Disclaimers: The information on this site is based on existing rules and regulations of the Department of Veterans Affairs and should not be construed as being absolute. New rules and regulations are being released by the Department of Veteran Affairs continually and may supersede the information seen here. To view the most current information, visit the VA website.
Northwest Missouri State University is approved for certification of students eligible to receive educational assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The Certifying Official (SCO) will assist you in meeting the requirements of the VA Educational Assistance Program and act as a direct liaison between Northwest Missouri State University and the St. Louis Regional Office regarding payments of benefits. Please visit the Office of Veterans Affairs with questions:
Financial Aid Office
2nd Floor of the Administration Building
Open 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
SCO - Marge Stoner, 660.562.1141
VA Regional Office, 888.442.4551
If you are a veteran who served on continuous active duty for 181 days or more after Jan. 13, 1955, you may qualify for educational benefits under the G.I. Bill. If you are a dependent of a veteran who died or is permanently disabled as a result of military duty, you may be eligible for educational benefits. Eligibility for the various VA Educational Benefits programs in all cases is determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Application forms for your VA benefits are available on the VA forms website or in the Financial Aid Office. The amount of money you will receive for education benefits differs for each program, so it is best to call our office, 660.562.1141, or the VA Regional Office, 888.442.4551, with a specific question about pay.
To be eligible for VA Educational Benefits students must be degree-seeking with a declared major. It is possible that courses a student is advised to take by his or her advisor will not meet VA certification requirements. This may include repeated or elective classes. In such cases, the student will be personally responsible for the resulting cost. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain that classes meet VA certification requirements if VA payment is desired for these classes. Our Certifying Official can assist you with questions or concerns you may have.
Veterans Responsibility and Conditions for Benefit Eligibility
In order to comply with laws governing the G.I. Bill, it is your responsibility as a student to notify the VA official in the Financial Aid Office of your status. You must inform the Certifying Official when you add or drop a class, change your major, change your address, or withdraw from Northwest. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs will not pay for the repeat of satisfactorily completed courses, except under special circumstances such as it is required for your degree. If you do not make satisfactory academic progress and are suspended by Northwest, your G.I. Bill benefits cannot be resumed until you have met the requirements for reinstatement. Your benefits may be terminated if you do not comply with the regulations stated above. For other information you may contact the Veterans at 888.442.4551.
Credit for Military Experience
Northwest Missouri State University may award credit hours of physical education for military training. In order to obtain this credit, veterans must submit a copy of their DD-214 Form to the Admissions Office for evaluation in order to receive this credit.
Please use this chart as a quick reference, or view more detailed program descriptions and forms linked below.
We will need the following to certify you for VA benefits:
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New Student |
Transfer Student |
| CH. 30/CH.32 |
22-1990 and DD214
(Member-4 copy) |
22-1995 and DD-214
(Member-4 copy) |
| CH. 31 |
VA authorization form 28-1905 |
VA
authorization form 28-1905 |
| CH.1606/CH.1607 |
22-1990 DD-214 (Member-4 copy) and NOBE,
*call-up orders |
22-1995 DD-214 (Member-4 copy) and NOBE
*call-up orders |
| CH. 33 |
22-1990, DD-214 (Member-4 copy) and Letter of Eligibility (when received) |
22-195, DD-214 (Member-4 copy) and Letter of Eligibility |
| CH.35 |
22-5490 and Letter of Eligibility (when received) |
22-5495 and Letter of Eligibility |
*Required for Ch. 1607 only
- Official high school transcript to Admissions Office
- Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended to Admissions Office
- DD-214 to Admissions Office for military credit evaluation
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Montgomery GI Bill - Chapter 30
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Individuals who entered active duty after July, 1985, and participated in the pay reduction program (pay reduced $100 a month for 12 months) and served honorably for two years or more are eligible. Veterans or service persons cannot withdraw money paid into the fund. Complete VA form 22-1990 and submit online. You must also submit a copy to the certifying official.
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Veterans Education Assistance Program (VEAP) - Chapter 32
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Individuals who entered active duty service between January 1, 1977, and June 30, 1985, served a continuous period 181 days or more and contributed toward the education programs are eligible. Monthly benefits are determined by adding the amount of personal contributions and DOD contributions made during the years of active service. Complete VA form 22-1990 and submit online. You must also submit a copy to the certifying official.
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GI Bill for Dependents - Chapter 35
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A child or spouse of a service-connected deceased or 100 percent disabled veteran may be eligible for VA educational benefits. Benefits may be used until the dependent has reached the age of 27 or 8 years from the date that eligibility is determined, whichever is later. Complete VA form 22-5490 and submit online. You must also submit a copy to the certifying official.
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Post-9/11 Veterans Education Act of 2008 - Chapter 33
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The Post-9/11 GI Bill is a new benefit providing educational assistance to individuals who have served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. This program was implemented in August 2009. The program is designed to pay for tuition, fees, books and living expenses and also allows for transfer of entitlement to spouses and children. Please refer to http://www.gibill.va.gov/ for information pertaining to this program. Information will be updated as available. You may use the Benefit Comparison Chart to compare chapter 33 to chapters 30/1607. Complete VA form 22-1990 and submit online. You must also submit a copy to the certifying official.
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Montgomery GI Bill for Reservists - Chapter 1606
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An individual who enlisted, re-enlisted, or extended an enlistment in the Selected Reserve or National Guard for a period of 6 years after July 1, 1985, and has completed the initial active duty training is eligible for VA benefits. This program does not require a contribution by the service person. Complete VA form 22-1990 and submit online. You must also submit a copy to the certifying official.
