Initiation of Veterans Benefits
Students should apply for veterans’ education benefits directly with the VA. Once approved for the GI Bill, the VA mails a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) award letter to the student. A copy of this document must be submitted to a UCLA certifying official for enrollment certification.
Receiving Benefits
First-time recipients should receive their benefits in approximately six to eight weeks. Continuing students should receive their benefits in approximately three weeks.
Enrollment
Certification
Student enrollment must be certified by a UCLA certifying official. Only when the certifying official has the COE can the VA enrollment certification process begin. Details on this process are available in the Guide to VA Education Benefits. More information may be available on the UCLA Veterans website. For more help with certification, contact the UCLA certifying official, Ryan Redding, in person at the Registrar’s Office, 1113 Murphy Hall; or by e-mail.
Once the student has received the COE from the VA, a copy must be submitted to the UCLA certifying official by e-mail, in person, or by fax to 310-206-4520.
New transfer students who used GI Bill benefits at their previous institution and wish to continue using GI Bill benefits at UCLA must submit a VA form 22-1995, Request for Change of Program or Place of Training, with the COE. Dependents of veterans transferring to UCLA must submit a VA form 22-5495, Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. The form is also available at the Registrar’s Office.
Priority Enrollment through MyUCLA
Pursuant to section 66025.8 of the California Education Code, active members of the U.S. Armed Forces and former members who have left service (with any discharge except dishonorable or bad conduct) within the last 15 years, and who are residents of California, may enroll during the undergraduate priority pass. Veteran and active military students who currently receive GI Bill benefits are automatically assigned a priority enrollment appointment. Veteran and active military students who do not currently receive GI Bill benefits must present proof of veteran or active military status (DD form 214 or military ID) to the UCLA certifying official to receive priority enrollment.
California Residence for Tuition Purposes
Students who are not California residents for tuition purposes must pay nonresident supplemental tuition (NRST) in addition to all other universitywide and campus-based tuition and fees. The VA does not pay nonresident supplemental tuition. There are, however, options for qualifying as a resident or for exemption from nonresident tuition.
SLR or Petition
California residence is determined through review of the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) by the UCLA residence deputy. Continuing nonresident students may petition for resident status. See the Residence Determination web page. To contact a residence deputy, see the Registrar’s Contacts web page.
Veterans Choice Act
The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA) ensures that public universities consider recently-released veterans and qualifying family members as residents for tuition purposes. To be eligible, students must be using Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill benefits. Qualifying family members must also have a sponsoring service member on active duty or separated from active duty for no more than three years before the student’s first day of class at UCLA.
Students who feel that they have met these criteria should submit their GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility (COE) and the veteran or service member’s status verification (DD form 214, Report of Separation for veterans; a Leave and Earnings Statement, or Enlisted Record Brief [ERB] or Officer Record Brief [ORB], for active-duty military members) to the veterans benefits coordinator.