VA BenefitsFinancial Aid

Veterans and Servicemembers might have education benefits available to them, their spouses and family members. If eligible, you might be able to benefit for more than one program. To learn more about the education benefits available, please visit the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs website: https://www.va.gov/education/

How to get your Certificate of Eligibility (COE):

Dependents and Family Members: At this time, the GI Bill® benefit statement isn’t available online to family members and dependents. You’ll need to request a new Certificate of Eligibility letter to check your GI Bill® benefit status. To request a COE, please call the Education Call Center at 888-442-4551. Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET.

Veterans: Navigate to VA.gov via the link below and login with your CAC or DS Login. Check Your Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits Status | Veterans Affairs (va.gov).
After inputting your DS login you will be taken to Post 9/11 GI Bill® Statement of Benefits. This shows your eligibility percentage, total month available to you, and the months you have already used up. Click the “Get Printable Statement of Benefits” to receive a PDF that you can send in to our office in lieu of your COE.

Certificates of Eligibility can be mailed to:

Financial Aid Office 
Gustavus Adolphus College
800 West College Avenue
Saint Peter, MN 56082
Telephone: 507.933.7527
Fax: 507.933.7727
finaid@gustavus.edu

Education Programs:

Gustavus Adolphus College is a participant for both Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program. We are a 50% Yellow Ribbon Program participant. This means that if you are 100% eligible and have reached the national maximum for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® during the academic year, the VA and Gustavus Adolphus College will cover the remainder of your tuition and fees through the Yellow Ribbon Program for that particular academic year. The VA will cover 50% of your tuition and fees and Gustavus Adolphus College will cover the other 50% through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Your aid offer from Gustavus Adolphus College will be revised to accomodate Chapter 33 or Post-9/11 GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon benefits.

Please note: The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 added a provision to 38 USC 3679 that requires schools to allow eligible beneficiaries to attend classes without penalties while awaiting payments from the VA.

Chapter 33 or Post 9/11 GI Bill®

In order to participate in the Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® at Gustavus, you must:

Visit the link above for more information and ways to apply. 

  • Be admitted at Gustavus Adolphus College. To begin your application with Gustavus please click Apply.
  • Submit a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to the Financial Aid Office.
  • Submit a completed VA Benefits Processing Authorization Form to the Financial Aid Office. 

Yellow Ribbon Program

In order to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program at Gustavus, you must:

Visit the link above for more information. 

Montgomery GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) is available to those who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces. The are two main programs:

Visit the links above for more information and ways to apply. 

In order to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill® at Gustavus, you must:

Survivors' and Dependents' Assistance Program

The Survivor and Dependents Assistance Program has two main GI Bill® programs offering education assistance to survivors and dependents of Veterans:

Visit the links above for more information and ways to apply. 

In order to participate in the Fry Scholarship or DEA at Gustavus, you must:

Minnesota GI Bill

The Minnesota G.I. Bill® is a new program that provides post-secondary educational assistance above and beyond other benefits to eligible Minnesota veterans. Full-time undergraduate or graduate students may be eligible receive up to $3,000 per academic year and part-time students can receive up to $500 per semester; with a maximum lifetime benefit of $10,000.

To qualify, you must be a Minnesota resident enrolled at Minnesota institutions and a:

  • Veteran who is serving or has served honorably in any branch of the United States armed forces at any time on or after September 11, 2001, or;
  • A non-veteran who has served honorably for a total of five credible years or more cumulatively as a member of the Minnesota National Guard or any other active or reserve component of the United States armed forces, and any part of that service occurred on or after September 11, 2001, or;
  • A surviving spouse or dependent of a person who has served in the military at any time and who has died or has a 100% VA-determined permanent and total disability as a direct result of military service and eligible to receive federal education benefits under Chapter 33 Fry Scholarship or Chapter 35. Spouse and Dependent applicants must provide a Certificate of Eligibility.
  • Minnesota Resident - see specific program for resident requirements.

For more information please click this link: MN GI Bill®

In order to participate in the Federal Tuition Assisyance Program at Gustavus, you must:

  • Be admitted at Gustavus Adolphus College. To begin your application with Gustavus please click Apply.
  • Be eligible to receive Minnesota GI Bill® benefits.
  • Submit your proof of eligibility to Gustavus.

Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA)

Gustavus Adolphus College is a participant of the Federal Tuition Assistance program. It is recomended that students should apply for this benefit at least 60 days prior to the start of the term. This will give you enough time to complete all requirements. For more information on Federal Tuition Assistance, please contact your education office, unit administrator or visit the https://www.armyignited.com/app/ for more information.

In order to participate in the Federal Tuition Assisyance Program at Gustavus, you must:

Refund Policy for Tuition Assistance Funds

Return of Tuition Assistance: Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded.

To comply with the new Department of Defense policy, Gustavus Adolphus College will return any unearned TA funds on a prorate basis through the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. TA funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending. These funds are returned to the military service branch.

Instances when a service member stops attending due to a military service obligation, the educational institution will work with the affected service member to identify solutions that will not result in student debt for the returned portion.

Return Timeline: If the date of withdrawal is before the first day of classes, 100 percent credit less $500.

For students in their first semester of attendance at Gustavus, after attending at least one class, but before the end of the 60 percent point in the term, 35 percent of TA will be returned.

For all other students, after attending at least one class, but before the end of the twentieth day of classes, 35 percent of TA will be returned.

After the 60% of the term, you have earned your aid and there is no return of TA funds.

Return dates are detailed on the website referenced above under Important Dates for fall and Spring Semesters.

Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding

Visit http://www.dodmou.com/Home/InstitutionList to view qualifying Dept. of Defense Memorandum of Understanding participants.

Per Gustavus Adolphus’ DoDMoU, the cost per credit for military members is calculated using the following formula:

  • Annual tuition rate (AT) times number of years to obtain a degree (4) = total cost of degree (TC)
    (TC) divided by number of credits necessary to obtain a degree (130) = calculated cost per credit (CCpC)
  • Example using 23-24 AY tuition cost: $53,570 x 4 = $214,80. $214,280 / 130 = $1,648.30

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