Military and Veteran Students Resources

Step 1: Apply for Admission to Samuel Merritt University (SMU)

• **You can complete the application process to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while you are completing the admission and enrollment process at SMU

Step 2: Apply for VA Educational Benefits

If applying for the first time:

• Complete application for VA Educational Benefits (opens in new tab).
• Chapter 30, 33, 1606 (for veterans or active service members): complete application Form 22-1990 (opens in new tab).
• Chapter 35 (Dependent's Educational Assistance Program - for dependents or spouse): complete application Form 22-5490 (opens in new tab).
• Chapter 31 (Vocational Readiness & Employment (VR&E)): you must apply for benefits through your local VA office or you may complete the application online (opens in new tab).

Step 3: Contact Financial Aid

• Apply for Financial Aid; the priority deadline is March 2nd of each year.
• When you complete the FAFSA, be sure to list SMU's school code: Code: 007012
• If using Chapter 33 or 31, your tuition/fees will be paid by VA based on your benefit eligibility. You are responsible for any portion of tuition/fees not covered by VA benefits.

Step 4: Certification Process

• Documents Needed:
  • Submit copy of Certificate of Eligibility when received from VA.
  • For Chapter 31 (VR&E benefits), verify that authorization has been submitted to SMU from your VR&E Counselor (PO# number).

Step 5: Registration & Certification Request

• Register for classes
• Submit VA Certification Request Form to the Veteran Success Center (VSC).

You will receive a confirmation to your SMU email when your classes have been certified.

Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill®

• The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable Discharge to be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®.
• May transfer some or all of entitlement to dependents if sponsor is on active duty
• Percentage of benefits paid is based on amount of active duty time after Sep 11, 2001 (40 – 100%)
• Pays tuition and fees, book stipend, and housing stipend to the percent of benefits payable of sponsor and training time (full-time vs. part-time)

Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®

• Available to those active duty members who enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, and paid $100 per month for 12 months. This entitles them to receive a monthly education benefit once they have completed a minimum service obligation
• Not transferable to dependents
• Pays the student a monthly stipend in arrears based on training time (full-time vs. part-time)
• Must verify school attendance monthly

Chapter 31 – Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service

• Assists veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs
• Provides comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills and interests
• Offers assistance with post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
• For veterans with a disability rating greater than 20%
• Pays tuition and fees, books and supplies voucher, and monthly housing stipend
• Must see Vocational Rehabilitation counselor to determine eligibility

Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® – Select Reserve

• Available to those reservists and National Guard members who are actively drilling and have a 6-year obligation in the Selected Reserve
• Pays a monthly stipend in arrears based on training time (full-time vs part-time)
• Must verify school attendance monthly

Chapter 1607 – Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)

• A Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. This program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
• Pays a monthly stipend in arrears based on training time (full-time vs part-time)
• Must verify school attendance monthly

Chapter 35 – Survivor’s and Dependents Educational Assistance Program

• You must be the son, daughter or spouse of:
  • A veteran who died or is permanently and totally disabled as the result of a service-connected disability. The disability must rise out of active service in the Armed Forces
  • A veteran who died from any cause while such permanent and total service-connected disability was in existence
  • A service member missing in action or captured in line of duty by a hostile force
  • A service member forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power
  • A service member who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient treatment for a service connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability.
• Pays a monthly stipend in arrears based on training time (full-time vs part-time)

For additional information visit GI Bill® Website www.gibill.va.gov

• Must be approved at 100% for CH33 Post-9/11 to be eligible to receive Yellow Ribbon funds. No other VA education benefit may be used in conjunction with the Yellow Ribbon program.
• Federal law states that Yellow Ribbon awards must be made on a first-come, first-served basis. However, Samuel Merritt University (SMU) currently does not have a limited number of openings for Yellow Ribbon funds.
• Yellow Ribbon funds may only be applied after the CH33 Post-9/11 cap has been met. The 2026-2027 tuition and fees cap is $30,908.34 for private institutions of higher learning. SMU is a private institution.
• To remain eligible for Yellow Ribbon funds, eligible students must:
  • Have remaining entitlement under CH33 Post-9/11.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
  • Adhere to university attendance requirements (e.g., leave of absence, university withdrawal, etc.).
• Please visit the VA’s Yellow Ribbon Program and Yellow Ribbon Program FAQs webpages for more information.

Undergraduate 

Graduate 

Resources 

• eBenefits (opens in new tab)	U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (opens in new tab)	Military OneSource (opens in new tab)
  Education Benefits (opens in new tab)	Women Veterans Health Care (opens in new tab)	CalVet (opens in new tab)
  Request DD214 (opens in new tab)	Wounded Warrior Project (opens in new tab)	Veterans Crisis Line (opens in new tab)
  Print Out Your VA Welcome Kit (opens in new tab)

Please feel free to email us with any questions or concerns and we will respond as soon as possible. 

Samuel Merritt University is a participating institution with the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU). We provide the following information and resources to ensure military and veteran students, and their families, make an informed decision about the university they plan to attend. See more information here.