Veteran Applicants

Veterans face unique challenges when they attend college, from navigating the VA, finding academic and personal counseling, finding peers that understand military life and receiving help for disabilities. Let us help you connect with all of the resources available to you in the community.

At SMU, we recognize and appreciate you and your family's sacrifice and service, and we look forward to helping you on your educational journey. Our Veteran’s Resource Center at SMU will help you maximize your educational benefits, which may include programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program. Your eligibility will be based on several factors, including when and where you served, and for how long. Veteran’s educational benefits often include tuition, fees, housing allowance, and books and supplies.

Request Information

Here’s some helpful information to help you determine eligibility or to learn more about benefits available to veterans and their dependents.

Apply to SMU

Before you are able to use any approved veterans benefits at SMU, you’ll need to apply and be accepted into one of our programs. Learn more about the SMU admissions process.

Apply for Your VA Benefits

Determine your eligibility for educational benefits for you or your dependents, then submit your online application. What follows is a list of resources and links to help you get started. We suggest you apply for benefits well in advance of your anticipated enrollment at SMU to avoid any delays.

Taking the Next Steps

The VA typically takes 30 days to process education benefit claims. If your claim is approved, you will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) award letter in the mail. You can bring this document to SMU’s Office of Military and Veteran Student Services, and we’ll help you complete our financial aid and enrollment process.