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Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) - Chapter 1607
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This benefit makes certain individuals who were activated after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits. It is a DOD 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. Complete VA form 22-1990 and submit online. You must also submit a copy to the certifying official.
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- VONAPP - Veterans Online Application Website
- WAVE - Web Automated Verification of Enrollment
- VA-22-1995 - Request for change of program or place of training
- VA-22-5495 - Dependent request for change of program or place of training
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Missouri Returing Heroes' Education Act
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The Heroes’ Act limits the tuition and fees (not including the Technology or Student Activity/Support Service fees or lab fees assessed for special classes) charged to combat veterans to fifty dollars ($50.00) per credit hour, for any program leading to a certificate, or an associate degree. A “combat veteran” is any person who served in armed combat after September 11, 2001, who was a Missouri resident when first entering the military, and who was discharged from military service under honorable conditions. To initiate the process, a veteran must complete the Hero Application Form and return it with a copy of his or her DD-214 (discharge papers) to:
Northwest Missouri State University
Attention: Marge Stoner
Student Financial Assistance Office
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468
The Financial Aid Office will evaluate eligibility for the Heroes’ Act after this form and the DD-214 are received. Eligibility will be determined by using information obtained from the DD-214. Students must register for a program of study that will lead to a Certificate or Bachelor’s Degree. Veterans must maintain a 2.50 cumulative grade point average in order to maintain eligibility for additional semesters. Eligibility expires ten years from the date the veteran was discharged from service.
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All eligible Active Duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve Soldiers can request Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits from GoArmyEd. GoArmyEd is a portal that allows soldiers to request TA, manage their education records (college courses, testing, on-duty courses, etc.), as well as, providing Army Education Counselor support all in one location.
Federal TA Rates and Fees
The Department of Defense (DoD) has directed a uniform TA fiscal policy across the military services. Per semester hour cap is $250 and the fiscal year ceiling is $4,500. The Army will pay 100 percent of the tuition and authorized fees charged by a school up to the established per semester hour cap and fiscal year ceiling.
Authorized fees covered by TA are mandatory fees that are associated with an individual course enrollment. Non-refundable fees and fees that are not linked to individual course enrollments (e.g., application fees, graduation fees) are not covered by TA.
Requesting Federal TA Procedures
- Soldiers must request TA through GoArmyEd prior to the course start date or before the school’s late registration period.
- TA is requested on a course-by-course basis.
- GoArmyEd will notify the Soldier whether the TA is approved or not. If the TA request is not approved, GoArmyEd will advise the Soldier of the reason and next steps.
- All drops/withdrawals must take place through GoArmyEd. Soldiers who do not successfully complete a class will be required to repay the TA. Soldiers who are unable to successfully complete a class due to military reasons must request a Withdrawal for Military Reasons through GoArmyEd and complete all required steps to ensure that they will not be charged.
- If the Soldier wishes to take a class with a school that does not participate in the electronic GoArmyEd class schedule, a TA Request Authorization form must be completed in GoArmyEd. The TA Request Authorization will be routed to an Army Education Counselor to be reviewed and approved. Soldiers should allow extra time for this. If the TA Request Authorization is approved, the Soldier will be notified by email. Soldiers must print the approved TA Request Authorization form in GoArmyEd, provide it to the school and enroll directly with the school.
- Soldiers must submit a signed TA Statement of Understanding (TA SOU) each year. Soldiers in the rank of E7 or above do not need their commander's signature. However, by signing this document they agree to the terms of this TA SOU. Soldiers in the rank of E6 or below must have their commander's signature. GoArmyEd will send a notice to students 90 days before the due date.
State Tuition Assistance (TA) will only be used after all Federal Tuition Assistance has been exhausted.
State TA Rates and Fees
Currently, State TA covers 100% of tuition for students with ten years or less of service; for students with 10 to 17 years of service it covers 50% of tuition. Tuition is paid at the rate of $245.60 per credit hour. The program covers up to 39 credit hours per year (15 credit hours for fall/15 credit hours for spring/9 credit hours for summer). State TA will not cover the textbook usage fee and technology fee.
Requirements for State TA
- State TA is available to all M-day Army and Air National Guard members and pays for tuition only for schools approved for Missouri State Tuition Assistance. All Army members MUST APPLY for and exhaust their Federal TA before they will be awarded State TA.
- Applicants must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Failure to maintain the grade point average will result in the student being placed on academic probation for the next semester. Should the grade point average remain below the 2.5 level, the student will be denied any further State TA until achieving the required grade point average.
- State TA may not be used to obtain a degree in theology or divinity.
- State TA may only be used to obtain your first undergraduate degree.
- Soldiers/Airmen must remain in an active military status for the semester/session for which they are receiving educational assistance. Failure to maintain active status will result in the recoupment of all money awarded for that semester/session.
Requesting State TA Procedures
- Applications for State TA with the statement of understanding are hard copy forms and must be filled out by the applicant and submitted to their Commander for signature. The Commander is certifying that the applicant is an active member in good standing.
- Complete the State TA Application and Statement of Understanding at the Missouri National Guard website.
- In addition to the application and statement of understanding, a copy of the applicant’s course schedule and itemized bill must be faxed (573.638.9620) or mailed for processing to the following address:
Office of the Adjutant General
ATTN: JFMO-PER-INC (State TA)
2302 Militia Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65101-1203
- An official transcript, when applicable, MUST BE MAILED (this cannot be scanned, copied, or faxed) for processing to the address listed above.
