Military Student Services

Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success

Post-9/11 GI Bill®

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® is an education benefit for members of the armed forces who served on active duty after Sept. 10, 2001.

For questions about eligibility, call the GI Bill® helpline at (888) 442-4551.

For steps on how to establish education benefits at VCU, see our Chapter 33 checklist.

Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® (active duty)

Chapter 33 provides up to 36 months of full-time attendance for 15 years following release from active duty. Available assistance may vary depending on the length of active duty.

Under this program, tuition funds will be sent directly to VCU on a service member’s behalf. Service members might also qualify for assistance with housing, books and academic supplies.

Transferring the Post-9/11 GI Bill® to a dependent

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® allows active duty service members to transfer unused education benefits to a spouse or dependent child. The service member must have at least six years of service, and commit to an additional four years of service in order to transfer benefits. The transferability policy is determined by the Department of Defense.

To submit a transfer of educational benefits request, use the Common Access Card (CAC) or Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) pin to log on to the DoD Transferability of Education Benefits page. Follow the instructions provided.

Yellow Ribbon Program

The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill® that helps pay out-of-state tuition for eligible undergraduate and graduate students.

Military Student Services selects five undergraduate and five graduate students to be funded through this program. Students who submit the Yellow Ribbon application will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

VCU can provide up to $3,000 per semester for individual students each Fall or Spring term. This amount is matched by the VA.  The combined Yellow Ribbon award cannot exceed student's remaining tuition and fees for the semester.  All payments from the VA are made directly to VCU.

To remain in the program, students must:

  • Be 100 percent eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits
  • Be in good academic standing
  • Have remaining entitlement
  • Stay in the initial academic program level upon acceptance
  • Not violate the university’s continuous enrollment policy
  • Be enrolled in classes by the first day of the semester