receive it.

Learn about the grant