A-to-Z Index

What's Covered Under Post-9/11 GI Bill fOR dependents/Spouses

 
Please note all payments described below are based on the applicable eligibility percentage, which is determined by active duty service after 9/10/01.  Please see the tier of eligibility table found here.

Tuition/Fees 

Please note: Receipt of VA Benefits does not automatically qualify a veteran/dependent for in-state tuition. There are certain requirements that must be met.  Please direct any questions to Admissions at 540-568-5681 if you are a prospective/in-coming student or  contact Linda Combs in the Business Office at 540-568-3745 or combslc@jmu.edu if you are a current student. 

 The Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-377) changes the amount of tuition and fee charges that a school certifying official can report to VA.  As of August 1, 2011, the following must be taken into consideration before reporting charges to VA:

"The actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees assessed by the institution for the program of education after the application of any waiver of, or reduction in, tuition and fees; and any scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional, or employer-based aid or assistance (excluding loans and title IV funds, such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Plus Loans, Perkins Loans, etc) that is provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees."

Please note that only aid or assistance that is designated for the sole purpose of reducing a student's tuition and fee cost will be deducted from the charges reported to VA.

~~ Please notify the JMU School Certifying Officials if you are receiving any scholarships. They will need documentation of the intent of the use of the scholarship money from the scholarship organization ~~

In-State Undergrad and Graduate

Effective August 1, 2011, in-state, public tuition and fees for undergrad and graduate students will be paid based on service member/veteran's eligibility tier.  Assuming 100% eligible and Virginia resident, all in-state tuition/fees will be paid by VA to JMU.  If eligibility tier is less than 100%, dependent will be responsible for the difference between actual JMU tuition/fee charges and VA payment.

For information about JMU charges and payment options, please see the University Business Office website.

Out-of-State Undergrad

Effective August 1, 2011, VA can only pay the in-state, public tuition/fees for an undergrad student, based on eligibility tier percentage. 

For the 2013-2014 academic year, JMU will NOT be participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program.  

 For undergrad, 2013-2014 school year, with an eligibility tier of 100%

JMU out-of-state tuition/fee charges:       $11,827.00
(-) JMU in-state tuition/fee charges:        $  4,588.00
                                                          --------------
     Balance for dependent/family:   $   7,239.00^

^Balance will be greater if eligibility tier is less than 100%.

If you have any scholarships, please contact your JMU Certifying Official.

For information about JMU charges and payment options, please see the University Business Office website.

Out-of-State Graduate

Effective August 1, 2011, VA can only pay the in-state, public tuition/fees for a graduate student, based on eligibility tier percentage. 

For the 2013-2014 academic year, JMU will NOT be participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. 

For graduate students, JMU charges tuition and fees based on the number of credit hours.

For graduate, 2013-2014 school year, with an eligibility tier of 100%:
JMU out-of-state tuition/fee charges per credit hour:  $1,095.00
(-) JMU in-state tuition/fee charges per credit hour:    $  410.00
                                                                           -------------
 Per credit hour balance for dependent/family:   $  685.00^

^Balance will be greater if eligibility tier is less than 100%.

If you have any scholarships, please contact your JMU Certifying Official.

For information about JMU charges and payment options, please see the University Business Office website.

Books/Supplies Stipend

$41.67 x number of credits x applicable eligibility tier percentage

Up to $1000/annually
Paid to the dependent at the beginning of each semester once semester is processed by VA. 

Ex - $41.67 x 15 credits for Fall semester = $625.50; $374.50 is available for the next semester

Monthly Housing Allowance (BAH)

Based on a pay grade of E-5 with dependents and JMU's zip code.  For the '13-'14 school year, BAH is equal to $1152 per month and is paid to the dependent in arrears. 

The BAH payments will be prorated for September and December for Fall semesters and January and May for Spring semesters, based solely on the dates of each semester.

If a student is living on campus, JMU requires all Room and Board charges to be paid upfront by the 1st Friday of each semester.

Spouses are not eligible for BAH payments while service member is serving on active duty.

Effective August 1, 2011 - housing allowance benefits are prorated based upon training time, rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.  Example: If you are enrolled in 7 credits when 12 credits are full time, your training time is .58 and you will receive 60% of the applicable BAH rate.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The housing allowance is NOT payable for those pursuing training at half time or less.

Typically at JMU, fulltime status is:

  • Undergraduate = 12 semester credits
  • Graduate = 9 semester credits

Atypical enrollments do exist at JMU and will not conform to the above, including: 8-week block enrollments, summer sessions, and some graduate programs. 

Will Your Monthly Housing Allowance Change?

As you may know, the Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments you receive for the Post-9/11 GI Bill are based on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents. The Department of Defense adjusts the military BAH rate every calendar year (or January 1) based on changes to housing costs across the country. Rates can either go up or down.

Public Law 111 - 377 (the Veterans Educational Assistance Improvement Act of 2010) amended the effective date for the adjustment of the MHA you receive under the Post-9/11 GI Bill from the beginning of the calendar year (January 1) to the beginning of the academic year (August 1).

If the BAH increased for your area, you will not see an increase until your September 2013 payment for training pursued in August. If the BAH decreases for your area, your MHA amount will not decrease unless you change schools or have more than a six-month break in training.

Distance Learning

Effective October 1, 2011, housing allowance is NOW payable to students enrolled solely in distance learning (online) courses.  The housing allowance payable is equal to 1/2 the national average BAH for an E-5 with dependents.  (673.44 for 2011 academic year and $684.00 for 2012 academic year). 

Break/Interval Pay

Effective August 1, 2011, break/interval pay is NO longer payable under any VA education benefit program unless under Executive Order of the President or due to an emergency situation such as a natural disaster or strike.  Entitlement which previously would have been used for break pay will be available for use during a future enrollment.

Example: Your semester ends December 15th.  Your housing allowance is paid for the first 15 days of December only.  Your next semester begins January 10th.  Your next BAH payment will be for January 10th-30th, payable on or after February 1st.

Showing Proof of your GI Bill Housing Allowance

If you need to show proof of your VA housing allowance to a landlord or reality company, here are a few things that may work:

  • The "term verification letter" that VA sends once they have processed your enrollment each semester.  It lists credit hours, tuition and fees, book stipend and the monthly housing allowance amount. 
  • Print out a copy of the BAH rates for JMU's zip code (22807) and pay grade (E-5) from this link
  • Provide a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility for your Post 9/11 Benefits. You may request a new copy from VA by calling 888-442-4551.
  • Print this page where it states the BAH monthly rate (above).
  • Print out information from the GI Bill website. 

 

For non-standard enrollments (such as certificate programs) or special circumstances not addressed on the website, please contact one of JMU's VA Certifying Officials.